Major Mountain Ranges of Asia

The majestic mountain ranges that make up Asia, contain both natural and cultural treasures, from the renowned Himalayas with their towering peaks and unspoiled splendour to the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, which are teaming with wildlife. Investigate the rocky Karakoram Range and the Hindu Kush's historical significance. Asia's mountain ranges provide a riveting trip into the heart of this diverse and enthralling continent with their beautiful vistas and profound significance.

Features of Major Mountain Ranges of Asia

Here are the descriptions of major mountain ranges of Asia −

The Himalayan Range

The Inner Himalayas, Middle Himalayas, and Outer Himalayas are the three ranges that make up the Himalayas. Folded mountains that traverse India's northern borders make up the three portions. From the Indus River to the Brahmaputra River, the Himalayan Ranges stretch in a west to east direction. The three parts were produced by the tectonic collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. In addition to having the highest peaks, glaciers, and deep valleys, the Himalayas are the world's highest mountain ranges. The Himalayan Mountain range forms an arc over the Indian subcontinent, stretching 2,400 km in total and varying in breadth from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri mountain range, is a chain of mountains that runs 1,600 km (990 mi) parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula and extends over an area of 160,000 km² (62,000 sq. mi). It crosses the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is occasionally referred to as the Great Escarpment of India. The Deccan Plateau cannot receive the southwest monsoon winds because of the Western Ghats. The altitude is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

The Eastern Ghats

Along India's eastern coast, there is a disjointed mountain range known as the Eastern Ghats. The Eastern Ghats travel across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana before ending in Tamil Nadu in the south. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are the four principal rivers of peninsular India that erode and cut through them. The tallest peak in Odisha is Deomali, which stands at 1762 meters. The Eastern Ghats' and Andhra Pradesh's highest point, Arma Konda or Seethamma Konda, is 1690 meters high. The BR hill range in Karnataka is the tallest in the Eastern Ghats, with many of its peaks rising beyond 1500 meters.

Karakoram Range

The Karakoram is a mountain range in the Kashmir region that runs along the borders of Pakistan, China, and India and extends into Afghanistan and Tajikistan at its far northwest corner. The majority of the Karakoram Mountain range is governed by Gilgit-Baltistan, which is run by Pakistan. K2, its tallest peak and the second-highest mountain in the world, is in Gilgit-Baltistan. It starts in the Wakhan Corridor in western Afghanistan, covers most of Gilgit-Baltistan, and extends into Ladakh, which is under Indian sovereignty, and Aksai Chin, which is under Chinese control. The Hindu Kush, Pamir Mountains, and Himalayas are all included in the complex of mountain ranges that encompasses the second-highest mountain range on Earth, the Karakoram.

Hindu Kush Range

In Central and South Asia, to the west of the Himalayas, there is a mountain range called the Hindu Kush that stretches over 800 km (500 mi). It extends from north-western Pakistan and far-eastern Tajikistan into central and eastern Afghanistan. With locations like the Bamiyan Buddhas, the Hindu Kush range area was a historically prominent centre of Buddhism. The range contains a number of lofty peaks covered in snow, with Tirich Mir or Terichmir in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province having the greatest elevation at 7,708 meters (25,289 feet).

Ural Mountains

The Ural Mountains, often known as the Urals, are a mountain range in Asia that stretches from the shore of the Arctic Ocean to the river Ural and northwest Kazakhstan. It predominantly runs north-south through Russia. The mountain range is a component of the traditional border between Europe and Asia. The chain continues further north into the Arctic Ocean with Vaygach Island and the Novaya Zemlya islands. The Urals range in altitude from 1,000 to 1,300 meters (3,300 to 4,300 feet), with Mount Narodnaya reaching a height of 1,894 meters (6,214 feet), on average.

Altai Mountains

The Altai Mountains, also known as the Altay Mountains, are a mountain range in Central and East Asia that straddles the border between Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. It is also the source of the rivers Irtysh and Ob. In the northeast, the massif joins the Sayan Mountains, and in the southeast, it progressively descends until joining the high plains of the Gobi Desert. The 845,000 square kilometre (326,000 square mile) range of isolated mountains known as the Altai Mountains is located in central Asia. From northwest to southeast, the mountains are 2,525 kilometres (1,569 mi) long.

Pamir Mountain Ranges

Located between Central Asia and Pakistan, the Pamir Mountains are a mountain range. It is situated where the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush, and Himalaya Mountain ranges converge with other important mountains. They rank among the tallest mountains in the world. The Tajik province of Gorno-Badakhshan contains a large portion of the Pamir Mountains. Along Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, in Pakistan's Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan districts, they border the Hindu Kush mountains to the south. Along Kyrgyzstan's Alay Valley, they connect to the Tian Shan mountains in the north. They stretch into the "Eastern Pamirs" to the east, where they are divided from the Kunlun Mountains by the Yarkand valley, which includes the range that includes China's Kongur Tagh.

Tian Shan

The Tian Shan is a vast network of mountain ranges in Central Asia that is sometimes referred to as the Tengri Tagh or Tengir-Too, which means the Mountains of Heaven, the Heavenly Mountain, or the Mountains of God. Jengish Chokusu, the tallest peak in the Tian Shan, rises to a height of 7,439 meters (24,406 feet). The Turpan Depression, which is 154 meters (505 feet) below sea level, is where it is lowest. In Tengrism, the Tian Shan is revered, and Khan Tengri, the mountain's second-highest peak, means "Lord of the Spirits" in Tibetan.

Kunlun Mountains

The Kunlun Mountains, which span more than 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles), are part of one of Asia's largest mountain chains. The chain, taken in its broadest meaning, creates the northern limit of the Tibetan Plateau south of the Tarim Basin. The Kunlun Mountains' precise definition changes over time. Older sources referred to Kunlun as the mountain range running across the middle of China, which includes Altyn Tagh, the Qilian Mountains, and the Qin Mountains.

List of Major Mountain Ranges of Asia

Here's a table listing the major mountain ranges of Asia and their respective locations −

Mountain Range	Location
Himalayan Range	Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan
Western Ghats	India
Eastern Ghats	India
Karakoram Range	India, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan
Hindu Kush Range	Afghanistan, Pakistan
Ural Mountains	Russia, Kazakhstan
Altai Mountains	Russia, Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan
Pamir Mountain Ranges	Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China
Tian Shan	Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China
Kunlun Mountains	China, Tibet

Conclusion

The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Karakoram Range, Hindu Kush Range, Ural Mountains, Altai Mountains, Pamir Mountain Ranges, Tian Shan, and Kunlun Mountains are only a few of the significant mountain ranges found in Asia. These mountain ranges are found in several different nations and include a variety of geological characteristics, including high peaks, glaciers, deep valleys, and a broad range of wildlife.

They are very important from a geological, ecological, and cultural perspective. A glimpse of the natural beauty and varied landscapes of the Asian continent can be seen by exploring these magnificent mountain ranges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the tallest mountain range in the world?

The Himalayan Range in Asia is the tallest mountain range globally.

Where is the Western Ghats located?

The Western Ghats are located in India, running parallel to the country's western coast.

What countries are the Karakoram Range present in?

The Karakoram Range extends across the borders of Pakistan, China, India, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.

What is the significance of the Ural Mountains?

The Ural Mountains act as a traditional border between Europe and Asia, stretching from the Arctic Ocean to northwest Kazakhstan.