Question

Where the mountain forests are commonly found in India?

Answer 1

Mountain Forests

Mountain forests in India are normally classified into two types, i.e. the northern mountain forests and the southern mountain forests.

Deciduous forests are found in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Temperate forests found between an altitude of 1,000 and 2,000 m.

In the higher hill ranges of northeastern India; for example, hilly areas of West Bengal and Uttaranchal, evergreen broad leaf trees such as oak and chestnut are predominant.

Chir, deodar, pine, etc. are the important species of temperate forests.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 m, Silver firs, junipers, pines, birch, and rhododendrons, etc. are found.

However, at higher altitude, the tundra vegetation is found and major species are mosses and lichens.

At a higher altitude, the southern mountain forests largely belong to the temperate type, which are locally known as ‘Sholas’ in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills. Some of the trees of economic significance include magnolia, laurel, cinchona, and wattle.