When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:Deep gorgesU-turn river coursesParallel mou

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2012 UPSC Prelims Geography paper.

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Question

When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:Deep gorgesU-turn river coursesParallel mountain rangesSteep gradients causing land-sliding.Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — 1, 2, 3 and 4Solution:The Himalayas are young fold mountains — formed relatively recently (about 65-55 million years ago, continuing to the present) when the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate. All four features are evidence of their youthfulness and ongoing geological activity:Deep gorges: The Himalayas are still rising while the rivers (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries) continue to cut downward — creating some of the world's deepest gorges. Older, eroded mountains would not have such deep, V-shaped gorges. ✓U-turn river courses (antecedent rivers): Rivers like the Indus, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra originated before the Himalayas rose and have maintained their courses by cutting through the rising mountains — creating dramatic hairpin bends (U-turns) where rivers change direction abruptly. This antecedent drainage pattern is characteristic of young fold mountains still being uplifted. ✓Parallel mountain ranges: The Himalayas have three parallel ranges — Greater Himalayas (Himadri), Lesser Himalayas (Himachal), and Outer Himalayas (Shivaliks). This parallel folding is a structural feature of young fold mountains formed by compressional forces. ✓Steep gradients causing landslides: Young mountains have not yet been significantly worn down by erosion — they retain steep slopes and loose, uncompacted rock material. This makes them highly susceptible to landslides, which are extremely common throughout the Himalayas. ✓Key Concept: Young fold mountains vs. Old fold mountains: Young fold mountains (Alpine-Himalayan belt, Andes, Rockies) are geologically recent (Cenozoic era), still tectonically active, have high peaks, steep slopes, frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity, V-shaped river valleys, and deep gorges. Old fold mountains (Aravallis, Vindhyas, Satpuras in India; Appalachians in USA; Urals in Russia) are geologically ancient (Precambrian), worn down by millions of years of erosion, have lower, rounded summits, wider valleys, and U-shaped profiles. The Aravallis (one of the world's oldest mountain ranges) contrast sharply with the young Himalayas in all these characteristics.

When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:Deep gorgesU-turn river coursesParallel mountain rangesSteep gradients causing land-sliding.Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

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When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:Deep gorgesU-turn river coursesParallel mountain rangesSteep gradients causing land-sliding.Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

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