Geography of Uttarakhand

Overview

Uttarakhand, carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, is a Himalayan state with extraordinary geographical diversity. Understanding its physical geography is essential for UTET Paper II because questions frequently test knowledge of Himalayan zones, major glaciers, river systems and the state's rich biodiversity. This topic also connects to Environmental Studies, conservation movements (Chipko) and the cultural identity of the region.

For exam purposes, you must be able to distinguish the three Himalayan zones, name the glaciers that feed sacred rivers, trace river courses and recall key facts about national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Map-based and factual MCQs are common, so memorise locations, elevations and protected areas.

Key Concepts

• **Three Himalayan Zones**: Uttarakhand is divided into the Greater Himalayas (Himadri), Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) and Outer Himalayas (Shivaliks), each with distinct elevation, climate and land use.

• **Glaciers as River Sources**: Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers are the origin points of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers respectively; glaciers act as frozen reservoirs feeding perennial rivers.

• **Drainage Pattern**: The state has two major river systems — the Ganga system (Bhagirathi, Alaknanda and tributaries) and the Yamuna system; rivers flow south or south-west towards the plains.

• **Biodiversity Hotspot**: Uttarakhand lies within the Western Himalaya biodiversity hotspot; altitude variation creates multiple ecological zones from tropical to alpine.

• **Protected Areas Network**: The state has six national parks and seven wildlife sanctuaries, including UNESCO sites like Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers.

• **Fragile Ecosystem**: Himalayan geography makes the region prone to landslides, flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs); sustainable development is a major concern.

• **Char Dham Significance**: The pilgrimage circuit (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath) is closely tied to glacial and riverine geography.

Key Facts

| Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Total Area** | 53,483 km² | | **Highest Peak** | Nanda Devi (7,816 m) — second highest in India | | **Districts** | 13 districts in two divisions (Garhwal and Kumaon) | | **Greater Himalayas (Himadri)** | Elevation above 6,000 m; permanent snow, glaciers; no habitation | | **Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)** | 3,500–5,000 m; temperate forests; towns like Mussoorie, Nainital | | **Outer Himalayas (Shivaliks)** | 600–1,500 m; foothills; Doon valleys; Dehradun located here | | **Gangotri Glacier** | Length ~30 km; source of Bhagirathi (main stream of Ganga); elevation ~4,000 m | | **Yamunotri Glacier** | Source of Yamuna; near Bandarpoonch peak | | **Other Major Glaciers** | Pindari, Milam, Satopanth, Khatling, Chorabari (Kedarnath) | | **Alaknanda River** | Originates from Satopanth glacier; joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form Ganga | | **Five Prayags** | Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Devprayag — confluence points on Alaknanda | | **National Parks** | Jim Corbett (India's first, 1936), Nanda Devi, Valley of Flowers, Rajaji, Gangotri, Govind Pashu Vihar | | **UNESCO World Heritage** | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (combined site, 1988/2005) | | **State Animal** | Alpine Musk Deer | | **State Bird** | Himalayan Monal | | **State Flower** | Brahma Kamal | | **State Tree** | Buransh (Rhododendron) | | **Forest Cover** | About 45% of state area |