THE PLATE TECTONIC ORIGIN OF THE HIMALAYAS

• W. J. Morgan of Princeton University proposed the theory of Plate Tectonics in 1967.
• This theory is based on the concept of “Sea-Floor Spreading” advocated by H. Hess.
• Around 70-65 million years ago, the Tethys geosyncline occupied the area where the Himalayas now stand.
• Approximately 65-30 million years ago, the Indian plate began subducting under the Asian plate.
• This subduction caused lateral compression, resulting in the formation of the Himalayas from the squeezed and folded sediments of the Tethys.
• The northward movement of the Indian plate continues, leading to ongoing uplift of the Himalayas.
• The Ladakh and Zaskar ranges formed during the first major uplift phase around 65 million years ago.
• A second major uplift, about 45 million years ago, led to the rapid rise of the southern mountain front of the Lesser Himalayas, creating rugged ranges like Pir-Panjal, Dhauladhar, and Mahabharat.
• The Main Central Thrust separates the Greater Himalayas from the Lesser Himalayas.
• The Shiwaliks, characterized by thick terrestrial sediments, formed as a result of the third major uplift, representing the progressive uplift of the Himalayas.

Division of the Himalayas

Formation of Himalayas explained in Continent – Continent Convergence.

1. Shiwaliks or outer Himalayas
2. Lesser or Middle Himalayas
3. The Greater Himalayas
4. The Trans-Himalayas – Tibetan Himalayas.
5. The Eastern Hills – Purvanchal: A chain of hills in North-East India.

Read more : Mountain Classifaction