Significance of the Great Northern Wall

Significance of the Great Northern Wall 

• During the winter, the Himalayas act as an effective barrier, blocking the inflow of cold, dry air masses into north India, and the Himalayas deflect moisture-laden monsoon winds, causing the moist winds to bring rain to the North Indian plains and the Brahmaputra valley.
• Many perennial rivers originate in the Himalayas, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Sharda, Ghagra, Kosi, Gandak, and Brahmaputra. These rivers provide water not only for drinking but also for irrigation in the North Indian plains all year. 
• The rivers that originate in the Himalayas are a significant source of hydropower. This is due to the Himalayan topography, which causes rivers to form rapids and waterfalls and creates ideal conditions for reservoir formation.
• The Himalayas serve as India's defensive line against land invasion. They act as a barrier to invaders, though small groups of traders can travel through difficult routes in the Himalayas. The mountains in the northeast are difficult to cross because they are steep and densely forested.
• Most of the summer resorts, known as hill stations are located in the Himalayas. Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling, Srinagar, Ranikhet, Almora, and Chail are among them. The Himalayas also have a number of sacred shrines. The most well-known are the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Kailash-Mansarovar, and others. The Himalayas are a popular destination for adventure seekers, as they offer numerous opportunities for hiking, climbing, river rafting, skiing, and other activities.
• The Himalayas are rich in forest resources. Tropical and subtropical forests grow in the lower Himalayas, producing good-quality timber. On the middle and upper reaches are found coniferous and deciduous soft and hardwoods, providing wood for match-sticks, paper pulp, resins, turpentine oil, various medicinal plants, etc. The Himalayas are home to a diverse range of wild animals, including yaks, snow leopards, bears, red pandas, tigers, and elephants.
• The Himalayas have rich mineral reserves. The eastern and western Himalayas are rich in copper, lead, zinc, bismuth, antimony, nickel, cobalt, and tungsten. The Kashmir valley is rich in good-quality coal. Gold, silver, and precious stones such as sapphires and beryl can also be found in the Himalayas.
• Alluvium is carried down the Himalayas by rivers that flow through the Northern Plains. They deposit alluvium in their flood plains, which makes them fertile. Because of these soils, the fertile northern plains are among the most intensively cultivated agricultural tracts.