When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:
- Deep gorges
- U-turn river courses
- Parallel mountain ranges
- Steep gradients causing land sliding
Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 4 only
- 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
All are correct
- Deep Gorges: Young fold mountains are constantly being uplifted due to ongoing tectonic forces. This rapid upliftment doesn’t allow rivers enough time to widen their valleys through erosion. As a result, they carve deep, narrow gorges like the ones seen in the Himalayas. The gorges are characterised by steep, rocky cliffs and narrow channels. During their early stages, glaciers flow down gorges and valleys and reshape them into U-shaped valleys.
- U-Turn Rivers: Young fold mountains, like the Himalayas, often show evidence of past glaciation in the form of these U-shaped valleys and the U-turn River courses.
- Parallel Ranges: The parallel ranges we see in the Himalayas are formed by the folding and compression of rock layers due to tectonic plate movement. This is a characteristic feature of young fold mountains, where the parallel ridges and valleys haven’t had enough time to be eroded.
- Landslides: As young fold mountains are still rising, they tend to have steep slopes and unstable terrain. This makes them prone to landslides, which further contribute to their rugged and young appearance.
