________ is the outermost range of the Himalayas.
Shivalik
Understanding the Himalayan Mountain Ranges
The Himalayas are a vast mountain range system in Asia. They are divided into several parallel ranges running from west to east. Understanding the location and characteristics of these ranges is key to answering questions about their structure.
Identifying the Outermost Himalayan Range
The question asks for the outermost range of the Himalayas. This typically refers to the range that is furthest to the south, bordering the plains of India.
The major parallel ranges of the Himalayas, from north to south, are generally identified as:
- The Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
- The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)
- The Outer Himalayas (Shivalik)
Based on this arrangement, the Shivalik range is the southernmost or the outermost range of the Himalayan system.
Analysis of the Options
Let's look at the given options:
- Himadri: Also known as the Greater Himalayas, this is the innermost or northernmost range, containing the highest peaks like Mount Everest. It is not the outermost range.
- Pir Panjal: This is the largest range of the Lesser Himalayas (Himachal). While south of Himadri, it is still north of the Shivalik range and is part of the Lesser, not the outermost, Himalayas.
- Kailash: This range is part of the Trans-Himalayan system, located north of the Greater Himalayas in Tibet. It is geographically distinct from the main Himalayan ranges discussed in this context and is certainly not the outermost range bordering the plains.
- Shivalik: Also known as the Outer Himalayas, this range is located south of the Lesser Himalayas and forms the foothills bordering the northern plains of the Indian subcontinent. This perfectly matches the description of the outermost range.
Therefore, the Shivalik range is correctly identified as the outermost range of the Himalayas.
| Range Name | Other Names | Relative Location |
|---|---|---|
| Himadri | Greater Himalayas, Inner Himalayas | Northernmost (Innermost) |
| Himachal | Lesser Himalayas, Middle Himalayas | South of Himadri |
| Shivalik | Outer Himalayas, Sub-Himalayas | Southernmost (Outermost) |
Revision Table: Key Himalayan Facts
| Himalayan Range | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Greater Himalayas (Himadri) | Highest peaks (Everest, Kanchenjunga), perennially snow-capped, average height > 6000m. |
| Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) | Altitude 3700-4500m, well-known hill stations (Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling), ranges like Pir Panjal and Dhaula Dhar. |
| Outer Himalayas (Shivalik) | Altitude 900-1100m, composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers, foothills region. |
Additional Information on Himalayan Geography
The Himalayas are one of the youngest fold mountain ranges in the world. They stretch over a distance of about 2,400 kilometers. The width of the Himalayas varies, being wider in the west (e.g., Kashmir) and narrower in the east (e.g., Arunachal Pradesh).
Beyond these main parallel ranges, there are also ranges to the north, collectively called the Trans-Himalayan range, which include Zaskar, Ladakh, and the Kailash range.
The valleys between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shivaliks are known as Duns (in the west) or Duars (in the east), famous examples being Dehradun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun.
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Name the highest peak of the Satpura range.
In the early 1920s, a militant guerrilla movement spread in the _________ hills of Andhra Pradesh.
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