Sir Sidney Burrard divided the entire length of the Himalayas into the following divisions based on the river valleys:
(a) The Punjab Himalayas
(b) The Kumaon Himalayas
(c) The Nepal Himalayas
(d) The Assam Himalayas
(a) The Punjab Himalayas
(b)The Kumaon Himalayas
(c) The Nepal Himalayas
(d) The Assam Himalayas
The Himalayas extend in the east-west direction from the Indus Gorge in the west to the Brahmaputra gorge in the east. This east-west trend of the Himalayas is terminated suddenly at its eastern and western extremities after which the ranges take a sharp southward bend. These bends are called the Syntaxial bends.
The bend on western extremity is called the western syntaxial bend (near Nanga Parbat) and that on the eastern extremity is the eastern syntaxial bend (near Namcha Barwa).
Syntaxial bend of the Himalayas
The Himalayas comprise the most dominating geographical feature of India and its significance include:
1. Climatic Influence
2. Defence: The Himalayas have been protecting India from invaders since the early times and thus despite the advancement in modern warfare technology, the defence significance of the Himalayas cannot be ignored.
3. Source of Rivers: Almost all the great rivers of India have their sources in the Himalayan ranges. Abundant rainfall and vast snow-fields, as well as large glaciers, are the feeding grounds of many important rivers in India. Snowmelt in summer provides water to these rivers even during the dry season and these are perennial rivers.
4. Fertile soil: The rivers and their tributaries carry with them enormous alluvium while descending from the Himalayas which is deposited in the Great Plain of North India in the form of fertile soil (estimated amount of silt carried by the Ganga and the Indus is 10-19 lakh tonnes per day).
5. Hydroelectricity: The Himalayan region offers several sites which can be used for producing hydroelectricity. There are natural waterfalls at certain places while dams can be constructed across rivers at other places. The vast power potential of the Himalayan rivers still awaits proper utilisation.
6. Forest wealth: The Himalayan ranges are very rich in forest resources. They show a succession of Vegetation cover from the Tropical to the Alpine. They provide fuelwood and a large variety of raw materials for forest based industries. Several medicinal plants also grow in the Himalayan region. Some areas also serve as good pastoral grounds for grazing animals.
7. Agriculture: The Himalayas do not offer extensive flat lands for agriculture but some of the slopes are terraced for cultivation. Rice is the main crop on the terraced slopes. The other crops include wheat, maize, potatoes, tobacco and ginger. Tea is also grown and a variety of temperate fruits such as apples, grapes, cherries, mulberry, chestnuts, peaches etc are also grown.
8. Tourism:
9. Pilgrimage:
10. Minerals:
MAINS QUESTIONS
Q.1. Give an account of the longitudinal division of the Himalayas. (250 words)
Approach to the answer:-
Introduction - A Couple of lines on Himalayas and types of divisions
Body - Explain Longitudinal division - Kashmir, Kumaon, Garhwal, Arunachal, etc with map.Conclusion - End the answer with 2 lines on the significance of such a division.
Q.2. Analyse the significance of the Himalayas to India. Has India fully utilised the potential of the Himalayan range? (250 words)
Approach to the answer:-
Introduction - Brief account of the Himalayas
Body - (1) List and explain the importance of Himalayas and its various functions. (2) describe how India has not fully exploited Himalayas potential
Conclusion - Way forward as to how India can maximise the potential of the Himalayas.
Q.3. Why is it believed that the Himalayas are still rising? Describe the origin of the Himalayas? (250 words)
Approach to the answer:-
Introduction - Brief description about Himalayas
Body - (1) State the reasons for continued rise of the Himalayas. (2) Explain in detail the theory of origin of the Himalayas.Conclusion - Briefly state the future of Himalayas and the Indian plate.
1. What are the regional divisions of the Himalayas? |
2. What are some prominent peaks in the Greater Himalayas? |
3. Which region of the Himalayas is famous for its hill stations? |
4. What is the significance of the Trans-Himalayas region? |
5. What is the Shivalik Range and its role in the Himalayas? |
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