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<h1>Mountain Ranges of India</h1>
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<p>
India has several major mountain ranges that play crucial roles in climate, agriculture, defense, and tourism. These ranges are broadly classified into <b>young fold mountains</b> and <b>old fold mountains</b>.
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<h2>The Himalayas (Young Fold Mountains)</h2>
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<h3>Formation</h3>
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<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Age</b>: 25-30 million years old (Tertiary period)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Formation</b>: Collision between Indian and Eurasian plates</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Type</b>: Young, fold mountains</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Still rising</b>: About 1 cm per year</li>
</ul>

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<h3>Divisions of Himalayas</h3>
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<p>
<b>Latitudinal Divisions (South to North):</b>
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<div class="table sectionedit1"><table class="inline">
	<thead>
	<tr class="row0">
		<th class="col0"> Range </th><th class="col1"> Local Name </th><th class="col2"> Height </th><th class="col3"> Features </th>
	</tr>
	</thead>
	<tr class="row1">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Outer Himalayas</b> </td><td class="col1"> Shivaliks </td><td class="col2"> 900-1200m </td><td class="col3"> Foothills, youngest </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row2">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Lesser Himalayas</b> </td><td class="col1"> Himachal </td><td class="col2"> 1200-3700m </td><td class="col3"> Hill stations </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row3">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Greater Himalayas</b> </td><td class="col1"> Himadri </td><td class="col2"> 3700-8850m </td><td class="col3"> Highest peaks, glaciers </td>
	</tr>
</table>
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<p>
<b>Longitudinal Divisions (West to East):</b>
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Kashmir Himalayas</b> - K2, Nanga Parbat</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Himachal Himalayas</b> - Dhaula Dhar, Pir Panjal</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Kumaon Himalayas</b> - Nanda Devi, Kedarnath</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Central/Nepal Himalayas</b> - Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Assam Himalayas</b> - Namcha Barwa</li>
</ul>

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<h3>Major Peaks</h3>
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<div class="table sectionedit2"><table class="inline">
	<thead>
	<tr class="row0">
		<th class="col0"> Peak </th><th class="col1"> Height (m) </th><th class="col2"> Location </th><th class="col3"> State/Country </th>
	</tr>
	</thead>
	<tr class="row1">
		<td class="col0"> <b>K2</b> </td><td class="col1"> 8,611 </td><td class="col2"> Karakoram </td><td class="col3"> Pakistan-administered Kashmir </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row2">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Kanchenjunga</b> </td><td class="col1"> 8,586 </td><td class="col2"> Sikkim-Nepal border </td><td class="col3"> Sikkim </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row3">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Nanda Devi</b> </td><td class="col1"> 7,816 </td><td class="col2"> Uttarakhand </td><td class="col3"> Uttarakhand </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row4">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Kamet</b> </td><td class="col1"> 7,756 </td><td class="col2"> Uttarakhand </td><td class="col3"> Uttarakhand </td>
	</tr>
</table>
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<h2>Western Ghats</h2>
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<h3>Characteristics</h3>
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<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Type</b>: Block mountains (fault-block)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Length</b>: 1,600 km</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Orientation</b>: North-South along western coast</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Average height</b>: 900-1200m</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Highest peak</b>: <b>Anamudi (2,695m)</b> in Kerala</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h3>Sections</h3>
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<div class="table sectionedit3"><table class="inline">
	<thead>
	<tr class="row0">
		<th class="col0"> Section </th><th class="col1"> Location </th><th class="col2"> Key Features </th>
	</tr>
	</thead>
	<tr class="row1">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Northern</b> </td><td class="col1"> Maharashtra, Gujarat </td><td class="col2"> Sahyadri range </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row2">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Central</b> </td><td class="col1"> Karnataka, Goa </td><td class="col2"> Bababudan Hills </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row3">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Southern</b> </td><td class="col1"> Kerala, Tamil Nadu </td><td class="col2"> Nilgiri, Cardamom Hills </td>
	</tr>
</table>
<span class='np_break'> </span>
</div>
</div>

<h3>Important Peaks</h3>
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<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Kalsubai (1,646m)</b> - Highest in Maharashtra</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Mullayanagiri (1,930m)</b> - Highest in Karnataka  </li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Doddabetta (2,637m)</b> - Highest in Nilgiris</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Anamudi (2,695m)</b> - Highest in Western Ghats</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h3>Significance</h3>
<div class="level3">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Monsoon barrier</b> - Causes orographic rainfall</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Biodiversity hotspot</b> - Endemic species</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>River source</b> - Origin of many peninsular rivers</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Coffee and spice cultivation</b></li>
</ul>

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<h2>Eastern Ghats</h2>
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<h3>Characteristics</h3>
<div class="level3">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Type</b>: Residual mountains (eroded)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Length</b>: 1,750 km</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Orientation</b>: Northeast-Southwest</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Average height</b>: 600m</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Discontinuous</b> - Broken by rivers</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h3>Key Ranges</h3>
<div class="level3">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Javadi Hills</b> - Tamil Nadu</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Shevaroy Hills</b> - Tamil Nadu</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Pachhaimalai</b> - Tamil Nadu</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Nallamala Hills</b> - Andhra Pradesh</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Simhachalam Hills</b> - Andhra Pradesh</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h3>Highest Peaks</h3>
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<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Jindhagada Peak (1,690m)</b> - Odisha</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Arma Konda (1,680m)</b> - Andhra Pradesh</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Deomali (1,672m)</b> - Odisha</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h2>Other Mountain Ranges</h2>
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<h3>Aravalli Range</h3>
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<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Location</b>: Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Type</b>: Oldest fold mountains in India</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Age</b>: Pre-Cambrian (2.5 billion years)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Highest peak</b>: <b>Mount Abu (1,722m)</b></li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Direction</b>: Southwest to Northeast</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Significance</b>: Mineral wealth (zinc, lead, copper)</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h3>Satpura Range</h3>
<div class="level3">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Location</b>: Central India (MP, Maharashtra)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Direction</b>: East-West</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Highest peak</b>: <b>Dhupgarh (1,350m)</b></li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Features</b>: Extensive plateau region</li>
</ul>

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<h3>Vindhya Range</h3>
<div class="level3">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Location</b>: Central India</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Significance</b>: Traditional divide between North and South India</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Rivers</b>: Chambal, Betwa, Ken originate here</li>
</ul>

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<h2>Strategic and Economic Importance</h2>
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<h3>Defense</h3>
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<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Natural barriers</b> - Himalayas protect northern borders</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Strategic passes</b> - Khyber, Bolan (historical invasion routes)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Border security</b> - Mountain warfare challenges</li>
</ul>

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<h3>Climate Impact</h3>
<div class="level3">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Monsoon patterns</b> - Western Ghats create rain shadow</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Temperature regulation</b> - Altitude affects climate</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Water cycle</b> - Snow/glacier melt feeds rivers</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h3>Resources</h3>
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<span class='np_break'> </span>
<div class="table sectionedit4"><table class="inline">
	<thead>
	<tr class="row0">
		<th class="col0"> Mountain Range </th><th class="col1"> Key Resources </th><th class="col2"> Economic Activity </th>
	</tr>
	</thead>
	<tr class="row1">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Himalayas</b> </td><td class="col1"> Hydroelectric potential, tourism </td><td class="col2"> Power generation, hill stations </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row2">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Western Ghats</b> </td><td class="col1"> Coffee, spices, timber </td><td class="col2"> Plantation agriculture </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row3">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Eastern Ghats</b> </td><td class="col1"> Minerals (bauxite, iron ore) </td><td class="col2"> Mining, industries </td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row4">
		<td class="col0"> <b>Aravallis</b> </td><td class="col1"> Marble, minerals </td><td class="col2"> Mining, quarrying </td>
	</tr>
</table>
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</div>
</div>

<h2>Environmental Concerns</h2>
<div class="level2">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Deforestation</b> - Loss of forest cover</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Climate change</b> - Glacier retreat in Himalayas</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Mining impacts</b> - Environmental degradation</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Urbanization pressure</b> - Hill station development</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h2>UPSC Relevance</h2>
<div class="level2">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>Paper</b>: General Studies Paper I (Geography)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>Topics</b>: Physical features, climate impact, economic geography</li>
<li class="level1 node"> <b>Previous Year Questions</b>:<ol>
<li class="level2"> Compare Western and Eastern Ghats (2020)</li>
<li class="level2"> Himalayan formation and divisions (2019)</li>
<li class="level2"> Mountain ranges and monsoon patterns (2018)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>

</div>

<h2>Memory Techniques</h2>
<div class="level2">

<p>
<b>Himalayan Divisions (South to North)</b>: <b>S</b>mall <b>H</b>ills <b>G</b>row <b>T</b>aller
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>S</b>hivaliks (Outer)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>H</b>imachal (Lesser)  </li>
<li class="level1"> <b>G</b>reater Himalayas (Himadri)</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>T</b>rans Himalayas (Karakoram)</li>
</ul>

<p>
<b>Western Ghats Sections</b>: <b>N</b>orthern <b>C</b>entral <b>S</b>outhern
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <b>N</b>orthern - Maharashtra</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>C</b>entral - Karnataka</li>
<li class="level1"> <b>S</b>outhern - Kerala/Tamil Nadu</li>
</ul>

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<h2>Related Topics</h2>
<div class="level2">
<ul>
<li class="level1"> <a href="/doku.php?id=indian_geography:cyclones" class="wikilink1" title="indian_geography:cyclones" data-wiki-id="indian_geography:cyclones">Impact on cyclone patterns</a></li>
<li class="level1"> <a href="/doku.php?id=indian_geography:coastal_regions" class="wikilink1" title="indian_geography:coastal_regions" data-wiki-id="indian_geography:coastal_regions">Influence on coastal geography</a></li>
<li class="level1"> <a href="/doku.php?id=indian_geography:deccan_plateau" class="wikilink1" title="indian_geography:deccan_plateau" data-wiki-id="indian_geography:deccan_plateau">Relationship with Deccan Plateau</a></li>
</ul>

<p>
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<p>
<em>Sources: NCERT Class 11 Geography, Certificate Physical and Human Geography</em>
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