Geography of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (Notes)

Geography of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

(Notes)

Introduction

The Unions of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh cover the Northern part of India. These two Unions are girdled by the neighbouring countries of China (Tibet) in East, Afghanistan in North and Pakistan in West. The countries of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh form the southern border of the Unions

(A) PHYSIOGRAPHY

Morphologically, there are three distinct regions i.e. Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh. Each of these regions has varied physical features of its own. On the base of physical setting the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and The Union Territory of Ladakh are divided into the following physiographic regions:

• I. The External Plains
• II. The Shiwaliks
• III. The Middle Himalayas
• IV. The Valley of Kashmir
• V. The Ladakh Region

I. The External Plains

The Southern side of the Union Territory is covered by the alluvial plains of the Chenab, Tawi and Ravi Rivers and their feeders. The external plain is an extension of Great Indian Plains which is alluvial in nature. It stretches from River Ravi to River Chenab for a distance of 110 Km. The plains are locally called as Anderwah and Bajwat. The plain is drained by other streams and tributaries like Basantar, Ujh, Tawi & Manawar Tawi. The plain is dissected by series of deep and shallow ravines cut by these streams and rivers. The ravines are locally called as Khads. They're generally filled with sand, gravels, boulders and wild growing tall grass (Khar). During stormy season these Khads transform into flooded nallahs. The productive crop lands of this region are in Kathua, Akhnoor, Hiranagar, Bishnah,R.S Pura and Domana. Parts of Jammu City like Talab Tillo,Gandhi Nagar and Satwari belong to the external plains. The elevation of these fertile plains varies from 330 to 360 meters above mean sea position.

II. The Shiwaliks

Towards North of the External Plains lie the youthful mountains called Shiwalik Hills. These mountains are 2. - 50 Kms wide and 600 - 1220 measures above the mean sea level. To the north of Siwalik hills lies series of longitudinal velleys called duns. The important ones are Basohli, Ramkote, Dansal, Udhampur and Sunderbani.

III.The Middle Himalayas (Pir Panjal)

The Pir Panjal representing the middle Himalayas varies in elevation from 1800 to 3600 metres. It's characterized by deep cut denes and ravines. The Middle Himalayas locally known as “ Pahar” ( mountain) in Jammu Division sprawls between the Ravi in the east and the Poonch in the west. The Middle Himalayas have range of about 10 - 60 kms with an east west exposure. The sacred delve of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is positioned on the pitch of “ Trikuta Mountain” in the middle Himalayas. The Jammu Srinagar public trace has been sculpted out through middle Himalayas which crosses this route system at Patnitop at an altitude of about 1950 metres.

IV. The valley of Kashmir

The beautiful vale of Kashmir nestled in the north western crowds of Himalayas is encompassed by Greater Himalayas in the north and middle Himalayas in South. The range of vale varies between to 40 - 60 kms and its length is roughly between 130 - 140 km with a varying elevation of 1500 - 1800 m above mean ocean position. The valley of Kashmir has been divided into distinct physiographic divisions.

• Valley Floor
• The Karewas
• The Side Denes

i) The Valley Floor: The deluge plain of Jhelum sprawls from Khanabal in the South-East up to the District Baramulla in North-West. It's fertile agricultural tract of immense significance and is considered as the‘ food coliseum’of the valley.
ii) The Karewas: The zone of highlands is the peculiar physiographic point of the vale. Karewas are flat outgunned sundeck like features on the both sides of Jhelum deluge plain and better developed in the southern section of the valley.

iii) The Side Denes: Side denes like Sindh, Naranag, Lidder, and Daksum are important centres of tourist attractions and live stock rearing. The Kishenganga Valley in Gurez is one of the famous side denes of the region.

V. The Ladakh Region

The Ladakh region (Plateau of Ladakh) constitutes the Northern most region of India. It is a vast arid table land located at a height of 1500 measures. It's cold desert substantially covered with mechanically survived gemstone material and granite dust. The area is deprived of foliage. The potent Indus River flows through Ladakh. The skimp rains and thirsty conditions don't favour agrarian conditioning in Ladakh. It's confined to the irrigated tracks around Indus River which favours the growth of grim, barley, some vegetables and fruits like apricots. The Glacier of Siachen, about 72 Km in length on Karakoram range of Himalayas is positioned in this region. The Plateau of Ladakh is comprised of the following ranges.

• i) Zanskar Range
• ii) The Ladakh Range
• iii) The Karakorm Range
• iv) The Aksai Chin Region
• v) Gilgit and Baltistan

Zanskar Range: This range forms the southern sides of Sindh vale and is drained by Zanskar swash. Drass Drass, the world’s second most coldest place is also factory in this region. 

The Ladakh Range: This range is deposited between the Indus and the Shyok gutters. It forms a prominent range in the Trans Himalayan region. 

The Karakoram Range: It extends from the sluice  in the northwest to the River Shyok in the east. It may aptly be called as the floundering crest of the earth. Nearly the entire crest line is covered with perpetual snow with number of giant glaciers crawling slowly down the pitch. The Aksai Chin Region: The Aksai Chin region deposited in the north eastern portion of Ladakh, east of sluice Shyok is also known as Lingtze Tang Plain. 

Gilgit and Baltistan: Geographically, Gilgit and Baltistan are deposited in the Trans Himalayan region on the north western corridor of Kashmir dale. It's largely mountainous region. The region is home to some of the world’s topmost mountainous ranges like Karakoram, Western Himalayas, Pamir Mountains & Hindukush. It has some of the world’s topmost mountain peaks like the alternate topmost mountain peak of the world K2. It's the world’s most stressed-out mountain peak. Some of the world’s important glaciers like Biapo, the Baltora and Batura lie also. This region is drained by sluice Indus, Gilgit, Hunja, Shyok and other feeders.

B. CLIMATE

The climate of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh is controlled by factors like altitude, latitude, distance from the ocean, influence of prevailing winds and physiographic conditions. Though the Union Homes of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh lie in the Sub tropical belt but owing to varied topographic features, snow sheathe mountains and on the base of over mentioned factors they are divided into the following climatic zones 

• (i) Sub Tropical Jammu 
• (ii) Temperate Kashmir 
• (iii) Arctic Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan 

Jammu Division: The highland areas substantiation temperate climate due to high altitude in the area of Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Bani, Basohli, Gool, Gulabgarh, Poonch, corridor of Rajouri and Banihal; whereas the rest of Jammu Division gests asub-tropical type of climate as being close to the plains of Punjab. Jammu has tropical heat characterized with rainstorm rains and cool layoffs. 

Temperate Kashmir: The dale of Kashmir along with  hilly areas of Jammu experience temperate climate. The distinctive features of climate of Kashmir are mild summers, vigorous and severe layoffs with snow andrain, a muggy and rough downfall in July & August, with affable spring. July and August are the hottest months. Kashmir receives moderate downfall which mainly occurs during time-out months and summer generally remains dry due to absence of rainstorm. 

Arctic Ladakh: Ladakh gests a truly cold and truly dry climate. The climate is constantly characterized by great axes of heat and deep snap, with devilish emptiness. Ladakh receives a little amount of rush throughout the time. Rush is mainly in the form of snow. There prevails a great difference in sun and shade temperature in Ladakh region. Summers are short and rough and layoffs are long and extremely cold.

C. DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF JAMMU KASHMIR AND LADAKH. 

The Union Homes of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are drained by the potent Indus sluice system and its affluents. The dale of Kashmir is drained by Jhelum, Kishenganga gutters and their affluents. Romushi, Doodh Ganga, Sukhnag. Lidder. Sindh Nallah, Madhumati and Phuru are important affluents of Jehlum. The Jammu region is mainly drained by sluice Chenab, Ravi, Tawi and their affluents. The sluice Chenab is formed of two main courses-The Chandra and The Bhaga which arises in Lahul – Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and enters Jammu and Kashmir in Padder area of Kishtwar. The Union Territory of Ladakh is mainly drained by Indus River and its affluents. Zanskar, Suru and Shyok are important affluents in eastern Ladakh where as Gilgit, Hunza, Gomal are important affluents of this sluice in GilgitBaltistanarea.

D. SOILS 

The top most caste of the earth’s crust composed of survived rock material and organic content which supports the plant life is nominated as soil. The Union of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are blessed with varied soil groups. River dales are dominant with alluvial soils, brown timber soil and mountainous soil are also factory in different regions. Major soil groups are mooted below. 

1. Alluvial Soil: The Jammu plains are generally covered with alluvial soil. In Jammu region the alluvial soils have two variants 

• i) Old clod (Bhangar) lie above the banks of the sluice and are generally free from cataracts 
• ii) New topsoil (Khaddar) are constantly submersed as they lie in the deluge plains of gutters 

2. Karewas Soil: Karewas are lacustrine deposits found as low flat mounds or elevated plateaus in the valley of Kashmir and Kishtwar and Bhaderwah tracts of Jammu Division. Karewas soils are coarse in the sides of Jhelum and finer towards the central part. Due to the presence of proper irrigation installations, this soil is largely productive for horticulture crops especially apple almond and saffron.

Ladakh region being a cold desert, lacks well advanced soil profile. Still, some alluvial tracks are factory on the banks of Sindh sluice and its affluents. Mountainous soil are generally seen in various areas of Ladakh region.