Importance of Himalayas

Importance of Himalayas:

• While the Himalayas divert the moisture-laden monsoon winds and cause the moist winds to bring rain to the North Indian plains and the Brahmaputra valley, they also operate as an efficient barrier by preventing the inflow of cold, dry air masses into north India during the winter.
• Numerous perennial rivers, such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Sharda, Ghagra, Kosi, Gandak, and Brahmaputra, originate from the Himalayan glaciers. 
  The North Indian plains receive agricultural water from these rivers all year long in addition to drinking water.
• The Himalayan rivers are a significant source of hydel power. This is due to the geography of the Himalayas, which produces waterfalls and rapids in the rivers, and ideal circumstances for reservoir development.
• India's protective barrier against land invasion is the Himalayas. Small groups of traders can traverse the Himalayas by challenging routes, but they serve as a barrier to the invaders. It is challenging to traverse the northeastern mountains since they are so steep and heavily forested.
• The Himalayas are home to the majority of hill stations or summer retreats. Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling, Srinagar, Ranikhet, Almora, Chail, and others are among them. The Himalayas are also home to a number of holy sites. The shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Kailash-Mansarovar, etc., are the most well-known of them. Adventurers love the Himalayas because they offer so many options for activities like hiking, rock climbing, river rafting, skiing, etc.
• The forest resources in the Himalayas are abundant. Tropical and subtropical woods can be found on the lower Himalayas, and these trees produce high-quality wood. The coniferous and deciduous soft and hardwoods, which are found in the middle and upper reaches, provide wood for matchsticks, paper pulp, resins, turpentine oil, numerous medicinal herbs, etc. A large range of wild animals, including yaks, snow leopards, bears, red pandas, tigers, elephants, etc., can be found in the Himalayas.
• Rich mineral riches can be found in the Himalayas. The eastern and western Himalayas are home to tungsten, nickel, cobalt, bismuth, antimony, lead, zinc, copper, and lead. The Kashmir Valley is home to high-quality coal. Gold, silver, and priceless stones like sapphires and beryl can also be found in the Himalayas.
• As they descend the Himalayas, the rivers that travel across the Northern Plains carry alluvium. They make their flood plains fruitful by depositing alluvium there. These soils have led to one of the most intensively farmed areas being the rich northern plains.