Name the Three Parallel Ranges of the Himalayas

The three parallel ranges of the Himalayas are Himadri (Greater Himalayas), Himachal (Lesser Himalayas), and Shivalik (Outer Himalayas).

Complete Answer:

The Himalayas, one of the most magnificent mountain ranges in the world, are divided into three parallel ranges: the Himadri, Himachal, and Shivalik. Each has distinct characteristics based on elevation, vegetation, and wildlife. Here’s a detailed explanation:

1. Himadri (Greater Himalayas)

• The Himadri is the tallest range, with an average elevation of 6,000 meters or more. Peaks like Mount Everest (8,848 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) are located here.
• Due to extreme cold, vegetation is sparse. Only mosses and lichens grow at higher altitudes, while alpine shrubs and grasses are found at lower elevations.
• Animals like snow leopards, Himalayan tahr, and yaks inhabit this region.
• Glaciers like Gangotri and Yamunotri give birth to important rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna.
• Himadari is Known for glaciers, high peaks, and deep gorges.

2. Himachal (Lesser Himalayas)

• The average height ranges from 3,500 to 4,500 meters.
• This range is covered with dense forests of oak, pine, deodar, and rhododendron, making it rich in biodiversity.
• Animals like leopards, Himalayan black bears, and musk deer are found here.
• This range is home to picturesque valleys like the Kashmir Valley and Kullu Valley. Rivers like Beas and Ravi flow through this region.
• The Himachal range has several hill stations, such as Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala, and fertile plateaus like the Chamba Plateau.

3. Shivalik (Outer Himalayas)

• One of the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas, the Shivalik range is the lowest, with an average elevation of 900 to 1,200 meters.
• It has tropical forests with sal, teak, and bamboo trees. This range is very fertile and lush.
• Animals like elephants, wild boars, and deer live here, along with various birds and reptiles.
• The Doon valleys, such as Dehradun and Kotli-Doon, lie between the Shivalik and Himachal ranges. Seasonal rivers, called “chos,” flow through this region.
• It has fertile foothills used extensively for farming.

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