What are the causes of more frequent in landslides in the Himalayas than in western ghats
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The Himalayas and Western Ghats are two prominent mountain ranges in India. A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope.
The Himalayas witness more frequent landslides than the Western Ghats. The causes for such variations could be :
1. Age – The Himalayan range is one of the world’s newest tertiary fold mountains. The Himalayas are thus a tectonically active mountain chain. Tectonic movement raises the likelihood of earthquakes and landslides.
2.Vegetation: The Himalayas lend to lack dense vegetation cover due to the high altitude and cold climate, which ultimately results in less soil stability and a higher risk of landslides. The Western Ghats on the other hand have dense vegetation cover, which eliminates the above risk of soil instability and reduce the risk of landslides.
Topography: The Himalayan rivers form deep gorges as the slope of the river is quite high which results in a rugged topography steep hillsides that are prone to landslides. The Western Ghats have a more gentle topography with fewer steep slopes.
In conclusion, the physical aspects combined with human activity of intensive deforestation has led to more frequent landslides in the Himalayan region when compared to the western ghats
The Himalayas, one of the world’s most impressive mountain ranges, extend across five countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan. Formed by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, the range is characterized by its towering peaks, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth.
The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, are a mountain range running parallel to the western coast of India. Stretching over 1,600 kilometers through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, they form a significant biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope due to gravity. This phenomenon occurs when the stability of a slope changes from a stable to an unstable condition. Landslides are more frequent in the Himalayas than in the Western Ghats due to several key factors:
1. Geological Differences:
Himalayas: The Himalayas are a relatively young and highly active mountain range formed due to the ongoing collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic activity makes the region geologically unstable, resulting in frequent landslides.
Western Ghats: The Western Ghats are older and more geologically stable. While landslides do occur, they are less frequent compared to the Himalayas.
2. Topography:
Himalayas: The steep slopes and high altitude of the Himalayas contribute to a greater gravitational force, which makes the region more prone to landslides.
Western Ghats: Although the Western Ghats have steep slopes, they are generally lower in altitude and have less dramatic elevation changes compared to the Himalayas.
3. Climate and Precipitation:
Himalayas: The Himalayas receive intense rainfall during the monsoon season. The combination of heavy rain and steep slopes often triggers landslides. Additionally, the region experiences significant snowfall and subsequent snowmelt, which can also lead to landslides.
Western Ghats: The Western Ghats also receive heavy monsoon rains, particularly on the windward side, but the overall impact is less severe compared to the intense and prolonged precipitation in the Himalayas.
4. Soil and Rock Composition:
Himalayas: The Himalayas have a complex composition of loose, unconsolidated materials and fractured rocks due to ongoing tectonic activity. This makes the soil and rock more susceptible to erosion and landslides.
Western Ghats: The Western Ghats primarily consist of hard, basaltic rocks which are more resistant to erosion. However, areas with laterite soils can be prone to landslides during heavy rains.
5. Human Activities:
Himalayas: Rapid and often unplanned urbanization, deforestation, road construction, and other infrastructure projects in the Himalayas disturb the natural stability of slopes, increasing the frequency of landslides.
Western Ghats: While human activities also impact the Western Ghats, the extent and intensity are generally lower compared to the Himalayan region.
6. Seismic Activity:
Himalayas: The region is highly seismic due to the tectonic plate movements, and earthquakes can trigger landslides.
Western Ghats: The Western Ghats are less seismically active, resulting in fewer landslides triggered by earthquakes.
Overall, the combination of geological, topographical, climatic, and human factors makes the Himalayas more prone to frequent landslides compared to the Western Ghats.