CONTENTS

Unit 1: Himalayan Regional Geography

1. HIMALAYAN PHYSIOGRAPHY ...... 8 5. Pig ...... 37 1. Trans Himalayas ...... 8 6. Horses and Ponies ...... 37 2. The Himalayas ...... 9 7. Goat ...... 37 3. Important Passes of Himalayas ...... 14 8. Wool ...... 37 4. Signifi cance of Himalayas ...... 15 9. Sericulture ...... 38 10. Fisheries ...... 38 2. HIMALAYAN DRAINAGE SYSTEM ...18 11. Apiculture (Bee Keeping) ...... 38 1. Indus River System ...... 18 2. The Ganga River System ...... 20 7. DEMOGRAPHY OF 3. Brahmaputra River System ...... 23 HIMALAYAN REGION ...... 39 1. Population Growth in Himalayan 3. HIMALAYAN CLIMATE SYSTEM .....25 Region ...... 39 2. Western Himalayas ...... 39 1. Seasonal Rhythm ...... 25 3. Eastern Himalayan ...... 41 2. Annual Rainfall ...... 27

8. HIMALAYAN SYSTEM POPULATION 4. HIMALAYAN NATURAL COMPOSITION ...... 44 VEGETATION & WILDLIFE ...... 29 1. Ethnic composition of Himalayan 1. Natural Vegetation ...... 29 region ...... 44 2. Major Forest Products ...... 29 2. Scheduled Castes ...... 45 3. Minor Forest Products ...... 29 3. Distribution of SCs in Himalayan region ..45 4. Indirect uses of forests ...... 30 4. Tribal population in Himalayan region .....45 5. Vegetation Division of Himalayas ...... 30 5. Distribution of STs in Himalayan region ...46 6. Wildlife ...... 32 6. Tribal Economy ...... 46 7. Languages and Dialects used 5. HIMALAYAN SOILS ...... 34 in Himalayan region ...... 47 1. Major Soils found in Himalayan Region ...34 8. Religious Composition ...... 47 2. Soil erosion ...... 34 9. Literacy in Himalayan Region ...... 48 10. Migration ...... 49 6. HIMALAYAN BIOTIC 11. Internal Migration in Himalayan region ....50 RESOURCES ...... 36 1. Livestock ...... 36 9. HIMALAYAN AGRICULTURE ...... 51 2. Cattle ...... 36 1. Crop combination in the Himalayan 3. Buffaloes ...... 36 region ...... 51 4. Sheep ...... 37 2. Dryland Farming in Himalayan region ...... 51 3. Agro-Climatic Region of Himalayas ...... 51  Pakal Dul Project ...... 58  Turga Pumped Storage Project ...... 58 10. MINERAL RESOURCES  Renuka dam ...... 59 IN HIMALAYAN REGION ...... 53  Lower Kalnai hydropower project ...... 59 1. Metallic Minerals...... 53 2. Non Metallic Minerals ...... 54 12. HIMALAYAN NATURAL HAZARDS & DISASTERS ...... 60 11. ENERGY RESOURCES 1. Major Natural Hazards and IN HIMALAYAS ...... 55 Disasters in Himalayas ...... 60 2. Earthquakes ...... 60 1. Conventional Sources of Energy ...... 55 3. Droughts ...... 61 2. Non Conventional Energy Sources ...... 55 4. Floods ...... 61 3. Recent Developments ...... 56  Himalayan springs ...... 56 5. Cloudburst ...... 62  Natiwar Mori Hydro Electricity Project .....57 6. Landslides...... 62  Kishanganga Hydro Electricity Project ....57 7. Avalanches ...... 63

Unit II: Regional Geography of Northern Plains

1. THE GREAT PLAIN OF NORTH 4. SOILS OF GREAT NORTHERN INDIA ...... 66 PLAINS ...... 87 1. Origin of the Plain ...... 66 1. Soil erosion in the Great Plains ...... 89 2. Geomorphology of the Plain ...... 66 2. Desertifi cation ...... 90 3. Regional Division of Plains...... 67 4. Signifi cance of the Plain ...... 69 5. NATURAL VEGETATION& WILDLIFE OF GREAT NORTHERN 2. IMPORTANT RIVER WATER PLAIN ...... 91 PROJECTS & DAMS IN NORTHERN 1. Forest Products ...... 92 PLAIN ...... 71 2. Social Forestry ...... 92 3. Wild Life ...... 93 3. INDIAN MONSOON & CLIMATIC 4. National Parks ...... 94 REGIONS OF INDIA ...... 73 5. Biosphere Reserves ...... 94 1. Introduction ...... 73 6. Cattle ...... 96 2. Traditional Theory ...... 73 7. Buffaloes ...... 96 3. Dynamic Theory ...... 74 8. Sheep ...... 96 4. Factors Affecting Indian Monsoon ...... 74 5. Theory of Bursting Monsoon ...... 79 6. BIOTIC RESOURCES OF GREAT 6. Rainfall Pattern in India ...... 81 NORTHERN PLAINS ...... 96 7. Climatic Regions of India ...... 83 1. Goats ...... 97 8. Recent Developments ...... 85 2. Horses, Ponies, Donkey & Mules ...... 97  India International Cherry Blossom Festival-2018 ...... 85 3. Camel ...... 97 9. Soils...... 87 4. Livestock Products ...... 97 5. Fisheries ...... 97 9. GREAT NORTHERN PLAINS-LAND UTILIZATION & 7. DEMOGRAPHY OF THE AGRICULTURE ...... 113 GREAT NORTHERN PLAINS ...... 98 1. Land Use ...... 113 1. Factors Governing Distribution of 2. Agriculture ...... 113 population ...... 99 3. Crop Combination of Northern Plains ....115 2. Literacy in the Great Northern Plains ...101 4. Food Crops ...... 115 3. Work ...... 101 5. Cash Crops ...... 116 4. Coal ...... 105 6. Oil Seeds ...... 117 5. Petroleum or Mineral Oil ...... 105 7. Agro Climatic Regions ...... 118 6. Pipelines ...... 105 8. Case study of Green Revolution ...... 118 9. Metalic Minerals ...... 123 8. ENERGY RESOURCES 10. Non- Metallic Minerals ...... 123 IN GREAT NORTHERN PLAINS ..... 105 1. Natural Gas ...... 108 10. MINERAL RESOURCES IN GREAT 2. Electricity ...... 109 NORTHERN PLAINS ...... 123 3. Non conventional Energy Sources ...... 109 1. Earthquakes ...... 126 4. Recent Developments ...... 110 2. Droughts ...... 126  Mohar Reservoir Project ...... 110  Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project ...... 110 11. NATURAL HAZARDS & DISASTERS  North Koel reservoir project...... 111 IN GREAT NORTHERN PLAINS ..... 126  Bansagar canal project ...... 112 1. Floods ...... 127

Unit III: Regional Geography Peninsular India

1. THE PENINSULAR PLATEAU 8. Recent Developments ...... 146 COASTAL PLAINS AND ISLANDS .130  Mahadayi River water sharing dispute ...146  1. Peninsular Plateau ...... 130 Polavaram multi-purpose project ...... 146  Mekedatu dam project ...... 147 2. Coastal Plains ...... 133  Par-Tapi-Narmada inter-state river 3. The Indian Islands ...... 134 link project ...... 148

2. DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF 3. CLIMATE OF PENINSULAR INDIA .149 PENINSULAR INDIA ...... 136 1. Factors Infl uencing the Climate of 1. Origin of Peninsular Drainage ...... 136 Peninsular India ...... 149 2. Seasonal Rhythm of Monsoon 2. West fl owing rivers ...... 136 in Peninsular India ...... 149 3. East Flowing Rivers ...... 139 3. Annual Rainfall in the Peninsula India ...151 4. Waterfalls in Peninsular India ...... 142 4. Climatic Regions of Peninsular India ....152 5. WATER RESOURCES AND IRRIGATION ...143 6. Irrigation ...... 144 4. SOILS OF PENINSULAR INDIA .....155 7. Multipurpose Projects ...... 145 1. Soil Erosion ...... 157 5. NATURAL VEGETATION & WILDLIFE  Kaleswaram project ...... 180 OF PENINSULAR INDIA ...... 159  Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project ...... 181 1. Natural Vegetation ...... 159 2. Geographical Distribution of 8. MINERAL RESOURCES IN Forest Area ...... 160 PENINSULAR INDIA ...... 182 3. Forest Products ...... 161 1. Non Metallic Minerals ...... 183 4. Wildlife ...... 162 2. Energy Resources ...... 184 5. Biosphere Reserves ...... 165

6. DEMOGRAPHY OF PENINSULAR 9. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN INDIA ...... 166 PENINSULAR INDIA ...... 186 1. Population...... 166 1. Metallurgical Industries ...... 186 2. Sex ratio in the Peninsular India ...... 168 2. Textile Industries ...... 186 3. Child population ...... 169 3. Metallurgical Industries ...... 186 4. Child Sex Ratio ...... 169 4. Engineering Industries ...... 187 5. Literacy in the peninsular India ...... 170 5. Industrial Regions ...... 188 6. Work participation ...... 170 7. Languages and Dialects of Peninsular India ...... 171 10. TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATION 8. Religious Composition ...... 171 IN PENINSULAR INDIA ...... 190 9. Ethnic Composition ...... 171 1. Railways ...... 190 10. Scheduled Castes ...... 172 2. Metro Rail ...... 190 11. Scheduled Tribes ...... 172 3. Roadways ...... 190 4. Air Transport ...... 191 7. PENINSULAR INDIA-LAND UTILIZATION & AGRICULTURE ..... 174 5. Water Transport ...... 191 1. Land Utilization ...... 174 6. Shipping ...... 191 2. Major Crops ...... 175 3. CASH CROPS ...... 176 11. MISCELLANEOUS ...... 193 4. OILSEEDS ...... 176 1. Recent Developments ...... 193 5. PLANTATION CROPS ...... 177  National Water Awards ...... 193 6. SPICES ...... 177  National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project 7. Horticulture ...... 178 (NCRMP) ...... 193  8. Biotic and Marine Resources ...... 178 Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS) .....194  9. Agro- Climatic Regions of Peninsular Uranium contamination in groundwater India ...... 179 from aquifers across 16 states in India .195 10. Recent Developments ...... 180 2. PLACES IN NEWS ...... 195 UNIT 1

HIMALAYAN REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY www.iasscore.in

CHAPTER HIMALAYAN 1 PHYSIOGRAPHY

 The Himalayas form the highest mountain range in the world, extending 2,500 km over northern India. Bounded by the Indus River in the west and the Brahmaputra river in the east. The three parallel ranges, the Himadri, Himachal and Shivaliks have deep canyons gorged by the rivers fl owing into the Gangetic plain.  Northern Mountain complex can be divided into two parts. Geographically Himalayas and trans Himalayas are separate entities.

Parts of Northern Mountain Complex ! Trans Himalayas ! The Himalayas ! The Eastern or Purvanchal Hills

Trans Himalayas

Formation  When Indian plate subducted beneath the Eurassian plate, continent ocean convergence took place which led to subduction of oceanic plate. This resulted into the formation of andesitic rock on the margins of plate. This range formed is known as Karakoram range.

Location  It is situated to the north of the Great Himalayas. It has Karakoram Ladakh, Zaskar and Kailash mountain range. The Karakoram range is called the backbone of high Asia.  The mountainous complexities of the Himalayan region can be understood in a simple way with the help of the given fi gure. The Indus river fl ows between Zaskar and Ladakh ranges. It creates the deep gorge in India (5200 m deep) by cutting Ladakh range at the place named Bunzi.

Main ranges: ! Zaskar range (India) ! Ladakh range (India) ! Karakoram range (India/Pakistan/China) ! Kailash range (in Tibet) Zaskar range ! Nanga Parbat (8126 m) and Deosai mountain are important parts of it. ! Situated on the western part of the Greater Himalaya and to the south of Trans Himalaya. ! It is part of the Tethys Himalayas. It extends from Uttaranchal to Jammu and Kashmir.

8 www.iasscore.in

Ladakh Range ! It is about 300 km long and its average elevation is 5800 m. ! Rakaposhi – Harmosh ranges are extension of it. ! South of Ladakh range Indus originates & meets with ‘Shyok River’. Karakoram range ! Northern most range of trans-Himalayan ranges are called Karakoram range. They are known as Krishnagiri range. It acts as frontier between India & China. ! Extend from the Pamir, east of the Gilgit River, 600 km long and the average width - 120-140 km. ! Abode of largest glaciers in India. ! Siachen, Baltoro, Biafo, and Hisper glaciers. ! Highest peak (in India): K2 or Godwin Austen (8611 m). ! Other important Peaks: Gasherbrum I or Hidden Peak, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum II. ! In the northern limit of Karakoram range lies the Pamir, the Aghil Mountains, and the Yarkand River and in the southern limit lies the River Indus and its tributary Shyok. Kailash range ! It is also called Gangdise in Chinese. Location of ranges of Trans Himalayas from North to South ! Kailash range is offshoot of Ladakh range.  ! Highest peak is mount Kailash (6714 m). Karakoram range N  ! Indus river originates from northern Kailash range (Tibet) slope of Kailash range.  Ladakh range  Zaskar range S The Himalayas

Formation  Himalayas are formed after the collision of continental crust of Indian plate and Eurasian plate.  It has been formed due to folding of sediments of ancient tethys sea.  This process of plate tectonics is ongoing, and the gradual northward drift of the Indian subcontinent still causes earthquakes. Lesser ranges lie just southward from the main body of the Himalayas at both the eastern and western ends.  The Himalayan system, about 2,400 kilometers in length and varying in width from 240 to 330 kilometers, is made up of three parallel ranges collectively called as the Great Himalayan Range. ! The Greater Himalayas ! The Lesser Himalayas, and ! The Outer Himalayas  The Greater Himalayas or Himadri has an average elevation of approximately 6,000 meters in height and contain the highest mountains on earth. Mount Everest (8,848 meters) on the China-Nepal border is the highest peak of the World.  Many major mountains, such as Kanchenjunga (8598 m), Lhotse (8501m), Makalu (8481m), Dhaulagiri(8172m), Mansalu(8481m), Cho Oyu (8153m) and Nanga Parbat are part of the Greater Himalaya. Kanchenjunga, is the highest peak of greater Himalayas in India.  The snow line averages 4,500 to 6,000 meters on the southern side of the Greater Himalayas and 5,500 to 6,000 on the northern side. Because of climatic conditions, the snow line in the eastern Himalayas averages 4,300 meters, while in the western Himalayas it averages 5,800 meters.

9 www.iasscore.in

Important Peaks of Greater Himalayas

Peaks Height Country/States

Mount Everest 8850m Nepal

Kanchenjunga 8598m India

Lhotse 8501m Nepal-China

Makalu 8481m Nepal-China Border

Dhaulagiri 8172m Nepal

Manaslu 8156m Nepal

Cho oyu 8153m Nepal/China Border

Nanga Parbat 8126m Jammu & Kashmir/India

Annapurna 8091m Nepal

Gosainath 8008m Tibet, China

Pangma 8013m China/Tibet

Nandadevi 7816m India/Uttarakhand

Kamet 7756m India/Uttarakhand

Namcha Barwa 7756m India

Gurla Mandhata 7728m Nepal

 The Lesser Himalayas or Middle Himalayas or Himachal is located in north- western India in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, in north-central India in the state of Sikkim, and in north-eastern India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, ranges from 1,500 to 5,000 meters in height.  Ranges such as Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, Nag Tibba, Musoorie, Mahabharata Lekh, Kumaon Hills, are part of Middle Himalayas. Many important valleys such as Kashmir valley, Kulu valley and Kangra valley is located in this range.  Middle Himalayas are marked by meadows which are called ‘Bugyal’or ‘Payar’ in Uttarakhand and ‘Marg’ in Kashmir. Ex: Gulmarg and Sonmarg are such meadows.  Many doons or duns are found in middle Himalayas such as Dehradun, Jammu dun, and Pathankot dun.  The Outer or Southern Himalayas, averaging 900 to 1,200 meters in elevation, lie between the Lesser Himalayas and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, this southernmost range is often referred to as the Shiwalik Hills. They are dissected and are not continuous in nature. Jammu hills, Dafl a, Miri , Abhor, Mishmi and Churia Ghat Hills (Nepal) are part of the outer Himalayas. Dhang and Dudhwa Range of Nepal are part of Shiwaliks.

10 www.iasscore.in

Eastern Hills or Poorvanchal  Poorvanchal hills are eastern hills which formed during the formation of Himalayas. They form discontinuous ranges from North to South. Hills of Poorvanchal include Patkai Bum (Arunachal Pradesh), Naga Hills (Nagaland), Manipur Hills (Manipur), Mizo Hills (Mizoram), Tripura hills (Tripura), Barail range (Assam) and Mikir Hills (Assam). The Purvanchal Mountains are composed largely of strong sandstone geological formations.

11 www.iasscore.in

Features of Himalyan Ranges

Himalayan syntaxial Bend: Due to strong push of Aravalli and Assam hills, the weak region of middle Himalayas was pushed and pressed, due to which it became convex shaped which seemed to be hinged at Nanga Parbat (Jammu And Kashmir) and Namcha Barwa (Arunachal Pradesh). This bend is called Himalayan Syntaxial bend.

Himalayan Syntaxial Bend

Uneven slopes Himalayan southern slopes (Indian side) is less steeper than northern slope (China side). This causes great difference in diversity of fl ora and fauna on both sides. Indian side is more biologically diverse than Chinese side, which makes it habitable. A large numbers of glaciers rest on southern slope of Himalayas.

Regional Divisions of the Himalayas  The Punjab/Himalaya (560 km long between the Indus and the Satluj rivers)  The Kumaun Himalaya (320 km long between the Satluj and the Kali rivers),  The Nepal Himalaya (800 km long between the Kali and the Tista rivers).  The Assam Himalaya (720 km long between the Tista and Brahmaputra rivers).

Regional division of Himalayas

Division Name Location Length

Punjab Himalayas Between Indus and Satluj rivers 560 km

Kumaon Himalayas Between Satluj and Kali rivers 320 km

Nepal Himalayas Between Kali & Tista river 800 km

Assam Himalayas Between Tista & Brahamputra River 720 km *See Figure on next page

Longitudinal Division of Himalayas

Division Name Location Length

! Between the Indus river to Kali river The western Himalayas ! In States of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and 880 km Uttarakhand

12 www.iasscore.in

! Between Kali river and Tista river The central Himalayas 800 km ! It extends from Nepal to Sikkim

! Between the Tista and the Brahamputra The Eastern Himalayas 720 km ! It extends from Arunachal Pradesh to Bhutan

13 www.iasscore.in

Important Passes of Himalayas

Jammu and Kashmir ! Mintaka Pass - It lies near the tri-junction of India- China and Afghanistan border and joins north Kashmir with China. ! Banihal Pass - It is situated at an elevation of 2832 m across the Pir-Panjal Range. It remains snow covered during winter season and cannot be used as a transport route in that season. To provide round-the-year transport facilities between Jammu in South and Srinagar in the north, a tunnel named as The Jawahar Tunnel (after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the fi rst prime minister of India) was inaugurated in December, 1956. Another 11 km long tunnel provides railways link between Banihal and Kazigund. It was thrown open to railway transport in July, 2013. ! Khardung La - This pass is situated at an altitude of 5602 m near Leh in the Ladakh range. Te world’s highest motorable road passes through this pass. However, this road remains closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. ! Lanak La - Located near the border between India and China at an altitude exceeding fi ve thousand meters in the Akasai-Chin area of Jammu and Kashmir, this pass provides passage between Ladakh and Lhasa. A road to connect Xinjiang Province with Tibet has been constructed by the Chinese. ! Pir-Panjal - Lying across the Pir Panjal range, it had been a traditional pass on the road and provides the shortest and the easiest metalled road between Jammu and Kashmir Valley. But this route had to be closed down as a result of partition of the subcontinent. ! Zoji La - It is located at an altitude of 3850 m above sea level and provides an important road link between Srinagar on one side and Kargil and Leh on the other side. The road passing through this pass has been designated as National Highway (NH-1 D). Border Road Organization (BRO) is responsible for maintaining the road and clearing it off snow during winter. In spite of all these efforts, the road through this pass remains closed from December to mid-May. Himachal Pradesh ! Bara Lacha La - This mountain pass is situated at an altitude of 4883 m and provides passage between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. National highway connecting Mandi in Himachal Pradesh with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir passes through this pass. Being situated at high altitude, it remains snow covered in winter and is not used as a transport route. ! Debas Pass - Situated at an elevation of 5270 m above sea level in the Greater Himalayas, it provides a link between Kullu and Lahul and Spiti districts. It offers a much easier and shorter alternative route to traditional Pin-Parbati Pass route between Kullu and Spiti. ! Rohtang Pass - It is located at an altitude of 3979 m and provides road link between Kullu, Lahul and Spiti Valleys. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is responsible for constructing and maintaining roads in this area. Rohtang pass is a great tourist attraction and traffi c jams are very common because this route is widely used by military, public and private vehicles.

14 www.iasscore.in

! Shipki La - It is located at the Indo-China border at an altitude of over 5669 m in Kinnaur district provides a road connection between Himachal Pradesh and Tibet. It remains snow bound for most of the winter season and is not available for transport. River Satluj enters India near this pass. Uttarakhand ! Lipu Lekh - Situated near the trijunction of Uttarakhand (India), Tibet (China) and Nepal borders, in Pithoragarh district, it provides a link between Uttarakhand and Tibet. This pass is used by pilgrim to Kailash-Mansarovar. Use of this pass becomes diffi cult due to landslides in the rainy season and avalanches in the winter season. ! Mana Pass - Situated a little north of the holy place of Badrinath at an elevation of 5610 m near the indo-China border in the Greater Himalayas, this pass connects Uttarakhand with Tibet. It remains closed for six winter months in the year due to heavy snowfall. ! Mangsha Dhura - Situated at an Altitude of over fi ve thousand meters at the Indo-China border in the Greater Himalayas in Pithoragarh district, this pilgrims going to Kailash- Mansarovar. Landslides during the rainy season and avalanches during the winter season pose great threat to pilgrims using of this route. ! Niti Pass - Located at an altitude of 5068 m at the Indo-China border across the Greater Himalayas, this pass joins Uttarakhand with Tibet. It remains snow covered and hence closed to traffi c from November to mid-May. Sikkim ! Nathu La - Situated at an altitude of 4310 m on the Indo-China border, it forms part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Route. It connects Sikkim with Tibet and is an important trade route between India and China. It was closed after the Chinese aggression on India in 1962 but was reopened in 2006 as the governments of the two countries decided to enhance their trade through land routes. ! Jelep La - It lies at the Sikkim-Bhutan border at an altitude of 4538 m and passes through Chumbi Valley. This pass provides an important link between Sikkim and Lhasa. Arunachal Pradesh ! Bom Di La - Situated at an altitude of 4331 m near the eastern boundary of Bhutan in the Greater Himalayas, this pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa. It is snowbound in winter and remains closed for traffi c. ! Dihang pass - Situated at an elevation of more than 4000 m it provides passage between Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.

Signifi cance of Himalayas

Tourist Abode ! The Himalaya exercise a dominating infl uence on the meteorological conditions of India as over its physical geography, vitally affecting its air and water circulation system and, through these, the distribution of life. The high snowy ranges have moderating infl uence on the temperature and humidity of northern India. When the neighbouring lands are suffering from scorching heat in summer, the lower and upper ranges of the Himalaya, because of their height, enjoy a very cool and pleasant climate. Owing to the intense heat in the plains, India has developed a number of hill stations, especially on the Siwalkis, which lies at about 2,000-2500 meters except for the minor ones at 1,000-1,600 meters in Central India. These attract a large number of tourists during spring and summer season. The enchanting beauty of the people, the prospects of living in luxurious houseboats, the scenic beauty all round, the facilities for skiing and skating, mountaineering have all conspired together to make Kashmir valley a paradise among the world’s famous tourist resorts. Other valleys of similar importance are the Kishtwar, the Chamba, the Kulu, the Kangra and many others.

15 www.iasscore.in

Climatic Infl uence ! The Himalaya mountain isolate the deeper interior of Asia from the infl uence of warm air from the south, and it protects India from the cold blizzards generated by the continental winter high pressure system of north eastern and central Asia. ! To the Himalaya India owes the prominent features of the climate. By reason of its altitude and situation directly in the path of monsoon, it is most favourable condition for the precipitation of all their contained moisture either rash rain or snow. It intercepts the monsoon clouds advancing from the southern seas, and precipitates heavy rains on the India plains. Birth Place of rivers ! Snow fi elds and glaciers of enormous magnitude are nourished on the higher ranges which, together with the rainfall in the middle Himalaya feed a number of perennial rivers which course down to the plains in hundreds of fertilizing tributaries. The Sacred Rivers along with numerous tributaries have their sources here. Without Himalaya, India would have been a bleak country with no big rivers and no rainfall. Source of Fertile Soil ! Running water and forest have been constantly eroding the great Himalaya ranges. This debris, after being removed by numerous rivers, is ultimately deposited over the great plains of northern India. The fertile plains of the Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam have all been the product of this eroded material producing a wide variety of agricultural crops. Richness of Fauna and Flora ! The Himalayan region is very rich in animal and forest resources. In the front of the outer Himalaya lies the Tarai Jungle, the abode of many wild beasts like yak, leopard, bear, and sambhar on the west-panthers and tigers in the central parts; and elephants, tigers and mithuns on the east. These attract a larger number of hunters and provide good game. Besides owing to a variety of climatic conditions the Himalaya is rich in forest resources. On the lower reaches are largely found the tropical and subtropical forests yielding good timber, while on the middle and upper reaches are found the coniferous and deciduous soft and hard woods, yielding wood for match sticks, paper pulp resin, turpentine oil, and various medicinal herbs, etc. Source of water supply and Hydroelectricity ! The Himalaya gives birth to mighty rivers whose waters have been utilized for purposes of irrigation and latterly for power. The Yamuna Canal and the harnessing of the Sutlej and other fi ver Punjab rivers made India dependent more than ever on the resources of the Himalaya. The economy of the Punjab and the western desert region of Rajasthan and western region of U. P. became related to the fl ow of water from these mountains. Now, new centers of pilgrimage are springing up in these parts. These are the sites where large projects (known as the multipurpose schemes) have been and are being developed. The Mandi project was the fi rst attempt in this line; the post independence schemes, the Bhakra Nangal, the Kosi, and the Rihand dam project have the generation of electric power as one of their main purposes. Tons, Ram Ganga, Sharda, Gandak and many other Himalayan rivers are being harnessed. Huge potential of power resources awaits exploitation. Storehouse of Mineral Resources ! The Himalaya region contains commercially valuable minerals. Copper, lead, zinc, bismuth, antimony, nickel, cobalt and tungsten are known to occur in both the eastern and western Himalayan and more than 100 different localities. The Himalaya promise gold, silver and precious and semi precious stones (including sapphires, beryl, and kynite), limestone, bauxite, gypsum, bentonite and magnesite. Coal and petroleum are other mineral fuels founded in the region.

16 www.iasscore.in

Other Economic Resources ! On the lower slopes of the Himalaya (particularly in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh) green pastures have made sheep and goat rearing an important occupation of the Gadi shepherd, Sericulture is also carried on. Pashmina wool is obtained from Kashmir. With the integration of these areas into larger viable units after India’s Independence, the layout of the roads (Jammu-Srinagar and India Tibet Road) and railways and the establishment of other modes of the communications in this region have paved the way for economic development of some of these regions. By and large, the vast wealth of the Himalayan region lying in is rivers and forests and its minerals, remains yet to be fully exploited.

**********

17