MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES AND PEAKS OF INDIA

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES AND PEAKS OF INDIA

1. Introduction

• India has a highly diverse relief structure consisting of young fold mountains, old residual mountains, plateaus, hills and coastal ranges.
• NCERT broadly identifies the Himalayan Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains and Islands as the major physiographic divisions of India.
• Mountains influence climate, rainfall, drainage, biodiversity, agriculture, settlement and national security.

2. Himalayan Mountain System

• The Himalayas form India’s most extensive and highest mountain system and stretch across the northern boundary of the country.
• They are young fold mountains, geologically much younger than the Peninsular uplands.
• The Himalayas include parallel ranges such as the Himadri or Great Himalaya, Himachal or Lesser Himalaya and Shiwalik.
• They contain several of the world’s highest peaks and are the source region of major rivers such as the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra.

3. Kangchenjunga and Other High Himalayan Peaks

• Kangchenjunga, situated on the India–Nepal border in the Sikkim Himalaya, rises to about 8,586 metres.
• It is generally recognised as the highest mountain peak associated with India and the third-highest mountain in the world.
• Nanda Devi, at about 7,816 metres, is one of the highest peaks located entirely within India.
• For examination purposes, the status of K2 (8,611 m) should be stated carefully because it lies in the Karakoram in territory presently administered by Pakistan and claimed by India.

4. Karakoram Range

• The Karakoram Range lies to the north-west of the main Himalayan system and contains some of the world’s greatest concentrations of high mountains and glaciers.
• Important features include K2, the Siachen Glacier and several very high passes and peaks.
• Its location gives the region exceptional strategic and geopolitical significance.

5. Aravalli Range