🧵 Physical features of Ladakh
• Mountain Ranges
• Passes
• Plains
• Glaciers
• Peaks
• Rivers
• Lakes
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• Mountain Ranges
• Passes
• Plains
• Glaciers
• Peaks
• Rivers
• Lakes
🔖 Save for UPSC Prelims 2025 x.com
MOUNTAIN RANGES
1️⃣ Greater Himalaya:
• Forms the southern boundary of Ladakh.
• Acts as a climatic barrier, separating Ladakh from the monsoonal influence of the Indian plains.
• Important for hydrological significance as it feeds rivers like the Indus.
2️⃣ Pir Panjal Range:
• Extends into the western parts of Ladakh.
• Composed of sedimentary rocks and rich in biodiversity.
• Acts as a gateway to the Kashmir Valley through passes like Banihal.
3️⃣ Zanskar Range:
• Lies to the south of the Indus River in Ladakh.
• Known for treks like the Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar River.
• Contains rich mineral deposits and is home to isolated Tibetan Buddhist communities.
4️⃣ Ladakh Range:
• Located between the Indus and Shyok rivers.
• Contains important passes like Khardung La, critical for connectivity to Nubra Valley.
• A barren and rugged range with high-altitude deserts.
5️⃣ Karakoram Range:
• Northernmost range in Ladakh, extending into Central Asia.
• Home to K2, the second-highest peak in the world.
• Includes the Siachen Glacier, a strategically significant area between India and Pakistan.
1️⃣ Greater Himalaya:
• Forms the southern boundary of Ladakh.
• Acts as a climatic barrier, separating Ladakh from the monsoonal influence of the Indian plains.
• Important for hydrological significance as it feeds rivers like the Indus.
2️⃣ Pir Panjal Range:
• Extends into the western parts of Ladakh.
• Composed of sedimentary rocks and rich in biodiversity.
• Acts as a gateway to the Kashmir Valley through passes like Banihal.
3️⃣ Zanskar Range:
• Lies to the south of the Indus River in Ladakh.
• Known for treks like the Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar River.
• Contains rich mineral deposits and is home to isolated Tibetan Buddhist communities.
4️⃣ Ladakh Range:
• Located between the Indus and Shyok rivers.
• Contains important passes like Khardung La, critical for connectivity to Nubra Valley.
• A barren and rugged range with high-altitude deserts.
5️⃣ Karakoram Range:
• Northernmost range in Ladakh, extending into Central Asia.
• Home to K2, the second-highest peak in the world.
• Includes the Siachen Glacier, a strategically significant area between India and Pakistan.
Passes
1️⃣ Zoji La Pass:
• Connects Srinagar to Ladakh.
• Vital for economic and strategic connectivity, especially in winter when Ladakh is cut off.
• Part of the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH1).
2️⃣ Burzil Pass:
• Located near the Deosai Plains, connecting Ladakh to Gilgit-Baltistan (now in PoK).
• Historically significant for trade and pilgrimage routes.
3️⃣ Khardung La:
• Connects Leh with Nubra Valley.
• Essential for logistics to the Siachen Glacier.
• A major tourist attraction.
4️⃣ Chang La:
• Gateway to Pangong Tso Lake.
• Known for its harsh weather and strategic importance in connecting border regions.
5️⃣ Umling La:
• The highest motorable pass in the world (5,798 meters).
• Connects the Chisumle and Demchok villages near the Indo-China border.
6️⃣ Lanak La & Aghil Pass:
• Strategic passes in the eastern Ladakh region, close to the Aksai Chin and Karakoram ranges, respectively.
1️⃣ Zoji La Pass:
• Connects Srinagar to Ladakh.
• Vital for economic and strategic connectivity, especially in winter when Ladakh is cut off.
• Part of the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH1).
2️⃣ Burzil Pass:
• Located near the Deosai Plains, connecting Ladakh to Gilgit-Baltistan (now in PoK).
• Historically significant for trade and pilgrimage routes.
3️⃣ Khardung La:
• Connects Leh with Nubra Valley.
• Essential for logistics to the Siachen Glacier.
• A major tourist attraction.
4️⃣ Chang La:
• Gateway to Pangong Tso Lake.
• Known for its harsh weather and strategic importance in connecting border regions.
5️⃣ Umling La:
• The highest motorable pass in the world (5,798 meters).
• Connects the Chisumle and Demchok villages near the Indo-China border.
6️⃣ Lanak La & Aghil Pass:
• Strategic passes in the eastern Ladakh region, close to the Aksai Chin and Karakoram ranges, respectively.
Plains
1️⃣ Deosai Plains:
• Located near the Indo-Pak border, known as the “Land of Giants”.
• Rich in biodiversity and part of a national park in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Historically significant for ancient trade routes.
2️⃣ Depsang Plains:
• Northern Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Frequent flashpoints in India-China military stand-offs.
• Critical for India’s defense strategies.
3️⃣ Soda Plains & Lingti Tang Plains:
• High-altitude desert plains in eastern Ladakh.
• Geologically significant for studying Ladakh’s arid terrain.
4️⃣ Ladakh Plateau:
• One of the highest plateaus in the world, situated at an average altitude of 4,500 meters.
• Known for its cold desert ecosystem.
1️⃣ Deosai Plains:
• Located near the Indo-Pak border, known as the “Land of Giants”.
• Rich in biodiversity and part of a national park in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Historically significant for ancient trade routes.
2️⃣ Depsang Plains:
• Northern Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Frequent flashpoints in India-China military stand-offs.
• Critical for India’s defense strategies.
3️⃣ Soda Plains & Lingti Tang Plains:
• High-altitude desert plains in eastern Ladakh.
• Geologically significant for studying Ladakh’s arid terrain.
4️⃣ Ladakh Plateau:
• One of the highest plateaus in the world, situated at an average altitude of 4,500 meters.
• Known for its cold desert ecosystem.
Glaciers
1️⃣ Siachen Glacier:
• Located in the eastern Karakoram range.
• The highest battlefield in the world, with India maintaining strategic control since 1984 (Operation Meghdoot).
• A major source of freshwater for the region.
2️⃣ Baltoro Glacier:
• Situated in the Karakoram range, known for trekking routes to K2.
• Important for glaciological studies.
3️⃣ Chogo Lungma Glacier:
• Found near Hunza Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Supplies water to the Indus River, crucial for irrigation and hydropower.
1️⃣ Siachen Glacier:
• Located in the eastern Karakoram range.
• The highest battlefield in the world, with India maintaining strategic control since 1984 (Operation Meghdoot).
• A major source of freshwater for the region.
2️⃣ Baltoro Glacier:
• Situated in the Karakoram range, known for trekking routes to K2.
• Important for glaciological studies.
3️⃣ Chogo Lungma Glacier:
• Found near Hunza Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Supplies water to the Indus River, crucial for irrigation and hydropower.
Peaks
1️⃣ K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen):
• Second-highest mountain in the world (8,611 meters).
• Part of the Karakoram Range, located near the Indo-China-Pakistan border.
2️⃣ Saltoro Kangri:
• Located in the Saltoro Range, near the Siachen Glacier.
• A strategic location in the India-Pakistan conflict.
3️⃣ Nanga Parbat:
• Known as the “Killer Mountain”, the westernmost peak of the Himalayas.
• Located in the Diamer region of PoK, part of the contested territories.
4️⃣ Kangju Kangri:
• A lesser-known peak in the Ladakh Range.
• Significant for high-altitude trekking and mountaineering.
5️⃣ Batura Sar:
• One of the tallest peaks in the Karakoram range near Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Known for its extensive glacier systems.
1️⃣ K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen):
• Second-highest mountain in the world (8,611 meters).
• Part of the Karakoram Range, located near the Indo-China-Pakistan border.
2️⃣ Saltoro Kangri:
• Located in the Saltoro Range, near the Siachen Glacier.
• A strategic location in the India-Pakistan conflict.
3️⃣ Nanga Parbat:
• Known as the “Killer Mountain”, the westernmost peak of the Himalayas.
• Located in the Diamer region of PoK, part of the contested territories.
4️⃣ Kangju Kangri:
• A lesser-known peak in the Ladakh Range.
• Significant for high-altitude trekking and mountaineering.
5️⃣ Batura Sar:
• One of the tallest peaks in the Karakoram range near Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Known for its extensive glacier systems.
Lakes
1️⃣ Pangong Tso:
• A saline water lake shared between India and China.
• Popularized by Indian films and a hotspot for border tensions.
• Significant for ecological studies of high-altitude saline lakes.
2️⃣ Tso Moriri:
• A freshwater lake in the Rupshu Plateau.
• Declared a Ramsar Wetland for its ecological importance.
3️⃣ Tso Kar:
• Known as the "White Lake" due to salt deposits on its banks.
• A critical habitat for migratory birds.
4️⃣ Aksai Chin Lake:
• Located in the disputed Aksai Chin region.
• An endorheic lake (closed drainage system) contributing to its arid surroundings.
1️⃣ Pangong Tso:
• A saline water lake shared between India and China.
• Popularized by Indian films and a hotspot for border tensions.
• Significant for ecological studies of high-altitude saline lakes.
2️⃣ Tso Moriri:
• A freshwater lake in the Rupshu Plateau.
• Declared a Ramsar Wetland for its ecological importance.
3️⃣ Tso Kar:
• Known as the "White Lake" due to salt deposits on its banks.
• A critical habitat for migratory birds.
4️⃣ Aksai Chin Lake:
• Located in the disputed Aksai Chin region.
• An endorheic lake (closed drainage system) contributing to its arid surroundings.
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