Geography of J&K — Glaciers
1. Introduction
- Glaciers: A bulk of ice moving under its weight. Forms in areas where the amassing of snow goes beyond its ablation over many years.
- Generally seen in the snow-fields.
- Covers about 10% of the Earth's land surface.
- Types:
- Mountain Glacier (Alpine Glaciers): Moves from higher to lower altitude.
- Continental Glacier (Ice Sheets): Moves outward in all directions.
- There are about 15,000 glaciers in the Himalayas.
- Total area of Himalayas: ~5 lakh sq. km; covered by snow: ~33,000 sq. km.
- Maximum development of glaciers occurs in the Karakoram Range.
KNOWLEDGE NUGGET
- Largest glacier outside polar regions: Siachen Glacier
- Maximum glacier development: Karakoram Range
- Operation Meghdoot: Launched 13 April 1984 for Siachen
2. Glaciers of Karakoram Range
GLACIERS IN KARAKORAM RANGE
| Glacier | Location |
|---|---|
| Siachen | Eastern Karakoram |
| Fedchenko | Karakoram |
| Hispar | Karakoram |
| Biafo | Karakoram |
| Baltoro | Karakoram |
| Chongo-Lungma | Karakoram |
| Khurdaplo | Karakoram |
| LoLofond | Karakoram |
| Yarkand Rimo | Karakoram |
| Godwin Austen | Karakoram |
| Pasu | Karakoram |
| Chong Kumdan | Karakoram |
| Trango | Karakoram |
2.1 Siachen Glacier
- Length: 72 km — largest glacier outside the polar and sub-polar regions.
- Location: Nubra valley, Eastern Karakoram.
- Meaning: "Sia" (rose family plant) + "Chun" (object found in abundance) — land with an abundance of roses.
- Feeds the Muztagh or Shaksgam River.
- Operation Meghdoot: Launched on 13 April 1984 — Indian troops gained control of the entire Siachen Glacier.
- Currently under the administration of India since 1984.
- Tributary glaciers: Shelkar, Chorten, Mamostang.
2.2 Baltoro Glacier
- Length: 62 km — Second Largest Glacier in the Himalayan Region.
- Location: Southern slopes of central Karakoram Range (Baltistan area).
2.3 Biafo Glacier
- Length: ~60 km.
- Location: South-facing slopes of Karakoram Range (Baltistan area).
- Main stream flows into the Shigar River (tributary of Indus).
2.4 Hispar Glacier
- Length: ~60 km — third largest glacier in the Himalayan region.
- Location: Southern slopes of Karakoram Range (Baltistan area, Ladakh).
- Feeds the main stream of the Shigar River (drains into Indus).
2.5 Nubra Glacier
- Location: Southern slopes of Karakoram Range (Ladakh region).
- Gives rise to the Nubra River (flows into Shyok River).
2.6 Rakaposhi Glacier
- Location: Lower slopes of Karakoram Ranges (Gilgit region, Ladakh).
- Meltwater flows into the Hunza River (joins Indus).
3. Glaciers of Pir Panjal Range
GLACIERS IN PIR PANJAL RANGE
| Glacier | Location |
|---|---|
| Chungpur | Pir Panjal |
| Sonapani | Pir Panjal |
| Bara Shighi | Pir Panjal |
| Rakhiot | Pir Panjal |
| Gangri | Pir Panjal |
| Chhota Shigri | Pir Panjal |
4. Other Important Glaciers
4.1 Drang-Drung Glacier
- Location: Near Pensi La mountain pass (Kargil - Zanskar Road), Kargil district, UT of Ladakh.
- Largest glacier in Ladakh (other than Siachen).
- Length: 23 km.
- Elevation: 15,680 ft (4,780 m).
- Source of Stod River (Doda River) — tributary of Zanskar River → Indus.
- Doda Peak (6,550 m / 21,490 ft) rises from the glacier.
4.2 Kolahoi Glacier
- Location: North-western Himalayan Range — 26 km north of Pahalgam, 16 km south of Sonamarg.
- Elevation: 4,700 m.
- Kolahoi Peak: 5,425 m.
- Source of Lidder River; some melt waters become tributaries of Sindh River.
4.3 Machoi Glacier
- Length: 9 km.
- Location: North-eastern Himalayan Range — 8 km east of Sonamarg at Zojila.
- Elevation: 4,800 m.
- Machoi Peak: 5,458 m.
- Source of two rivers: Nallah Sindh (westwards) and Drass River (eastwards).
4.4 Shafat Glacier
- Length: 14 km.
- Location: North-eastern Himalayan Range — 85 km south of Kargil (Kargil - Zanskar Road).
- Elevation: 4,400 m.
- Gives rise to the two mountain peaks of Nun and Kun (over 6,800 m).
- Melt waters add to the flow of Suru River (tributary of Indus).
4.5 Fedchenko Glacier
- Location: Karakoram Range.
- Longest glacier in the world outside of the polar regions.
5. Points to Note
QUICK REFERENCE
- Siachen Glacier: Tibet
- Biafo Glacier: Baltistan (Ladakh)
- Baltoro Glacier: Karakoram Range
- Saltoro Glacier: Saltoro Massif
- Tawi River: Kaplas Kund (Kailash Kund)
- Indus River: Mansarovar Lake
- Chenab River: Lahol and Spiti
- Jhelum River: Verinag, Anantnag
- Doda River: Drang Drung glacier
- Nubra River: Siachen Glacier
- Drass River: Machoi glacier
- Shyok River: Rimo glacier
- Vishav, Rambiara, Romushi: Left bank tributaries of Jhelum
- Largest glacier in the world outside Polar Regions: Siachen glacier
- Shelkar, Chorten, Mamostang: Tributary glaciers of Siachen glacier
- Operation Meghdoot: Launched on 13 April 1984 — Siachen glacier
6. JKSSB Previous Year Questions
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Q1. The largest glacier outside the polar and sub-polar regions is:
- A) Siachen Glacier
- B) Baltoro Glacier
- C) Biafo Glacier
- D) Hispar Glacier
Q2. Operation Meghdoot was launched on:
- A) 13 April 1983
- B) 13 April 1984
- C) 13 April 1985
- D) 13 April 1986
Q3. The Siachen Glacier is located in which mountain range?
- A) Pir Panjal
- B) Karakoram
- C) Zanskar
- D) Greater Himalayas
Q4. The second largest glacier in the Himalayan region is:
- A) Siachen
- B) Baltoro
- C) Biafo
- D) Hispar
Q5. The source of the Lidder River is:
- A) Machoi Glacier
- B) Kolahoi Glacier
- C) Drang-Drung Glacier
- D) Shafat Glacier
Q6. The Drang-Drung Glacier is the source of which river?
- A) Suru River
- B) Stod River (Doda River)
- C) Nubra River
- D) Drass River
Q7. The Machoi Glacier is the source of which two rivers?
- A) Jhelum and Chenab
- B) Nallah Sindh and Drass River
- C) Indus and Shyok
- D) Tawi and Ravi
Q8. The Shafat Glacier gives rise to which two mountain peaks?
- A) K2 and Gasherbrum
- B) Nun and Kun
- C) Kolahoi and Machoi
- D) Nanga Parbat and Harmukh
Q9. The third largest glacier in the Himalayan region is:
- A) Siachen
- B) Baltoro
- C) Hispar
- D) Biafo
Q10. The Siachen Glacier feeds which river?
- A) Indus River
- B) Muztagh or Shaksgam River
- C) Shyok River
- D) Nubra River
Q11. The largest glacier in Ladakh (other than Siachen) is:
- A) Shafat Glacier
- B) Drang-Drung Glacier
- C) Machoi Glacier
- D) Kolahoi Glacier
Q12. The Biafo Glacier is located in:
- A) Kashmir Valley
- B) Baltistan (Ladakh)
- C) Jammu Region
- D) Pir Panjal
Q13. The Nubra River originates from which glacier?
- A) Siachen Glacier
- B) Baltoro Glacier
- C) Biafo Glacier
- D) Hispar Glacier
Q14. The Fedchenko Glacier is located in which mountain range?
- A) Karakoram
- B) Pir Panjal
- C) Zanskar
- D) Greater Himalayas
Q15. The Shyok River originates from which glacier?
- A) Rimo Glacier
- B) Siachen Glacier
- C) Baltoro Glacier
- D) Biafo Glacier
7. Summary: Glaciers at a Glance
| Glacier | Range | Length | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siachen | Karakoram | 72 km | Largest outside polar regions; Operation Meghdoot |
| Baltoro | Karakoram | 62 km | 2nd largest in Himalayan region |
| Hispar | Karakoram | ~60 km | 3rd largest in Himalayan region |
| Biafo | Karakoram | ~60 km | South-facing slopes; Baltistan |
| Kolahoi | Himalayan | — | Source of Lidder River |
| Drang-Drung | — | 23 km | Largest in Ladakh; Source of Stod River |
| Machoi | Himalayan | 9 km | Source of Nallah Sindh & Drass River |
| Shafat | Himalayan | 14 km | Nun & Kun peaks; Suru River |
Key Takeaways for JKSSB & UPSC
- Siachen Glacier: 72 km; largest outside polar regions; Operation Meghdoot (13 April 1984)
- Baltoro Glacier: 62 km; 2nd largest in Himalayan region
- Hispar Glacier: ~60 km; 3rd largest in Himalayan region
- Kolahoi Glacier: Source of Lidder River
- Drang-Drung Glacier: Largest in Ladakh; Source of Stod River (Doda River)
- Machoi Glacier: Source of Nallah Sindh and Drass River
- Shafat Glacier: Nun and Kun peaks; Suru River
- Fedchenko Glacier: Longest glacier outside polar regions (Karakoram)
- Rimo Glacier: Source of Shyok River
- Maximum glacier development: Karakoram Range
High-Yield Interactive UPSC & JKSSB Quiz (Glaciers of J&K)
Q1. The largest glacier outside the polar and sub-polar regions is:
Correct Answer: B. The Siachen Glacier, at 72 km, is the largest glacier outside the polar and sub-polar regions. It is located in the Eastern Karakoram Range.
Q2. Operation Meghdoot was launched on:
Correct Answer: B. Operation Meghdoot was launched on 13 April 1984. It was the first assault launched in the highest battlefield in the world, resulting in Indian troops gaining control of the entire Siachen Glacier.
Q3. The second largest glacier in the Himalayan region is:
Correct Answer: B. The Baltoro Glacier, at 62 km, is the second largest glacier in the Himalayan region. It is located on the southern slopes of the central Karakoram Range.
Q4. The source of the Lidder River is:
Correct Answer: B. The Kolahoi Glacier is the source of the Lidder River. Some melt waters from it also become tributaries of the Sindh River.
Q5. The Drang-Drung Glacier is the source of which river?
Correct Answer: B. The Drang-Drung Glacier is the source of the Stod River (Doda River), which is a tributary of the Zanskar River.
Q6. The Machoi Glacier is the source of which two rivers?
Correct Answer: B. The Machoi Glacier is the source of two rivers: Nallah Sindh flowing westwards and Drass River flowing eastwards.
Q7. The Shafat Glacier gives rise to which two mountain peaks?
Correct Answer: B. The Shafat Glacier gives rise to the two mountain peaks of Nun and Kun, which have elevations of more than 6,800 meters.
Q8. The third largest glacier in the Himalayan region is:
Correct Answer: C. The Hispar Glacier, with a length of about 60 km, is the third largest glacier in the Himalayan region.
Q9. The Nubra River originates from which glacier?
Correct Answer: B. The Nubra River originates from the Siachen Glacier. It is a branch of the Shyok River and flows through the Nubra area in Ladakh.
Q10. The Shyok River originates from which glacier?
Correct Answer: B. The Shyok River originates from the Rimo Glacier. It is often called "River of Death" and is a major branch of the Indus River.