GEOGRAPHY: NORTH MOUNTAINS

Does not include tree types

What do the north mountains comprise of

• Karakorams

• Hindukush

• Himalayas.

The___________and the _________ are parallel to each other in east west direction whereas the _______ are in north south direction. 

The Himalayas and the Karakoram are parallel to each other in east west direction whereas the Hindukush are in north south direction. 

What is the average altitude of the north moutains (Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalayas)

• Karakorams is 6000m

• Hindukush  is 5000m

• Himalayas is 4000m.

What are the peaks of North Mountains shaped as, what are they covered with? Give an example of an mountain

They have pyramid or conical shaped peaks and their peaks are snow capped.
e.g. Rakaposhi 7788m.

The mountain height rises from ___ to ___

They rise in height from south to north.

What are features of the North Mountains

• narrow valleys (e.g Gilgit)

• high passes (Connect Pakistan with China, Afghanistan, other cities in Pakistan)

• Have glacial moraines

What are glacial moraines

They are glacial features left behind by the massive, moving glaciers (like Siachen and Baltoro) that dot the mountains.

What are some fast flowing rivers

• Gilgit

• Hunza

• Indus

They have alluvial fans and deep narrow gorges

Why do they have bare rocks

As a result of weathering

Do summers have a longer duration or winters

Summers are of shorter duration as compared to winters. 

What is the average temperature of summer compared to mountains

Summers are mild (10⁰C- 20⁰C). But the mountain tops (above 4000m) are 

very cold at below -5⁰C

Why does temperature decrease with altitude of valley’s

valleys are warmer as compared to mountain tops and temperature inversion

Where is Precipitation mainly from (during Moonsoons)

Himalayas

Why does Karakoram receive a low amount of rainfall

Because it is in a rain shadow area

What are the temperatures in winter

cold to very cold (-5⁰C - 2⁰C) to (below -5⁰C)

What form does Precipitation take during winter

Snowfall

How are soils on Mountain tops

• Soil cover on the mountain slopes is thin with boulders.

• In high altitude areas above 4000m., soils are permafrost and do not support agriculture

Karakorams are drained mainly by _____ flowing in ______-_____ direction between Karakorams and Himalayas up to Sazin and then flowing in ______-______ direction up to _____ There are several other rivers that join Indus from Karakorams (e.g River ____ and River ____ they join River ____ flowing in ____-___ direction)

Karakorams are drained mainly by river Indus flowing in east - west direction between Karakorams and Himalayas up to Sazin and then flowing in north south direction up to Indus Delta. There are several other rivers that join Indus from Karakorams e.g. River Gilgit and River Hunza they join River Indus flowing in north – south direction. 

What rivers flow from northeast to south west draining the southern slopes of Himalayas. 

• Jehlum

• Chenab

• Ravi

• Sutlej

What rivers drain Hindu Kush, what directions do they flow in

Swat + Chitral → flow N → S → meet River Kabul
River Kabul → joins River Indus at Attock
River Indus → flows W → E
Mastuj → flows north

Why does the volume of water change in summer

The volume of water increases with approach of summer season due to melting of snow ice and glaciers, but the real changes in volume of water is with monsoons.  

Describe life in the north mountains

• Nomadic and Semi Nomadic

• Agriculture is limited

• Climate and terrain make it difficult for infrastructure

• Tourisim during summer increases the amount of available jobs

• Water pipes burst due to freezing temperatures

• Snowstorms and avalanches block roads

• People practise transhumance

What is transhumance

The movement of animal and people in winters to the valleys as the grazing grounds are covered with snow, in summers people move back to the mountains where the snow has melted fresh pastures are ready for grazing.