Northern Mountain Region

• The Northern mountain ranges that form the north and the north eastern boundary of the Indian subcontinent includes several mountain ranges that originate from the Pamir Knot known as ‛the Roof of the World’ and it extends up to Purvachal in the east.
• The relatively young and lofty northern mountain ranges have been formed by the folding of rock layers. The Northern mountain extends from River Indus in the west to River Brahmaputhra in the east for nearly 2400 km and has a withdrawing from 150 to 400 km. The region has a peculiar landscape with several high peaks, glaciers and valleys.
• Based on the topographical characteristics,the Northern mountain region can be classified into three.
• 1. Trans Himalayas
• 2. The Himalayas
• 3. The Eastern Hills
• Now, you have familiarised with the major mountain ranges of the Northern mountains and their location.
• The northern most division of the Trans Himalayas is also known as the Tibetan Himalayas. Having an average elevation of 3000 metres, the Trans Himalayas has an approximate width of 40 km and a length of 965 km. The Karakoram range connects Himalayas with the Pamir Knot.
• Three parallel ranges that extend to the south of the Trans Himalayas towards the east. These parallel mountain ranges are the Himadri, The Himachal and the Shiwaliks. These three ranges together form the Himalayas.
• The Shiwalik Range, which is the southern most of the Himalayan ranges and forms the borders of the Ganga Plains,bhas a width ranging from an average of 60 to 150 km. As it is the outer most part, this range is also known as the Outer Himalayas.
• To the north of the Shiwaliks, is the Himachal mountain range,with an average elevation ranging from 3500 to 4500 metres above the mean sea level. This range is also known as the Lesser Himalayas and has a width ranging from 60 to 80 km.
• The Himadri, which is also known as the Greater Himalayas or the Inner Himalayas, is the mountain range that lies at an average elevation of about 6100 metres above the mean sea level. The width of the range is nearly 25 km. These are snow-clad mountains.
• Most of the world’s highest peaks are situated in this range.
• Generally mountains are the landforms with an average elevation above 900 metres from the sea level. 
• Fold Mountains - Fold mountains are formed due to the compression of sedimentary rock strata of the earth's crust. This process is known as folding. The Himalayas and the Alps were formed through this process.