Question

Why Himalayas are called young fold mountains ?what are its important features?

Answer 1

We have heard the Himalayas are the greatest heritage of India. The snow-covered mountains make the northern subcontinent of India popular. Let us explore the reasons behind it.

Himalayas as young fold mountains

The Himalayas are called young fold mountains due to the following reasons

• They are formed only a few million years ago.
• Fold mountains are formed when two or more of Earth’s tectonic plates are pushed together.
• At this point of collision, the compressing boundaries, rocks and debris are warped and folded into rocky outcrops, hills, mountains, and entire mountain ranges.
• These mountains were formed because of the folding of the earth’s crust due to tectonic activity (fold mountains are formed when two tectonic plates collide with one another).
• Formed by the collision of the Eurasian plates and the Indo-Australian plates due to Continental Drift.

Features of these mountains

• Himalayan Region is the shape of an arc.
• The Himalayan Region is composed of sedimentary rocks.
• In the Himalayan Region, the average height of Mountain peaks is around 6000 metres.
• It is the northernmost and continuous range.
• It is covered with snow and comprised of snow glaciers.
• By nature, it is symmetrical and comprises granite.