Location and Area
🟪The latitudinal extent of Jammu and Kashmir including the Union Territory Ladakh is 32°15' and 37 05 North. The longitudinal extent is 72° 31' and 80" 20" East.
🟫The Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir lies in the Northern part of India, with Punjab in South-West, Himachal Pradesh in South-East and Ladakh in East. In the West, it is separated by Line of Control from Pakistan controlled territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan region in North
The total area held by the Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir in India is 42,241 km.
The length of LoC in Jammu and Kashmir is 776 km. Physiographic Division of
🟦Physiographically, the Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir is divided into five physical divisions. All the divisions show structural similarity with Western Himalayas.
🟨These are plains, foothills (Shivaliks). Middle Himalayas, Greater Himalayas and Valley of Kashmir
1. Plains
The plains are present in the Southern parts of the region and the average elevation is 300-350 m.
🟥These are fertile land areas formed by the eroded bedrock material brought down by the mighty rivers Chenah, Ravi, Tawi, Ujh, Brantar, etc.
🟩The outer plains are locally known as Andarwah or Bajwat. The outer plains are traversed by numerous hill streams known as Khad. . These Khads remain dry most of the year, but in rainy season these streams turn into huge gushing rivers. Here we find weed growth, locally known as Khar or Elephantine Grass. This region stretches in the Southern parts of Akhnoor, Ranbir Singh Pura (RS Pura), Samba and Kathua areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The plains are used for growing rice and wheat crops.
2. Foothills (Shivaliks)
These are the low hills with gentle slopes and form the outermost range of the Himalayas. They are formed of younger tertiary rocks.
🟪The width of the Shivaliks ranges from 20-50 km and height varies from 600-1220m
🟥Jammu is located in the Southern slopes of Shivalik hills, Mansar and Surinsar lakes are in the East of Jammu 600 m from the sea level. Other important places are Mirpur, Udhampur and Reasi
🟧The outer zone of foothills is comprised of long ridges and longitudinal valleys, called Duns eg. Duns of Udhampur Basohli, Ramkot, Sunderbani and Kotli. These duns are a result of erosion of sandstone, clay and silt of the region. The inner zone has steep slope and plateau due to folding and erosion activities on the sedimentary rocks. The slopes of Shivaliks between Ravi and Chenab rivers are known as Kandi. It is
adjacent to the plains upto a height of 300 m.
3. Middle Himalayas
It is also known as Lesser Himalayas which lies between the Ravi (in the East) and the Poonch (in the West).
This region is composed of volcanic rocks of granite, gneiss, quartz, etc. The average elevation of this region is 3600-4600 m.
⚫ Vaishno Devi Cave is situated on the peak of Trikuta mountain in this region. Many rivers have their source in the Middle
⚪Himalayas like Tawi, Manawar-Tawi, Basantra and Ujh rivers. The average elevation of Middle Himalayas in Jammu region is between 1550 to 2240 m.
People do cattle rearing, forestry and tourism activities in this region.
🟤 Two important ranges namely Pir Panjal (5000 m) and Dhauladhar are part of this region. Pir Panjal is the longest and the Westernmost range of this region.
Pir Panjal Range
🟢The average elevation of this range varies from 1400-4100 m. The mountains run South-East to North-West.
🟢The range have natural passes through which
Kashmir valley is connected. This range separates Kashmir valley from outer Himalayas. Gulmarg lies in this range.
Greater Himalayas
⭕ These Himalayan ranges lie to the North of Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. The altitude increases steadily towards the North.
⚫ Greater Himalayas comprises of Zanskar and Karakoram ranges and its average height is 6100 m.
Zanskar Range
The average height of this range in Jammu and Kashmir is between 4500 to 6100 m.
In the North, Kashmir range forms the part of Zanskar range and also forms the North-Eastern border of the Kashmir valley. There are a few peaks in the Zanskar range having a height of 6100 m above sea level.
The altitude of this region increases to the North. Zanskar and Suru rivers flow in this range.
Karakorm Range
This range lies towards the North of Zanskar range in the Northern part of Kashmir. It is the world's second highest mountain range. K2 (8611 m) is situated in this range in Pok
Winter temperature is extremely cold in this range. Some of the coldest places like Drass lies in this range.
🟩 The Zanskar and Karakoram ranges prevent the cold winds of Central Asia to enter India.
⚫ It is made of granite and gneiss rocks.
The Karakoram, along with other areas in and Jhelum river exits the valley from Baramulla around the Himalayan region is known as the Gorge. Cultivation of rice and maize is done Roof of the World'.
Valley of Kashmir
🟣It is howl shaped deep basin which lies between the Pir Panjal and the Western end of the Great Himalayan ranges. . The Kashmir Valley lies between latitude 32° and 34° N and longitude 74° and 75° E. The valley is 100 km wide and 15,520.3 km in area.
🔴The average elevation of this valley is 1,850 m. It is filled by sediments of lakes and alluvium deposited by the Upper Jhelum river.
✳There are extensive elevated plateaus of alluvial and lacustrine material in the valley. These deposits or plateaus are known as Karewas. .Karewas are locally known as Wudars. The Wudars are found extensively and continuously on the left bank of Jhelum river. Mattan Wudar, Zainpur Wudar, Nagum Wudar, Khushipura Wudar, Mukhamah Wudar are some of the important Wudars. Pampore Wudar is known for saffron cultivation..
🟫Banihal Pass (now, Jawahar Tunnel) is a natural way to enter the valley from the South i.e. from Jammu. The valley region comprises of picturesque places like Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla. Bodgam, Pulwama, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Shopian
🅾️The Kashmir valley is drained by the Jhelum river which rises from Verinag spring. Largest lake in this valley is Wular lake, which is fed by the Jhelum river.
⭕The Jhelum river and its tributaries have carved out several smaller valleys. They are known as Side valleys on flat lands and valley slopes.
Important Side Valleys
Important side valleys made by river Jhelum and
Its tributaries are described as follows Sind Valley It lies in North-East of Kashmir valley. It is a long valley made by the flowing of Sind river. It is 65 km long with a width of 500 m-1 km.
This valley connects Kashmir valley to Ladakh.
Liddar Valley It lies in the South-Eastern corner of the Kashmir valley. This valley is made by Liddar river. Parts of Anantnag and picturesque town of Pahalgam lie in this valley. The length of the valley is 40 km and width is 3 km.
⚫ Lolab Valley It is an oval-shaped valley 24 km long and 3 km wide. The valley lies in the North-West of Kashmir valley in Kupwara. The valley is formed by Lahwal river.
Daksum Valley This valley is located in East of Kashmir valley in Anantnag district. It is located around the path of in Brengi river.Mountain Passes in Jammu and Kashmir Banihal Pass It is also known as Jawahar Tunnel and is a Gateway to the Kashmir valley. It is situated at an elevation of 2,832m and connects Kashmir to the outer Himalaya. It lies on the Pir Panjal range.
⚫ Margan Top It connects Warwan valley to Kashmir valley and is located in Anantnag. It is elevated at 3696m.
🟨Sinthan Top It is a mountain pass situated between South Kashmir Breng Valley (in Anantnag) and Kishtwar. It is located at a height of 3748 m.
🟦Munawar Pass It is located on the Pir Panjal range. It lies in North of Pir Ki Gali overlooking the town of Rajouri. It lies South West of Jammu and Kashmir closer to LoC in Rajouri district
🟥Pir Panjal Pass It is elevated at a height of 3490 m and connects the Kashmir valley to the districts of Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal road. This pass is also known as Pir Ki Gali since Saint Nund Rishi and Pir Sheikh Ahmed Karim lived and meditated here.
🟧Burzail Pass This pass was part of the historic caravan route between Srinagar and Gilgit. It lies 30 km North of LoC and falls in the conflict territory. Its elevation is 4100 m.
Famous Mountains in Jammu and Kashmir
Most of the part of Jammu and Kashmir is formed by mountains, thus mountains have a great importance for the UT. The Kashmir valley is surrounded by high mountain ranges and a narrow gorge at Baramulla. The Southern part has Shivalik hills and the Northern part is covered by the lofty mountains. Some of the important mountains are discussed below.
🔴Amarnath Mountain It is located in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is about 5,186 m in height. It is famous for its holy, cave Amarnath which is located at a height of 3900 m and can be reached through the Mahagunas pass (4300 m).
🟣Amarnath cave is believed to be the ancient and among the most sacred places for pilgrimage in Hinduism.
The mountain has Liddar valley where Gwasharan (5,450 m) is situated towards
Pahalgam. Kolahoi glacier is situated in these mountains.
Sheshnag lake is also located in these mountain
Afarwat Mountain.
This mountain spreads through the Gulmarg valley. It is about 4,390 m in height. Alpathar spring lies on its peak.Nullah Nagal has its origin from this spring which flows down and meets the Wular lake..
Harmukh Mountain
It is also known as Mount Harmukh. It is located at an elevation of 5,142 m in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.
🟥It is a part of the Himalayan range and is located between Nallah Sindh in the South and Neelum river in the North. It is mostly climbed from the North-Western side of Bandipore.
🟩It is considered as one of the sacred mountains by Hindus, and also according to Hindu mythology, it is the Abode of Lord Shiva.
Nun Kun Mountain
This mountain lies between Ladakh and Kashmir border and is about 7,135 m in height.
🟠This mountain range comprises of two peaks namely Nun (7,135 m) and Kun (7,077 m).
🔵 Nun is the highest peak in the part of the Himalayan range lying on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
🟢Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh lies on its South-East part and Kargil Tehsil of Ladakh lies on its North-West part. Bara-Lacha Pass (4,891 m) lies between Leh and Kullu, is a natural pass between these mountain ranges.
Volcanic Mountains
Two volcanic mountain peaks are situated in Jammu and Kashmir. Soyamji (1,860 m) volcanic peak lies in North Machhipura (Handwara), which once erupted for 13 months in 1934 and is now a dormant volcanic peak.
🟣The other volcanic peak is Kharewa which lies in Pahalgam Tehsil, but it has not erupted so far.
🟪These volcanic mountain peaks are the cause of earthquakes in Kashmir.
Posts
0 Comments