Geography Exam Notes: Himalaya and Associated Regions
1. Himalaya
- Location: Northern India; natural barrier between India & Tibet.
- Formation: Collision of Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate.
- Length & Width: ~2,400 km from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.
- Highest Peaks:
o Mount Everest (8,848 m)
o Kangchenjunga (8,586 m)
- Rivers Originating: Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Brahmaputra.
- Climate: Cold & snow-covered at high altitudes; temperate at lower altitudes.
- Vegetation:
o Alpine forests & coniferous trees at higher altitudes.
o Temperate forests at lower altitudes.
- Importance:
o Climatic barrier (monsoon regulation)
o Source of perennial rivers
o Rich biodiversity & wildlife habitat
2. Khadar (Floodplain Soil)
- Formed from new alluvial soil.
- Deposited annually by river floods.
- Very fertile, suitable for rice, wheat, sugarcane.
- Found along Ganga-Yamuna Doab and other river banks.
3. Bhangar (Old Alluvial Soil)
- Old alluvial soil.
- Contains pebbles and stones.
- Has Kankar (calcium carbonate layers).
- Less fertile than Khadar.
4. Bhabar
- Narrow belt (8–16 km) at the foot of Shivalik Hills.
- Soil: stony and gravelly.
- Extends from Sindh River to Teesta River.
- Contains alluvial fans.
- Rivers disappear underground.
- Not suitable for agriculture.
5. Terai
- Marshy region with poor drainage and dense forests.
- Rivers from Bhabar reemerge on the surface.
- Suitable for wheat, rice, pulses.
- Dense forests provide wildlife habitats.
- Famous wildlife areas:
o Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand)
o Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
Quick Exam Tip:
- Remember the sequence of soil/region types from Himalaya to plains:
Himalaya → Bhabar → Terai → Bhangar → Khadar - Khadar = new & fertile, Bhangar = old & less fertile
- Bhabar = gravelly, rivers disappear, Terai = marshy, rivers reappear