How Many States Himalayas Spread Over

Introduction

The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, as well as parts of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and West Bengal, are located within the Himalayas. So, in total there are 8 states of Indian states that make up the 2500 km long Indian Himalayan Region. This region, which has a population of close to 50 million, is noted for its diverse demographics and adaptable economic, environmental, social, and political systems.

The Himalayas, the largest mountain range in the world (derived from the Sanskrit words hima, "snow," and alaya, "abode"), define India's northern border. From the peak of Nanga Parbat (26,660 feet [8,126 metres]) in the Pakistani-administered region of Kashmir to the Namcha Barwa peak in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, that massive, geologically young mountain arc spans about 1,550 miles (2,500 km). The Himalayan Mountains can be found in India, southern Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan between those two extremes. The system's width ranges from 125 to 250 miles (200 and 400 km).

Three longitudinal belts, known as the Outer, Lesser, and Great Himalayas, divide the Himalayas within India. There is a significant bend in the alignment of the system at each extremity, from which several lower mountain ranges and hills expanded out. Those to the east straddle India's border with Myanmar, while those to the west are entirely contained within Pakistan and Afghanistan (Burma).

The Tibetan Plateau and various Trans-Himalayan ranges are located to the north of the Himalayas; only a small portion of these ranges, located in the Ladakh union territory (in the region of Kashmir that is administered by India), falls within Indian territory.

The Outer Himalayas (The Siwalik Range)

The Outer Himalayas, also known as the Siwalik (or Shiwalik) Range, are the southernmost of the three mountain ranges. Crests in the Siwalik Mountains are rarely higher than 6,500 feet, with an average elevation of 3,000 to 5,000 feet (900 to 1,500 metres). The range becomes increasingly slender as it moves east and is barely visible past the Duars, a region of plains in West Bengal state. There are numerous densely populated, heavily cultivated flat valleys (duns) scattered throughout the Siwalik Mountains. The Indo-Gangetic Plain lies to the range's south.

The Siwalik Mountains, which are poorly indurated, largely deforested, and subject to torrential rain and severe erosion, contribute a significant amount of the sediment brought onto the plain.

The Lesser Himalayas

The Lesser Himalayas, also known as the Lower or Middle Himalayas, is located to the north of the Siwaliks and are separated from them by a fault zone. They reach heights of between 11,900 and 15,100 feet (3,600 to 4,600 metres). Himachal, from the Sanskrit words “hima” (snow) and “acal” (mountain), is their traditional name.

The mountains are made up of geologically ancient crystalline rocks, sometimes in a reversed stratigraphic order as a result of thrust faulting. Numerous deep gorges created by swift-moving streams fed by glaciers and ice caps to the north cross the Lesser Himalayas, some of which are older than the mountains themselves.

The Great Himalayas

With crests typically above 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) in elevation, the northernmost Great, or Higher, Himalayas—known in ancient times as the Himadri—is made up of ancient crystalline rocks and old marine sedimentary formations. There are several fertile longitudinal vales between the Greater and Lesser Himalayas; in India, the Vale of Kashmir, an old lake basin with an area of about 1,700 square miles, is the largest (4,400 square km). Some of the tallest peaks in the world are found within the Great Himalayas, which are between 50 and 75 kilometres (50 miles) wide.

On the border between China and Nepal, Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the range, stands at 29,035 feet. India also has many other high mountains. Among them, Kanchenjunga (28,169 feet), the third-tallest peak in the world and the highest point in India, stands out. It is located on the border between Nepal and the state of Sikkim. Nanda Devi (25,646 feet), Kamet (25,446 feet), and Trisul (23,359 feet) in Uttarakhand are three other tall mountains in India.

Conservation of the Himalayas

There are many difficulties in the Himalayas, and governments are under pressure to protect their natural heritage and provide for their citizens. As the demand for timber and food crops rises, forests are under pressure. Protected areas are transforming into isolated pockets, and transnational criminal organisations are clearing forests of rare wildlife. The once-powerful Himalayas are melting as a result of global climate change at a rate that is faster than at any time in human history, putting a crucial Asian source of freshwater in jeopardy.

Since the beginning of the conservation movement and the establishment of our organisation in 1961, WWF has operated in the area. We have made progress for untamed species and untouched landscapes by working together with governments, local communities, and supporters all over the world. To create a sustainable future for the Eastern Himalayas, more work must be done.