Geography of India: Himalaya and Northern Mountains Quiz: Clerkship 2024
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10 questions with explanations on the Himalayan ranges, peaks, passes and the eastern hills. 📖 Read the detailed topic
Which is the southernmost (outer) of the three parallel ranges of the Himalaya?
The Shiwalik is the southernmost and lowest range (average 900–1100 m), hence the Outer Himalaya. Himadri is the northernmost and highest, with Himachal in the middle. The Karakoram is not one of the three ranges; it lies north of the Himadri.
- North to south: Himadri, Himachal, Shiwalik
- The Shiwalik is the lowest
- 'Duns' lie between Himachal and Shiwalik
- Mixing up Himachal (middle) and Himadri (northernmost)
- Hi-Hi-Shi: north to south, high to low
| Range | Other name | Average height |
|---|---|---|
| Himadri | Greater Himalaya | about 6000 m |
| Himachal | Lesser Himalaya | 3700 – 4500 m |
| Shiwalik | Outer Himalaya | 900 – 1100 m |
Which peak on the Sikkim–Nepal border is the third highest in the world?
Kanchenjunga is 8586 m, third in the world after Everest and K2, and the highest peak of India. Nanda Devi (7816 m) is much lower. Namcha Barwa (about 7782 m) marks the eastern end of the Himalaya, not the Sikkim–Nepal border.
- Kanchenjunga is 8586 m
- Highest peak of India
- On the Sikkim–Nepal border
- Calling Nanda Devi India's highest: it is only the highest entirely within India
- World's top three: Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga
Peak heights
Which is the highest peak lying entirely within India?
Nanda Devi (7816 m) in Uttarakhand is the highest peak entirely inside India. Kamet (7756 m) is also in Uttarakhand but lower. Dhaulagiri and Annapurna are peaks of Nepal.
- Nanda Devi 7816 m, Uttarakhand
- Kamet 7756 m
- Dhaulagiri and Annapurna are in Nepal
- Kanchenjunga is a border peak, so it is not the answer to 'entirely within India'
- Nanda Devi = the peak in India's own home
| Peak | Height | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Nanda Devi | 7816 m | Uttarakhand |
| Kamet | 7756 m | Uttarakhand |
| Kanchenjunga | 8586 m | Sikkim–Nepal border |
To which range of the Himalaya does the Pir Panjal belong?
The Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar and Mussoorie ranges belong to the Himachal (Middle or Lesser Himalaya). The Himadri holds the highest peaks such as Everest and Kanchenjunga. The Shiwalik is the lowest range. The Purvanchal are hills on the India–Myanmar border, not one of the three Himalayan ranges.
- Himachal ranges: Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, Mussoorie
- Banihal pass is in the Pir Panjal
- Shimla, Nainital, Darjeeling lie in this range
- Thinking the Pir Panjal is part of the Himadri
- Hill stations (Shimla, Nainital) = Himachal range
Which mountain pass connects Sikkim with Tibet?
Nathu La links Sikkim with Tibet. Shipki La leads from Himachal Pradesh into Tibet along the Sutlej. Banihal connects Jammu with the Kashmir valley, and Rohtang connects Kullu with Lahaul-Spiti.
- Nathu La and Jelep La: Sikkim–Tibet
- Shipki La: Himachal–Tibet
- Bomdi La: Arunachal–Tibet
- Shipki La and Nathu La: one in Himachal, one in Sikkim
- Nathu La = Sikkim, your own
| Pass | Connects |
|---|---|
| Nathu La | Sikkim – Tibet |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh – Tibet |
| Zoji La | Srinagar – Leh |
| Banihal | Jammu – Kashmir valley |
| Rohtang | Kullu – Lahaul-Spiti |
Which pass connects Srinagar with Leh?
Zoji La joins Srinagar in the Kashmir valley with Leh in Ladakh. Rohtang is in Himachal Pradesh near Manali, Shipki La lies between Himachal and Tibet, and Nathu La is in Sikkim.
- Zoji La: Srinagar – Leh
- Zoji La lies in the Himadri–Zanskar region
- Rohtang and Shipki La are in Himachal
- Mixing up Zoji La and Banihal: Banihal goes from Jammu into the Kashmir valley
- Zoji = from Kashmir on to Ladakh
In which range is Sandakphu (3636 m), the highest peak of West Bengal, situated?
Sandakphu is in the Singalila range on the border of Darjeeling district. The Patkai hills are on the India–Myanmar border, the Pir Panjal is in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Shiwalik is the southernmost range of the Himalaya.
- Sandakphu is 3636 m: highest in West Bengal
- Singalila range
- Kanchenjunga is visible from here
- Thinking Tiger Hill is the state's highest point: it is much lower
- Singalila's Sandakphu: both start with S
In which mountain range does the Siachen Glacier lie?
The Siachen Glacier lies in the Karakoram, which also holds K2, the world's second highest peak. The Zanskar and Ladakh ranges flank the Indus valley, and the Pir Panjal is part of the Himachal range.
- The Karakoram lies north of the Himadri
- K2 (8611 m) is in the Karakoram
- Siachen is a major Karakoram glacier
- Confusing the Ladakh range with the Karakoram
- Karakoram = K2 + Siachen
Which of these Purvanchal ranges runs along the India–Myanmar border?
The Patkai is part of the Purvanchal and runs along the India–Myanmar border. To its south lie the Naga, Manipur and Mizo (Lushai) hills. The Shiwalik and Dhauladhar are southern and middle ranges of the Himalaya, and the Zanskar is in Ladakh.
- Purvanchal: Patkai, Naga, Manipur, Mizo hills
- India–Myanmar border
- Outside the three Himalayan ranges
- Treating the Purvanchal as a fourth Himalayan range
- Eastern hills = Patkai to Mizo
- Patkai
- Naga hills
- Manipur hills
- Mizo (Lushai) hills
Between which two ranges do 'dun' valleys like Dehradun lie?
A dun is a long valley between the Himachal and Shiwalik ranges: Dehradun, Kotli Dun, Patli Dun. Between the Himadri and Himachal lie large valleys such as Kashmir, not duns. South of the Shiwalik the Gangetic plain begins.
- Dehradun, Kotli Dun, Patli Dun
- Between Himachal and Shiwalik
- The plain lies south of the Shiwalik
- Placing the dun south of the Shiwalik
- Dun = the gap between Himachal and Shiwalik
📊 Topic Analysis
10 questions with explanations on the Himalayan ranges, peaks, passes and the eastern hills.
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