Himalaya is a distinct physiographic region of the country. Bring out salient features of its longitudinal ranges.

Salient Features of the Longitudinal Parallel Ranges of the Himalayas:

The 2,400-km long Himalayan arc is structured into Three Parallel Longitudinal Mountain Ranges:

• 1. Greater Himalayas (Himadri / Inner Himalayas - उत्तरी सर्वोच्च श्रेणी):
  • Highest, most continuous range (average elevation ~6,100 m, width 120–190 km); core made of Archean granite.
  • Houses world's highest peaks: Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Makalu, and giant glaciers (Gangotri, Yamunotri).
• 2. Lesser / Middle Himalayas (Himachal - मध्य हिमालय):
  • Rugged range (average elevation 3,700 to 4,500 m, width 60–80 km); composed of highly compressed metamorphic rocks.
  • Contains prominent ranges: Pir Panjal (longest), Dhauladhar, Nag Tibba, and Mahabharat range; famous hill resorts (Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital).
• 3. Outer Himalayas (Shiwalik Range - बाह्य हिमालय):
  • Youngest, southernmost range (elevation 900 to 1,200 m, width 10–50 km); composed of unconsolidated river gravels and sandstone; separated from Himachal by flat longitudinal valleys called Duns (Dehradun) and Duars.