Question

Distinguish between the following: Duns and chos in the Shiwalik ranges.

Answer 1

Hint: Shiwalik ranges are the outer Himalayan range and are the youngest formation of the Himalayas. Shiwalik range from North-East India up to Nepal is covered with thick forests but the forest cover decreases towards west from Nepal.

Complete answer:
The Shiwalik range is the one that was formed more recently as compared to the other parts of the Himalayas. The range extends towards the west-northwestward for more than 1,000 miles from the Tista River in Sikkim state, then in northeastern India, through Nepal, across northwestern India, and into northern Pakistan.
Duns – the duns or duars are the valleys found in the Shiwalik range, these are open valleys between the Shivalik and the higher Himalayan foothills.
These duns are longitudinal valleys which are formed due to folding which occurs when the Eurasian and the Indian plate collide with each other.
These valleys have deposits of coarse alluvium which is brought down by the Himalayan Rivers. Examples of doons/ dun area – Dehradun, Patli dun etc.
Chos – there are parts or slopes of the Shiwalik range which are completely devoured or lack forest cover, i.e. they face heavy erosion as they are very anatomized by the seasonal rivers that flow through them. These seasonal rivers, streams or torrents that flow through the Shiwalik range are known as chos or khads. Example is the northern part of Punjab plain which is heavily eroded due to Chos.
Hence, the basic difference is that duns are valleys and chos are streams responsible for erosion and Sandy River beds in the southern slopes of the Shiwalik range.

Note: The Shiwalik range is also known as the outer Himalaya & Churia hills.
The word Shiwalik means belonging to Lord Shiva in Sanskrit.
The region is home to the Soanian archeological culture.
The range's height is between 1500 mt to 2000 mt.