Question

Why are the Himalayas important in the life of Indians?

Answer 1

Hint:
The Himalayas stretch over the northern borders of India. From the Indus to the Brahmaputra, these mountain ranges run in a west-east direction. They represent one of the most loftiest and rugged mountain barriers in the world.

Complete Answer:
The Himalayas are the most dominating geographical feature of India. They are significant in the life of Indians because of the following reasons:-
The Himalayas play a very important role in influencing the climate of India. They cause precipitation in the form of rain and snow by virtue of their length, high altitude, and direction by effectively intercepting the summer monsoon coming from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Besides this, they also prevent the cold continental air masses of Central Asia from entering India.
The Himalayas are very rich in forest resources. The Himalayan forest provides fuelwood and a large variety of raw materials for forest-based industries. Besides, many medicinal plants grow in the Himalayas. The Himalayas also provides rich pastures covered with grass for grazing animals.
As a defense barrier, the Himalayas have been protecting our country since the early times. In spite of modern warfare technology, the significance of the Himalayas as a defense barrier can not be ignored altogether.
The Himalayas is the source of all the major rivers. Fast snowfields, large glaciers, and abundant rainfall are the feeding grounds of these major rivers. The melting snow provides water to these rivers even during dry seasons.
Many regions in the Himalayas can be used for producing hydroelectricity and dams can be constructed here.
The Himalayan region is rich in minerals. Minerals like limestone, copper, coal, lead, zinc, cobalt, gold, silver, etc.
The slopes are terraced for cultivation and rice is the main crop of the terraced slopes. Other crops like ginger, potatoes, wheat, etc. can also be grown here. A wide variety of fruits are also grown here such as mulberry, apples, peaches, cherries, etc.
The alluvium deposited by the rivers and tributaries descending from the Himalayas forms great fertile soil, making the north Indian plains the most fertile lands.

Note:
The northernmost range is known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the ‘Himadri’, the range lying to the south of Himadri are known as Himachal or lesser Himalayas, and the outermost range of the Himalayas is known as the Shiwaliks.