On the Roof of the World - Northern Mountains

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering the physiographic divisions, formation, mountain ranges, regional characteristics, and human life in the Northern Mountain Region of India.

Pamir Knot

Known as the 'Roof of the World', it is the point from which several northern mountain ranges originate.

Fold Mountains

Mountains formed by the compression of sedimentary rock strata of the earth's crust, a process known as folding.

Trans Himalayas

Also known as the Tibetan Himalayas, this is the northernmost division of the Himalayas with an average elevation of $3000\,m$.

Himadri

Also known as the Greater Himalayas or the Inner Himalayas, it is the highest range with an average elevation of about $6100\,m$.

Himachal

Also known as the Lesser Himalayas, this range has an average elevation ranging from $3500\,m$ to $4500\,m$ above mean sea level.

Shiwalik Range

The southernmost Himalayan range, also known as the Outer Himalayas, which forms the borders of the Ganga Plains.

Tectonic Plates

The crustal rock blocks of continental and oceanic parts that move slowly above the semi-plastic asthenosphere.

Gorges

Deep valleys with steep sides created by Himalayan rivers through erosion.

Kashmir Himalaya

A regional division of the Western Himalayas extending over nearly $3.5$ lakh sq.km in Jammu and Kashmir and the Ladakh region.

Mount K2

Also known as Godwin Austin, it is the second highest peak in the world at $8611\,m$, situated in the Karakoram range.

Siachen Glacier

Located in the Kashmir Himalaya, it is known as the world's highest battlefield.

Passes

Comparatively easier natural passages in mountainous terrains, such as the Banihal Pass and the Baralacha La Pass.

Margs

Meadows formed along mountain slopes during the summer season, such as Sonmarg and Gulmarg, used for winter games like skiing when covered in snow.

Hot Springs

Ground water warmed by subsurface rock layers in active orogenic areas that rises to the surface, such as those at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh.

Duns

Flat valleys located between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwalik hill ranges, such as Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

Bugyals

Alpine summer meadows found between $3000\,m$ and $4500\,m$ in the Gadwal region of the Uttarakhand Himalaya.

Transhumance

The seasonal migration of people along with their domestic animals from one grazing ground to another.

Central Himalayas

The part of the Himalayas from River Kali to River Teesta, mostly located in Nepal and also known as the Nepal Himalaya.

Purvachal Hills

Hills of lesser elevation extending from Arunachal Pradesh to Mizoram, including the Naga Hills, Mizo Hills, and Manipur Hills.

Phumdis

Small islands formed by floating organic matter and soil in Loktak Lake, found within the Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Karewas

Humus-rich glacial sediment deposited in the Kashmir Valley that is ideal for saffron cultivation.

V-shaped Valleys

River valleys with slanting sides developed by the vertical and lateral erosion of rivers in their mountainous courses.

Gujjars

Shepherd tribes who live in the mountain meadows of the Western Himalayas.