Northern mountain complex

Trans
Hima
Hi layas
ay ma
as l

1)

Purva
nchal

2)

3)

Himalayas
(Nanga parbat to
Namcha barwa)
Trans-Himalayas
( Karakoram,
Ladakh and
Zaskar)
Purvanchal

 C-C plate
The Himalayas

collision
Fold mt.,
tertiary young
mt.,
sedimentary
rocks of
marine origin
Not a single
range but
series of chain
of mountains

Phases of formation of Himalayas

Karakoram ranges
Dras-kohistan islands

Phases of formation of Himalayas

Upliftment of Great
Himalayas

Upliftment of midHim

Phases of formation of Himalayas

Upliftment of
Shiwaliks

Still rising

North south division of Himalayas

1
2
3

1)
2)

3)

Great Himalayas
(Himadri)
Middle/ lesser
Himalayas
(Himachal)
Shiwaliks (Outer
Himalayas)

Great Himalayas
Highest and most
continuous
mountain range of
the world
Crystalline rocks
Mount Everest,
Kanchenjunga,
Makalu, Dhaulagiri,
Mansalu,
Annapurna
Nanda devi, Kamet,
Gurla Mandhata

Middle Himalayas
1
2
3
4

Mid/lesser-Him
(Himachal)
discontinuities
1) Pir Panjal
2) Dhauladhar
3) Nag tibba
4) Masoorie
5) Kumaon hills
6) Mahabharat
(Nepal)

Shiwaliks
Upliftment of
foothills of
Himalayas
Fluvial in origin
alluvial fans,
coarse deposits
brought by
Himalayan rivers
Closer to great Him
in Nepal
disappear after
river Gandak

Structure of Himalayas
1) Aravalli and Assam
hills strong push.
Middle peninsula
sagged- convex
shape of Himalayas
2) Sharply bent
towards southward sudden end
Western bend near
Nanga parbat and
eastern near Namcha
Barwa
Called syntaxial bend

Structure of Himalayas
Great Himalayas and
Shiwaliks hog-back
structure
Gentle sloping
northern face
southern face steep
slope
Northern side rest
against Tibetan plt
Snow accumulation
on southern side

Antecedent rivers
Dont as a water
divide river cut
across
antecedent rivers
Indus, Satluj,
Brahmaputra, Kosi
Rate of erosion of
rivers are higher
than rate of
upliftment of
Himalayas

Erosion process of rivers

Superimposed rivers
antecedent

Western and eastern Himalayas

Indian plate first
collide at its northwestern part to
Eurasian plate
Eastern part still
not collided

Western and eastern Himalayas

Indian plate then
rotate clockwise
NW part as hinge
collision of eastern
edge
Both the portion is
now attached to
Eurasian plate

Western and eastern Himalayas

Indian plate again
rotate anti-clockwise
Now NE part as
hinge
Western part get
away from the
Eurasian plate
partially
Western portion
moves southward

Western and eastern Himalayas

NW edge released
Western Himalayas
spread out
Western Himalayas
broaden
Thats why,
shiwaliks gets
closer to Great
Himalayas in
Eastern part than
in western part

Western and Eastern Himalayas

West
ern
him

Easter
n him

Western Himalayas:
From Indus to Kali
river
Eastern Himalayas:
From Kali river to
Brahmaputra river

Difference between W and E

Himalayas

Eastern Himalayas

Western Himalayas

Great Him, Middle

Himalayas
(Dhualadhar, Pirpanjal,
Kumaon, Massoorie
range)

Great Himalayas +
Middle Himalayas :
Nepal Him (Dudwa,
Muree, Churia) NE Him
(Dafla, Miri, Abor,
Mishmi)

Nepal Himalayas Himalayas

Weste
rn him

Easte
rn
him

Gr
Dhaul
e
Hi at agiri
Annap
s ma l
Du ay
urna Mans
a
d
h
w
alu

Mure
e

EvereMakal
st
u

Churi
a

Kanche
njunga

West and East Himalayas

Ka
or ra
am k

Pir
p
n ja a
l

Mis
mi h
Abor

La
kh da
Za
ar sk

Dh
a
ad ul
ha
r

Gr
H ea
ay ima t
as l

Miri
Daf
a

Kanche
njunga

Difference between W and E

Himalayas

Eastern Himalayas

Western Himalayas
Lower and gradual
slope
Peaks= k2, Godwin
Austin, Gasherbrum,
Masherbrum
Located on higher
latitude colder
Dont act as barrier for
north-west monsoon
-drier

Higher and steepsudden slope

Peaks= Everest,
Makalu, Annapurna,
Dhaulagiri
Located on lower
latitude warmer
Active barrier of south
west monsoon winds
-wetter

Questio
Q. The alpine
n
vegetation in western
Himalayas is found only UPSC
upto a height of 3000m
while in Eastern
Prelims
1995
Himlayas it is found
upto a height of 4000m.
The reason for this
variation in same
mountain range is that:

b) Eastern Himalayas
are nearer to equator
and sea than Western
Himalayas
c) Eastern Himalayas
get more rainfall than
western Himalayas
d) Eastern Himalayan
rocks are more fertile
than western Himalayas

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2010

East-West division of Himalayas

Kashmir-PN Himlayas

Zozila
pass

Pir
p
n ja a
l

Ka
or ra
am k

La
kh da
Za
ar sk

Dh
a
ad ul
ha
r

Gr
H ea
ay ima t
as l

Karakoram,
Ladakh, Zasakar,
Pir panjal, Dhaula
dhar
Zozila pass btwn
Kashmir and
Ladakh
Valleys, duns, lakes

Kumaon Himalayas
Garh
wal
Sh
ali iw
ks

Gr
e
Hi m a t
ala
s
ya
a
Kum
on

West Garhwal
Himalayas
East Kumaon
Himalayas
Nandadevi,
Kamet, Badrinath,
Kedarnath,
Gangotri
Source of Ganga,
Yamuna
Nainital and
Bhimtal -lakes

Nepal Himalayas
Tallest section
Gr
Dhaul
e
Hi at agiri
Annap
s mal
a
urna Mans
Du ya
d

Ka
riv li
er

wa

alu

EvereMakal
st
Ka
u
Mure
e Kathm
riv rn
er ali
andu
Ga vallCey
riv ndak huri Kanche
er
a
njunga
Kosi
river

of Himalayas
Great
Himalayas
peaks
Dhaulagiri,
Annapurna,
Mansalu,
Everest,
Makalu
Kathmandu
valley

Sikkim Himalayas
Kanche
njunga

Jele
p la
pass

Peak:
Kanchenjunga
Teesta originate
near Kanchenjunga
Jelep la pass- trijunction of IndiaChina-Bhutan

 Himalayas
Assam Himalayas

Mis
mi h
Abor

Miri
Daf
a

Dip
hu
pass

narrower
Lesser Himalayas
close to great
Himalayas
Peaks: Namcha
Barwa, Kula Kangri
Bengal Duars
Diphu pass- trijunction of IndiaChina-Myanmar

Q. Nanda devi peak

forms part of:
a) Assam Himalayas
b) Kumaon Himlayas
c) Nepal Himalayas
d) Punjab Himalayas
Ans. B)
Nandadevi -

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2003

Duns formation

lake

river

When river
initially
blocked by
rising mt.
it spreads out
form lake

Duns formation

lake

river

Lakes dry out

when river find
weak rocks to
cut across the
mt.
Dry lakes =
Duns
Between great
and mid-Him
Dehradun btw
Shiwaliks and
masoorie range

Karewas

Flat-topped
terraces of
Kashmir valley
on flanks of Pir
Panjal
made up of
clay, sands
from old deltaic
fans
Fertile land

Importance of Himalayas
Prevents cold Siberian wind to enter
into India
No Himalayas No Tibet No rainfallIndia would have been desert
Himalayas split STWJ into 2 branches
winter rain
Source of perennial rivers great
fertile plain

Importance of Himalayas
Forest wealth great Himalayan NP
unique Bio diversity
Minerals coal (Anthracite) at
kalakot, Nickel, Copper, lead, zinc,
gold, silver
Most of them cannot be exploited
due to adverse geo conditions

Q. If there were no
Himalayan range, what
would have been the
most likely
geographical impact on
India?
1. Much of the country
would experience
the cold wave from
Siberia

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2010

3. The pattern of
monsoon would be
different from what it is
at present.
Which among the
above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3
d) 1,2,3

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2010

Q. When you travel in

Himalayas, you will see
following:
1. Deep gorges
2. U-turn river courses
3. Parallel mountain ranges
4. Steep-gradient causing
land-slides
Which of the above can be said
to be evidence for Himalayas
being young fold mountains?

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2012

a)
b)
c)
d)

1 and 2
1,2 and 4
3 and 4
1,2,3 and 4

Ans. D)

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2012

Trans-Himalayas
1
2
3

Immediately
north of Great
Himalayas
Most of them lie
in Tibet
1) Karakoram
2) Ladakh
3) Zaskar
4) Kailash
) Avg. elevation
3000m

Ranges and peaks

Karako Ladak
ram
h
K2
Rakapo
kshi
Gasher
brum

Kail
ash
Kail
ash

Zas
kar
Nan
ga
Parb
at

Trans-Himalayas
Karakoram is home
Ka
or ra
am k

La
kh da
Za
ar sk

of the greatest
glaciers of world
outside polar
regions
Siachin, Baltoro,
Biafo, HisparGlaciers
Watershed btwn
India and
Turkmenistan

Trans-Himalayas

Deos
ai
moun
tains
Sur
u
rive
r

Shy
ok
river
Lad
akh
ran
ge
Indu
s
river

Deosai mt. part

of ladakh range
Origin of Suru
river (tri.of
Indus)
Kailash range is
off-shoot of
Ladakh range
Indus river
passes between
Ladakh and
Zaskar range

Purvanchal
Eastern Himalayas
Same orogeny that
of Himalayas
Patkaibum, Naga
hills, Manipuri hills,
Mizo hills
Elevation decrease
from north to south

Mt.
Patkai
bum
Naga
hills

Purvanchal

details
Border between Arunachal
Pradesh and Myanmar
Highest peak mt. sharamati
Form water shed between
India and Myanmar
Manip Border between Manipur and
uri
Myanmar
hills
Source of
R.Manipuri(tri.Chindwin,

Purvanchal

Purvanc
hal
Arakan
yoma
Andama
n and
Nicobar

Extension of
Purvanchal
continues in
Myanmar as
Arakan yome
then
Andaman
and Nicobar
Islands

Physiography of India

Northern plains
1

2
3

Youngest
physiographic
feature in India
Depositional flood
plain created by
Himalayan rivers
1) Indus
2) Ganga-Yamuna
3) Brahmaputra

Northern Plains
One of the largest,
continuous and
extensive plains
Fertile plain- flat
topography
-historically settled
dense population
30% of the worlds
population on 10%
of worlds agro-land

NS
division of Northern plains
Bhabhar

N-S division of N.Plains

Bhabhar = alluvial
fans of Himalayan
rivers coarse
depo large
boulders
High porosity and
permeability
Rivers disappear
Not good for
cultivation

N-S division

Terai:
of N.Plains
Bad drainage
Rivers reappears
swamps,
marshy
Naturally sal
forest
Terai of Bengal
and Bihar more
developed

N-S division of N.Plains

Bangar:
old flood plains of
rivers - Dry land
Colcareous
concretion -Kankar

N-S division of N.Plains

Khadar new
flood plains
fresh river
deposition
Slope btw
Bangar and
Khadar:
PN- Dhayas,
UP- Khol,
Bengal Bhils,
Bihar Taal

Flood plain of
a river

Bangar and
Khadar

river
Old Flood
plain New
Flood
plain

Old Flood
plain

Ol
d
Flo
od
pla
in

Ne
w
Flo
od
pla
in

Northern
2
1

East-West
Plains
division of
plain
1) RJ plains
(Indus)
2) PN plains
(Indus)
3) Gangetic
plains
4) Assam
plains
(Brahmaput
ra)

RJ Plains
Ganga
sagar
region

r
ra ava
ng lli
e

v
Ri

Ra
Ba ja
ga sth
an
Ar

Th
ar
des
ert ni
Lu er

West of Aravalli
North: Gangasagar
region
Extension of PN
plains of Indus
West of Aravalli:
Rajasthan Bagar
Drained by river Luni
Luni merged into
Rann of Kutchh

v
ng all
e i

Lu ver
Ri

ra

Th
ar
des
ert i
n

Ra
Ba ja
ga sth
Ar r
an
a

RJ Plains
Rajasthan Bagar:
fluvial grasslands
RJ steppe
Very fertile Rohi
tracts
Western most RJmarusthali/ Thar
desert sand dunes
Dhrians

RJ Plains

SW
plains

ra v
ng all
e i

Ra
Ba j a
ga sth
Ar r
an
a

Th
ar
des
ert

Gang
asaga
r
regio
n

SW plains: marine
origin
While north
movement- Indian
plates western
margin marine
transgression
marine depo. oil
and gas reserve
salt lakes
Extend to Kutchh

Deserts Tropical
in RJ desert
Off-shore trade
winds + local
reason Aravalli
parallel to SW
monsoon no
orographic rain
Soil is fertile but
moisture deficiency
cultivable if
relclaimed

Punjab Plains
i
v
r
Ra ive s
R ea r
B ive
R
Satluj
Ri v e r

Fluvial plains Ravi,

Beas and Sutlej
(tri. Of Indus)
Khadar plains:
fertile but
limitations
1) Aridity
2) Basin
topography (bad
drainage) salination

Gangetic Plains
1
2

Divisions:
1) Upper
Gangetic
plains
2) Middle
Gangetic
plains
3) Lower
Gangetic
plains

Gangetic Plains
Upper ganga
plains
From
Yamuna to
Ghaghara
plains
Rohilkhand
plain
Sandy
deposits

Gangetic Plains
middle ganga
plains
Kosi plain
Called
Magadh /
Awadh /Anga
plain
Flood-prone,
shifting of
river course
of Kosi

Gangetic Plains
Lower ganga
plains
Ganga enters
WB
Sundarban delta
Lowland-almost
sea level
Sagar Island
Lothian Is. (N.P)
Bengal tigers

Assam
Kailash
mt.

Brahmaputra
Plains
largest river of
India (volume)
Origin
Mansarovar
lake- enters as
Dihang in
Arunachal
Pradesh
River course
narrownumerous
stream flow
-flood prone

Assam plains
Streams from
Manas

an
h
i
D
g it
h
Lo

Suban
siri
Dhans
Kapi
lir
li i Na

Ga Kh
Jain Ba
ro asi
tia rai
l
ra
ng
e

ga
hil
ls

north swift
flowing form
alluvial fans
1) Manas
2) Subansiri,
) Streams from
south plt.
smooth flowing3) Dibang
4) Lohit
5) Dhansiri
6) Kapilli

Geological history of
India
Physiographical regions
of India
Northern mountains
Northern plains