What are the significance of the Himalaya to India?
Answers
Answer:
(i) The Himalayas lie on the northern border of India like a physical barrier. They separate India from Central Asia.
(ii) They have huge cover of snow and glaciers which are the sources for a number of perennial rivers of India. These rivers helped in the formation of northern plains of India, therefore provide water for irrigation, navigation and for generating hydel-power.
(iii) The Himalayas also act as climatic barriers, since they protect the northern plains in winters from the freezing cold winds blowing from Central Asia. They are also able to stop and deflect the rain bearing southern-west monsoon winds towards northern plains of India.
(iv) Forests in the foothills of Himalayas provide habitat for a number of wild animals, birds, insects etc.
(v) In Himadari, there are a number of beautiful hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling.
(vi) Besides, these mountains also provide a natural protection to India from any kind of invasion from outside.