🏔️ Himalayan Mountain System – Blog Notes (Page 2)
1️⃣ Introduction
- The Himalayas are the youngest fold mountains in the world.
- They were formed due to the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate.
- They extend from the Indus Gorge (West) to the Brahmaputra Gorge (East), covering nearly 2,400 km.
2️⃣ Geological Origin
- Formed after the closure of the Tethys Sea.
- The Indian Plate moved northward after the breakup of Gondwanaland.
- Continuous compression caused folding, faulting, and uplift.
Key Term: Alpine–Himalayan Orogenic Belt
3️⃣ Major Himalayan Divisions (North → South)
🔹 Trans-Himalaya
- Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar ranges
- Oldest mountain system
- Dominated by granite and metamorphic rocks
🔹 Greater Himalaya (Himadri)
- Highest Himalayan range
- Contains peaks like Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga
- Perennial snowfields and major glaciers
🔹 Lesser Himalaya (Himachal)
- Moderate altitude ranges
- Highly folded sedimentary rocks
- Region prone to landslides
🔹 Shiwalik Himalaya
- Southernmost foothills
- Youngest Himalayan formation
- Made of unconsolidated sediments
4️⃣ Structural Features
- Main Central Thrust (MCT)
- Main Boundary Thrust (MBT)
- Main Frontal Thrust (MFT)
These thrusts clearly indicate that the Himalayas are tectonically active.
5️⃣ Evidence of Youthfulness
- Sharp and rugged peaks
- Deep river gorges
- Frequent earthquakes
- Rapid erosion and sediment deposition
6️⃣ Seismic & Tectonic Importance
- Falls under Seismic Zones IV and V
- Frequent earthquakes in Nepal, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir
- Indicates ongoing plate convergence
7️⃣ Climatic & Hydrological Role
- Acts as a barrier to cold Central Asian winds
- Controls the Indian Monsoon system
- Source of major rivers – Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra
8️⃣ PYQ-Based Objective Points
- Himalayas formed during the Cenozoic Era
- Indian Plate moves at approximately 5 cm per year
- Shiwaliks are the youngest range
- Karakoram belongs to the Trans-Himalaya
📘 Geography Optional – Paper II | PYQs + Model Answers
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