Geography of J&K complete pdf notes for Jkssb, Jkpsc and other state level exams.

Geography of J&K complete PDF notes for Jkssb, Jkpsc and other state-level exams.

Geography of J&K complete pdf notes for jkssb, jkpsc and other state level exams.


DISTRICTS OF J&K

No. of Districts: 20 (10 in Kashmir, 10 in Jammu)
1. Jammu
2. Udhampur
3. Kathua
4. Rajouri
5. Poonch
6. Doda
7. Kishtwar (new district)
8. Ramban (new district)
9. Reasi (new district)
10. Samba (new district)
11. Srinagar
12. Anantnag
13. Pulwama
14. Budgam
15. Baramulla
16. Kupwara
17. Shopian (new district)
18. Kulgam (new district)
19. Bandipora (new district)
20. Ganderbal (new district)

WHAT ARE THE MAIN PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS OF J&K?

1. The Outer Plains
2. The Shivaliks (Foothills)
3. The Middle Himalayas (Lesser Himalayas)
4. The Valley of Kashmir
5. The Greater Himalayas
6. The Plateau of Ladakh

1. The Outer Plains:

  • Akhnoor, RS Pora, Samba, Kathua.
  • These are the alluvial plains of Tawi and Ravi rivers.
  • Locally known as Andarwah and Bajwat
  • Many hill streams called “Khads” traverse these plains.
  • Highly fertile. Many varieties of Rice and wheat are grown.

2. The Shivaliks: (Foothills)

  • Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Mirpur
  • Youngest mountains of the sub-continent.
  • Width of Shivalik: 20 – 50 km
  • Altitude: 600-1500 metre
  • Jammu is located on the southern slopes of Shivalik hills.
  • Mansar and Surinsar lakes lie in these mountains.
  • Undulating slopes between Ravi and Chenab river are called Kandi.
  • Longitudinal valleys in Shivalik hills are called “Duns”.
  • Some important Duns are: Basohli, Ramkot, Sundarbani, Udampur, Kotli

3. The Middle Himalayas: (Lesser Himalayas)

  • Between Ravi river and Poonch (and continues up to Muzaffarabad)
  • The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) has been carved out through these mountains.
  • Altitude: 3600 – 4600 metre
  • Important ranges: a) Pir Panjal range  b) Dhauladhar
  • Covered by forests of Deodar, Pine and Fir.
  • Rivers that arise from Middle Himalayas: - Tawi River - Ujh - Basantar
  • The cave of Vaishno Devi is situated in Middle Himalayas on Trikuta Hills.

4. Valley of Kashmir:

  • The bowl-shaped valley surrounded by high mountain ranges.
  • 130 km long. 40 km wide.
  • South: Banihal Pass
  • North: Baramulla gorge – an outlet for water (Jhelum)
  • The Valley of Kashmir is subdivided into:
  • Jhelum Valley Floor: Between Anantnag and Baramulla.
  • Cultivation: Rice
  • Karewas: Known as Wudars.
  • Land on the sides of Jhelum flood plain.
  • Pampore wudar is known for its saffron cultivation.
  • The Side Valleys: Valleys carved out by tributaries of the Jhelum river.
  • Sindh Valley, Daksum valley, Liddar valley, etc.
  • Generally inhabited by Gujars.

5. Greater Himalayas:

  • In J&K, the Greater Himalayas are called Zanskar.
  • Altitude: 4500 – 6100 metre
  • Rivers: Zanskar river, Suru river

6. Ladakh Region:

  • Arid land.
  • Average altitude: 5000 m.
  • Coldest desert.
  • River: Indus river.
  • Glaciers: Siachen, Baltoro, Hispar
  • World’s 2nd Highest Peak: K2 Peak (8,611 m) (in Karakoram range)

CLIMATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR PDF

Three Division: 
a) Jammu (Sub-Tropical)
b) Kashmir (Temperate)
c) Ladakh (Arctic Cold Desert)

a) Jammu:

3 seasons: 
(i) Winter: Nov - Feb
(ii) Summer: Mar – June
(iii) Rainy: June – Oct
  • South part: Climate resembles Punjab.
  • Hot summers, Monsoon rains, Cold winters.
  • Mountainous part: Climate resembles Kashmir
  • Cause of rainfall (Summer): Monsoon (Barsaat)
  • Cause of rainfall (Winter): Temperate cyclones (Western disturbance)
  • Coldest Month: January
  • Loo: Hot dry winds during May – June.
  • Monsoon: (Barsaat) from mid-June.
  • Reasi district receives maximum rainfall.

b) Kashmir:

Type of Climate: Continental type, Sub-tropical to Arctic type.
4 seasons: 
(i) Winter: Nov- Feb
(ii) Spring: Mar – May
(iii) Summer: May – Sep
(iv) Autumn: Sep – Oct
  • The Spring season is known as Sonth in Kashmir.
  • Coldest Month: January
  • Chillai Kalan: 40 days of harsh winters in Kashmir.
  • Cause of rainfall/snowfall during winters: Temperate cyclones (Western disturbance)

Soils (J&K)

Three main types of soils in J&K:
i) Hilly & Mountainous soil
ii) Alluvial soil
iii) Karewa soil

i) Hilly & Mountainous Soil:

Crops cultivated on such soil: - Maize
- Pulses
- Oilseeds
- Fodder
In Kashmir, orchards of apple, pear and walnut have been grown on such soils

ii) Alluvial Soil:

Soils deposited by the action of the river.
Most productive soils of the state.
Found in: Southern Kashmir
Two types of alluvial soil:
Old Alluvium: (Bhanghar) Lies above the banks of the rivers
New Alluvium: (Khadar) Fertile soil.
Can grow 2-3 crops every year.
In Kashmir: Paddy
In Jammu: Wheat, Gram, Paddy, Mustard

iii) Karewas:

Found around the banks of river Jhelum.
Found in Kashmir and Kishtwar.
For the cultivation of Cash Crops:
- Saffron
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Apples
- Pears

MAJOR RIVERS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Jhelum ------Verinag
Indus --------Tibet (Sengge Khambal)
Chenab------ Baralacha
Kishenganga---- Kishensar lake
Tawi -------Kailash Kund
Ravi --------Kullu Hills (Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh)
Shyok river -------Rimo glacier
Ujh river -------Kailash mountains

1. Jhelum:

Also known as ---Vyeth, Vitasta.
Source: Verinag spring.
Mouth: Chenab river
The main river of Kashmir valley.
Total length = 725 km
In Kashmir = 215 km only
Basin countries: India, Pakistan
Jhelum river flows into Wular lake.
Exit: Baramulla, Uri then into Pakistan.
Jhelum is also called “Lifeline of Srinagar”

Tributaries: 
a) Liddar
b) Vishav
c) Doodganga
d) Sukhnag
e) Bringi
f) Pohru
g) Rambiara
h) Erin
i) Madhumati
j) Sind nallah

Hydel Power Projects on the Jhelum:

- Uri – I
- Upper Sindh
- Lower Jhelum, etc.

2. Indus:

Also known as Sindh or Darya-e-Sind
Origin: Tibet (Mansarvor Lake in Sengge Khambal glacier)
Flows through Tibet, Ladakh, Pakistan.
Total Length = 2900 km; In India = 1114 km

Tributaries: 
a) Jhelum
b) Chenab
c) Sutlej
d) Ravi
e) Beas
f) Shyok
g) Zanskar
h) Suru
Mouth: Arabian sea at Karachi.
Basin Countries: Pakistan (93%), India (5%), China(2%)

3. Chenab:

Origin: Bara Lacha pass (in Lahaul & Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh)
Two streams – Chandra and Bhaga – orginate in Himachal Pradesh and
unite near Tandi to form “Chandra-Bhaga” river.
Enters J&K at Padder (Kishtwar).
From Padder, it’s called Chenab.
Total Length = 1180 km
In J&K = 504 km
Basin countries: India, Pakistan
It flows into Pakistan and joins Indus river.

Hydroelectric Power Projects on Chenab river:
- Baglihar
- Dulhasti
- Salal
Tawi is one of the tributaries of the Chenab river.

4. Kishenganga:

Also known as Neelam river
Origin: Kishensar Lake
Flows through: Gurez, Keran, Karnah
It merges into Jhelum near Muzaffarabad.
Power Project: Kishenganga Hydroelectric Power Project

5. Tawi:

Total Length = 141 km
Also called Surya Putri
Origin: Kailash Kund (Soej Hills, Bhadarwah)
Tawi river divides the Jammu city into two-part – Old City and New City.
Tawi river finally merges with the Chenab river in Pakistan.
Chenani Hydro Power Project is constructed on Tawi.

6. Ravi river:

Origin: Kullu hills (Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh)
Flows through: Basohli, Kathua
Total length = 720 km

7. Shyok river:

Origin: Rimo glacier
Total Length = 550 km

LAKES OF J&K

Kashmir Division:

1. Wular lake
2. Dal lake
3. Nigeen lake
4. Anchar lake
5. Manasbal Lake
6. Hokersar
7. Kausar Nag
8. Harwan
9. Gangabal
10. Sheshnag

Jammu Division:

1. Mansar lake
2. Surinsar lake
3. Sanasar lake

Ladakh:

1. Pangong lake

1. WULAR LAKE:

  • Largest Freshwater Lake in India
  • Largest lake of J&K.
  • Length = 16 km
  • Width = 9.6 km
  • Jhelum river makes its delta into the Wular lake.
  • In Bandipora district.
  • It is considered as a remnant of Satisar Lake (Pre Historic)
  • Accounts for about 60% of the total fish production of J&K.

2. DAL LAKE:

  • Also known as “Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”
  • In East of Srinagar district.
  • 2nd largest lake of J&K.
  • Length: 8 km
  • Width: 6.4 km
  • Mughal Gardens are situated around it.
  • Area: around 11 km2
  • Floating Gardens found in this lake.
  • Freezes during winters.
  • 4 parts: 
a) Gagribal
b) Lokut-Dal
c) Bod-Dal
d) Nigeen

3. NIGEEN LAKE:

  • In Srinagar district.
  • Located near Dal.
  • Famous for Houseboats.

4. ANCHAR LAKE:

  • Length: 8 km
  • Width: 3 km
  • Swampy area.
  • Sind nallah enters this lake.

5. MANASBAL LAKE:

In Ganderbal district.
It is connected with Jhelum river by a canal.
The deepest lake in Kashmir.

6. HOKERSAR:

  • It is a wetland.
  • 16 km from Srinagar.
  • Home to migratory birds.
  • It has been declared as a
  • Ramsar Site.

7. KAUSAR NAG:

  • Also called Vishno Pad
  • In Kulgam district (in PirPanjal)
  • High altitude lake
  • The stream which is fed by this lake is Vishav Nallah.

8. GANGABAL:

  • In Srinagar
  • Situated at the peak of Harmukh Mountain.
  • High altitude lake

9. MANSAR LAKE:

  • Freshwater lake
  • 62 km from Jammu
  • Lies a shrine of Sheshnag.
  • In Shivalik range.

10. SURINSAR LAKE:

  • 40 km from Jammu.
  • Freshwater lake.
  • In Shivalik range

11. SANASAR LAKE:

  • In Ramban district.

12. PANGONG LAKE:

  • Saltwater lake.
  • Closed type lake. No outlet.
  • It is in both Ladakh and Tibetan territories.
  • Highest saltwater lake in India.
  • Freezes during winter. 

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