E-Content Geography Class-9 Dated: 04.05.20

Duration: 45min

Chapter-2 Physical Feature of India (contd…):

The Three Distinct Parallel Ranges of the Himalayas: The Himalayas are not the single mountain range. They consist of three nearly parallel mountain ranges. They are 1. The Greater or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri. 2. The Middle or Lesser Himalaya or Himachal. 3. The Outer Himalaya or Shiwaliks. The Greater Himalayas or the Inner Himalayas or Himadri: - It is the northernmost and most continuous range of the Himalayas. - It consists of loftiest peaks and its average height is 6000m. - It is also called Himadri as it is abode of snow (perpetual snow cover all round year) and it consists of many giant ice-cap glaciers such as the Gangotri, the Yamonotri, the Alakapuri etc. which give rise to several perennial rivers of India. - It contains all prominent Himalayan peaks such as The Mount Everest (8848m) in Nepal, Mount Kanchenjunga (8598m) in Sikkim, Nanga Parbat (8126m) in Kashmir, Nanda Devi (7817m) in Uttrakhand, Namcha Barwa (7756m) in Arunachal Pradesh etc. - Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain peak; locally called the Sagamatha in Nepal. Whereas, Mount Kanchenjunga is the world’s third highest peak and it is the highest peak of Himalaya in India located in Sikkim. - The folds of the Greater Himalayas are asymmetrical in nature and the core of this part of Himalayas is composed of granite. The Middle or Lesser Himalaya or Himachal : - It lies between the Himadri in the north and the Shiwaliks in the south and runs west-east directions and almost parallel to the Greater Himalayas. - It is lower than the Greater Himalayas and its height varies between 3700m to 4500m. Its average width is 50km. - It is called Pir Panjal in Kashmir, Dhaola Dhar in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Kumaon range in Uttrakhand and Mahabharat Lekh (range) in Nepal. The Pir Panjal range is the longest and most prominent range. - It forms the most rugged mountain system and and the ranges are composed of highly compressed and altered rocks. - It has alternating ridges and longitudinal valleys and the famous valleys are Kashmir Valley in Kashmir, Kangra andKullu valley in Himachal Pradesh , Kumaon Valley in Uttrakhand and the famous Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. - Many hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Almorah, Ranikhet, Dalhausie, Dharamsala, Gangtok, Darjeeling , etc., also lie in its lower part.

The Outer Himalaya or Shiwaliks: - It is the southernmost and the lowest range of the Himalayas. - Its height varies between 900 and 1100m and it is bout 10-50km broad. - It is prominent in the western half of the Himalayas and it disappears to the east of Nepal. - This range is made of unconsolidated river deposits and gravel washed down from the higher regions in the north. - The crustal rocks here is highly unstable and very much prone to earthquake and landslides. Deforestation and soil erosion is also common here. - The longitudinal valley lying between Himachal and shiwaliks are known as Duns. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, Patli Dun, Kothari Dun, etc., are famous Duns and are covered with thick deposits of gravel and alluvium.

Assignment: 1) Name the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas. 2) Write any three main characteristics of Greater Himalayas. 3) Name the valleys and hill stations found in Himachal range. 4) What are Duns? Name any two famous Duns found in Shiwaliks range.