Question

Write a detailed on Kashmir or north-western Himalayas.

Answer 1

Kashmir or North-western Himalayas:

• Region extents over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
• It comprises of Ladakh, Zaskar and Pir Panjal.
• The north-eastern parts of Kashmir Himalayas is a cold desert which lies between greater Himalayas and Karakoram ranges.
•  Between Pir Panjal and Great Himalayas in Dal Lake and Valley of Kashmir.
• Important Glaciers here are:
  • Siachen
  • Baltora
  • Babura
  • Hispar.
• Kashmir valleys are known for Karewas. Karewas are thick deposits of glacial clay and other material embedded with moraines (Zafran-Saffron is cultivated here):
• Important passes: Zoji La on the Great Himalayas, Banihal on Pir Panjal range, Photu La-Zaskar range, Kharaung La on Ladakh range. Thadala, Nitila, Lepulekh in Uttaranchal Nathula in Sikkim in Himachal Pradesh.
• Himalayas are spread between river Indus to river Mahi. The total extent of western Himalayas is 700 km and 400 km in width.
• Kashmir Himalayas, Punjab Himalayas and Kumaon Himalayas are its sub-division.
• The important lakes are: Dal lake and Wular lake (in Jammu and Kashmir and they are freshwater lakes), Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri ( they are salt water lakes and they are situated in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Important rivers: Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
• Important pilgrimages Vaishno Devi, Amaranth and Charar-e-Sharif.
• The southernmost part of the region has longitudinal valleys known as Duns, e.g. Jammu Dun and Pathankot Dun.