Question

What is the most important geographic use of the Himalayas to India?

• A. Prevention of invasions
• B. Valuable source of timber
• C. They prevent the monsoons from crossing to the north and also serve as a reservoir of water from which our perennial rivers flow
• D. They protect India from the icy cold north winds

Answer 1

The correct option is C They prevent the monsoons from crossing to the north and also serve as a reservoir of water from which our perennial rivers flow

Main Physical Features of India

The physical features of India can be divided into six broad categories according to their physiographic forms:

Himalayan Mountains

The northernmost landscape of the country highlights the fold mountains of the Himalayas. Though geologically young, the Himalayan Mountains are the loftiest and the most rugged of the world. Since they stretch across 2500 KM from Kashmir in the north, through Arunachal Pradesh in the North East, these mountains form an arc. This helps keep the cold arctic winds from reaching the tropical landmass.

One of the most significant of all the physical features of India, the Himalayas vary in width between 400 Km to 150 KM. Furthermore, the entire mountain belt is divided into three main sections-

The Greater Himalayas or the Himadri, with average peaks reaching up to 6000 meters above the sea-level.

The Lesser Himalayas with average peaks rising as high as 4000 meters

The Outer Himalayas or the Shiwalik Range

The Eastern Hills or the Purvanchal covering North Bengal, and northernmost parts of the North Eastern states.