Physiographic Divisions Of The Himalayas
The Himalayan Mountains form the northern mountain region of India. They are the highest mountain ranges in the world. These mountain ranges start from Pamir Knot in the west and extend up to Purvanchal in the east.
Trans-Himalayas
- The Trans-Himalayas Mountain Region or Tibet Himalayan Region is located to the north of the Great Himalayas which consists of Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar and Kailash mountain ranges.
- It is also called the Tibet Himalayan Region because most of the part of these ranges lies in Tibet.
- The Karakoram Range is known as the ‘backbone of high Asia’.
Great Himalayas
- The average elevation of 6,100 m above sea level and an average width of about 25 km.
- It is mainly formed of the central crystalline (granites and gneisses) overlain by metamorphosed sediments (limestone).
- The folds in this range are asymmetrical with steep south slope and gentle north slope
- Terminates abruptly at the syntaxial bends. One in the Nanga Parbat in the northwest and the other in the Namcha Barwa in the northeast.
- This mountain range boasts of the tallest peaks of the world, most of which remain under perpetual snow.