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Northern Mountains
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Q.1
WBCS Prelims 2022
The Himalayas are formed of parallel fold ranges, of which the oldest range is
A. the Siwalik Range
B. the Lesser Himalayas
C. the Greater Himalayas
D. the Trans-Himalayas
Explanation
Why Correct: The Greater Himalayas (Himadri) are the oldest and most continuous range, formed during the Alpine orogeny about 50 million years ago.
Distractor Analysis: The Siwalik Range (Outer Himalayas) is the youngest, formed about 2-20 million years ago. The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) are intermediate in age between Greater and Siwalik ranges. The Trans-Himalayas (including Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar ranges) are geologically distinct from the main Himalayan system.
Takeaway: The Greater Himalayas contain most of the highest peaks including Everest, K2, and Kanchenjunga, with an average elevation of 6,000 meters.
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Q.2
WBCS Prelims 2021
Which one of the following sequence of the Himalayan ranges from south to north is correct ?
A. Karakoram – Ladakh – Zaskar – Pir Panjal
B. Pir Panjal – Zaskar – Ladakh – Karakoram
C. Karakoram – Zaskar – Pir Panjal – Ladakh
D. Pir Panjal – Ladakh – Zaskar – Karakoram
Explanation
Why Correct: The correct south-to-north sequence is Pir Panjal in the Lesser Himalayas, then Zaskar in the Greater Himalayas, then Ladakh in the Trans-Himalayas, and finally Karakoram on the northern edge.
Distractor Analysis: Starting with Karakoram places the northernmost range incorrectly at the south, placing Zaskar before Pir Panjal reverses the middle two ranges, and putting Ladakh before Zaskar misorders the Trans-Himalayan and Greater Himalayan sequences.
Takeaway: The Pir Panjal Range forms the southern part of the Lesser Himalayas, the Zaskar Range lies within the Greater Himalayas north of it, the Ladakh Range is in the Trans-Himalayan region, and the Karakoram Range forms the northern boundary with peaks like K2.
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Q.3
WBCS Prelims 2021
Siachen glacier is located in the following range :
A. Karakoram
B. Ladakh
C. Zaskar
D. Pir Panjal
Explanation
Why Correct: Siachen Glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, near the India-Pakistan-China trijunction.
Distractor Analysis: Ladakh is a region, not a mountain range. Zaskar Range runs parallel to the Great Himalayas in Ladakh. Pir Panjal Range forms the southern flank of the Kashmir Valley.
Takeaway: Siachen is the world's highest battlefield and second-longest non-polar glacier, controlled by India since Operation Meghdoot in 1984.
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Q.4
WBCS Prelims 2021
The Valley of Kashmir is located in between the following ranges :
A. Zaskar and Pir Panjal
B. Great Himalayas and Pir Panjal
C. Karakoram and Ladakh
D. Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar
Explanation
Why Correct: The Kashmir Valley sits between the Zaskar Range to the northeast and the Pir Panjal Range to the southwest.
Distractor Analysis: The Great Himalayas lie north of the Zaskar Range. Karakoram and Ladakh ranges are further north in Ladakh. Dhauladhar Range is part of the Lesser Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh.
Takeaway: The valley is an intermontane basin formed by the Jhelum River, with an average elevation of 1,850 m and known for Dal Lake and saffron cultivation.
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Q.5
WBCS Prelims 2021
The largest glacier of India is
A. Pindari
B. Siachen
C. Gangotri
D. Zemu
Explanation
Why Correct: Siachen Glacier spans 76 km in length, making it India's largest glacier by length.
Distractor Analysis: Pindari Glacier is 3.2 km long in Uttarakhand. Gangotri Glacier is 30 km long, source of the Ganges. Zemu Glacier is 26 km long in Sikkim.
Takeaway: Gangotri is the largest glacier in the Himalayas by volume, while Siachen is the longest in the Karakoram and second-longest globally outside polar regions.
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Q.6
WBCS Prelims 2020
Chumbi Valley is on boundary of
A. Sikkim – Bhutan
B. Nepal – Sikkim
C. Bihar – Nepal
D. Assam – Bangladesh
Explanation
Why Correct: Chumbi Valley lies at the trijunction of Sikkim (India), Bhutan, and Tibet (China), specifically forming part of the Sikkim-Bhutan border region.
Distractor Analysis: Nepal-Sikkim border includes areas like Kangchenjunga region but not Chumbi Valley. Bihar-Nepal border runs along the Terai plains far from the Himalayas. Assam-Bangladesh border is in the Brahmaputra valley, geographically distant from the Himalayan valley in question.
Takeaway: Chumbi Valley's strategic importance stems from its location on the historic trade route between India and Tibet, now part of the China-Bhutan border dispute.
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Q.7
WBCS Prelims 2019
Shillong is situated in
A. The Naga Hills
B. The Garo Hills
C. The Khasi Hills
D. The Mikir Hills
Explanation
Why Correct: Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, lies within the Khasi Hills, which form part of the Meghalaya plateau.
Distractor Analysis: The Naga Hills span Nagaland and parts of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The Garo Hills occupy western Meghalaya, with Tura as their main town. The Mikir Hills (now Karbi Anglong) are in Assam, east of Meghalaya.
Takeaway: Meghalaya comprises the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills, with Shillong as the state capital and a major urban center in the northeast.
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Q.8
WBCS Prelims 2018
The highest peak in India, K2 is also known as
A. Lushai
B. Namcha Barwa
C. Khasi
D. Tura
Explanation
Why Correct: K2, the world's second-highest peak at 8,611 meters, is officially named Mount Godwin-Austen after Henry Godwin-Austen, an early surveyor of the region, and is locally called Chhogori.
Distractor Analysis: Lushai refers to hills in Mizoram, part of the Mizo Hills range. Namcha Barwa is a peak in Tibet near the eastern bend of the Brahmaputra. Khasi Hills are in Meghalaya, known for Cherrapunji. Tura is a town in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, not a peak.
Takeaway: K2 is located in the Karakoram Range on the border between Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan and China-administered Xinjiang, but India claims it as part of Ladakh.
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Q.9
WBCS Prelims 2012
The Pir Panjal Range is located in the :
A. Greater Himalya
B. Trans Himalayan Area
C. Lesser Himalaya
D. Siwaliks
Explanation
Why Correct: The Pir Panjal Range forms a major part of the Lesser Himalayas (also called Middle or Lower Himalayas), running parallel to the main Greater Himalayan range.
Distractor Analysis: Greater Himalaya contains the highest peaks like Everest and K2. Trans Himalayan Area lies north of the main Himalayan range in Tibet. Siwaliks are the outermost foothills of the Himalayas.
Takeaway: The three parallel Himalayan ranges from north to south are Greater Himalayas (Himadri), Lesser Himalayas (Himachal), and Outer Himalayas (Siwaliks).
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Q.10
WBCS Prelims 2010
The Himalayas are
A. Fold Mountains
B. Block Mountains
C. Residual Hills
D. Table land
Explanation
Why Correct: The Himalayas formed from the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, which crumpled and folded sedimentary rock layers upward, creating the world's youngest and highest fold mountain range.
Distractor Analysis: Block mountains result from faulting and tilting of crustal blocks, like the Vosges in Europe. Residual hills are erosional remnants of older mountains, like the Aravallis in India. Table land refers to flat-topped plateaus or mesas, like the Deccan Plateau.
Takeaway: The Himalayas continue to rise at about 5 mm per year due to ongoing plate convergence, making them seismically active.
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Q.11
WBCS Prelims 2009
Himalayas are
A. Young fold mountains
B. Residual mountains
C. Volcanic mountains
D. Block mountains
Explanation
Why Correct: Himalayas formed 40-50 million years ago during the Alpine orogeny from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making them geologically young fold mountains that are still rising.
Distractor Analysis: Residual mountains like the Aravallis result from long-term erosion of older landforms. Volcanic mountains like Mount Fuji form from magma extrusion. Block mountains like the Vosges arise from faulting and uplift of crustal blocks.
Takeaway: The Himalayas contain three parallel ranges: the Shiwaliks (youngest), Lesser Himalayas, and Greater Himalayas (oldest), with Mount Everest in the Greater Himalayas being the world's highest peak.
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Q.12
WBCS Prelims 2008
The Himalayas were uplifted from the
A. Indian ocean
B. Hercynian Geosyncline
C. Tethys Geosyncline
D. None of the above
Explanation
Why Correct: The Himalayas formed from the compression and uplift of sediments deposited in the Tethys Geosyncline, an ancient sea between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Distractor Analysis: The Indian Ocean is a current ocean basin south of India, not the source of Himalayan uplift. The Hercynian Geosyncline refers to a Paleozoic mountain-building event in Europe, unrelated to the Himalayas.
Takeaway: The Tethys Sea existed from the Mesozoic to Cenozoic eras, and its closure due to plate collision created not only the Himalayas but also the Alps and Zagros mountains.
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Q.13
WBCS Prelims 2005
Baltoro glacier is located in
A. Karakoram range
B. Kailash range
C. Pirpanjal range
D. Ladakh range
Explanation
Why Correct: Baltoro Glacier lies in the Karakoram Range, stretching 63 km across the Baltistan region of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Distractor Analysis: Kailash Range is a small mountain chain in Tibet, sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism. Pirpanjal Range forms the southern part of the Lesser Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh Range runs parallel to the Indus River in eastern Ladakh.
Takeaway: Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield, also lies in the Karakoram Range.
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Q.14
WBCS Prelims 2005
The Siwaliks are called in Arunachal Pradesh
A. Dhundwa
B. Dhang
C. Miri
D. Jaskar
Explanation
Why Correct: In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siwalik Hills are locally known as the Miri Hills.
Distractor Analysis: Dhundwa refers to the Siwaliks in Himachal Pradesh. Dhang is the name for Siwaliks in Nepal. Jaskar is not a recognized local name for the Siwaliks in any Indian state.
Takeaway: The Siwaliks are called Dafla Hills in Assam and Dudhwa Hills in Uttar Pradesh.
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Q.15
WBCS Prelims 2005
The Fedchenko, Biafo and Hispar are the names of Himalayan
A. Glaciers
B. Lakes
C. Hill Stations
D. Trees
Explanation
Why Correct: Fedchenko Glacier is in Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains, Biafo Glacier is in Pakistan's Karakoram range, and Hispar Glacier is also in Pakistan's Karakoram range, all being major Himalayan region glaciers.
Distractor Analysis: Lakes in the Himalayas include Pangong Tso, Dal Lake, and Tsomgo Lake. Hill stations include Shimla, Darjeeling, and Mussoorie. Trees include deodar, rhododendron, and oak species native to the region.
Takeaway: The Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range is the world's highest battlefield, while Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand is the source of the Ganges River.
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Q.16
WBCS Prelims 2005
The Patkoi bum forms the boundary between
A. Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar
B. Manipur and Nagaland
C. Assam and Meghalaya
D. Meghalaya and Nagaland
Explanation
Why Correct: Patkoi Bum is a mountain range that forms the international boundary between Arunachal Pradesh, India and Myanmar.
Distractor Analysis: Manipur and Nagaland share a boundary along the Barail Range. Assam and Meghalaya are separated by the Brahmaputra Valley and Khasi Hills. Meghalaya and Nagaland do not share a direct boundary, with Assam intervening between them.
Takeaway: The McMahon Line forms the boundary between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, while the Radcliffe Line demarcates India-Pakistan borders in Punjab and Bengal.
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Q.17
WBCS Prelims 2005
Karewas are terraces of glacial origin found in
A. Jhelum valley
B. Teesta valley
C. Chenuh valley
D. Ravi valley
Explanation
Why Correct: Karewas are thick lacustrine deposits formed from glacial sediments, found specifically in the Kashmir Valley along the Jhelum River basin between the Pir Panjal and Greater Himalayan ranges.
Distractor Analysis: The Teesta Valley in Sikkim contains glacial features but lacks karewa formations. The Chenab Valley has different geological structures without karewas. The Ravi Valley in Himachal Pradesh does not have the extensive karewa deposits characteristic of Kashmir.
Takeaway: Karewas support saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Pampore region being particularly renowned for producing high-quality saffron.
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Q.18
WBCS Prelims 2004
Which one of the following is the longest glacier in India?
A. Siachen
B. Zemu
C. Kolhai
D. Pindari
Explanation
Why Correct: Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range measures approximately 76 km, making it India's longest glacier.
Distractor Analysis: Zemu Glacier in Sikkim is about 26 km long, Kolhai Glacier in Himachal Pradesh is approximately 10 km, and Pindari Glacier in Uttarakhand is around 30 km.
Takeaway: The second longest glacier in India is Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand at about 30 km, followed by Bara Shigri Glacier in Himachal Pradesh at 27 km.
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Q.19
WBCS Prelims 2004
The height of the peak of the world is
A. 8,848m
B. 8,567m
C. 8,150m
D. 7,990m
Explanation
Why Correct: Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, has an official height of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level.
Distractor Analysis: 8,567 meters approximates K2's height, the second-highest peak. 8,150 meters is close to Annapurna I's height. 7,990 meters approximates Broad Peak's height.
Takeaway: K2, the world's second-highest peak, stands at 8,611 meters.
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Q.20
WBCS Prelim 2003
The word ‘Dun’ means
A. Longitudinal Valley
B. Transverse Valley
C. Lake
D. Peak
Explanation
Why Correct: In Himalayan geography, 'dun' specifically refers to longitudinal valleys formed between parallel mountain ranges, such as Dehradun between the Shiwaliks and Lesser Himalayas.
Distractor Analysis: Transverse valleys cut across mountain ranges perpendicularly. Lakes are inland water bodies. Peaks are mountain summits.
Takeaway: Other notable Himalayan duns include Patlidun, Kotlidun, and Udhampur, all formed by tectonic activity and river deposition.
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