2. The Greater Himalayas

The Greater Himalayas rise abruptly like a wall north of the Lesser Himalayas. The Main Central Thrust separates the Greater Himalayas from the Lesser Himalayas. The Greater Himalayas are about 25 km wide with an average height above 6100 metres (Wadia, D.N.). Almost all the lofty peaks of the Himalayas Mt. Everest, Kanchanjunga, Nanga-l’arbat, Gasherb rum, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Gosainthan, Cho-Cyu, Nanda-Devi, Kamet, Badrinath, etc. Nanda Devi, etc., lie in this zone. The Greater Himalayas are composed of crystalline, igneous or metamorphic rocks (granite, schists, and geneiss). The basal complex of the Himalayas is Archaean. At places, due to heavy thrust, older rocks are found overlying the newer rocks. The Greater Himalayas are almost a contiguous range. The range has very few gaps mainly provided by the antecedent rivers. The Greater Himalayas receive less rainfall as compared to the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks. Physical weathering is pronounced. Erosion is, however, less effective over the Greater Himalayas as compared to the Lesser Himalayas.

Being lofty, they have very little forest area.