3. The Lesser Himalayas

The width of the Lesser Himalayas is about 80 km with an average height of 1300-4600 m. It consists, generally, of unfossilifcrous sediments or metamorphosed crystalline. The main rocks are slate, limestone and quartzites. Along the southern margin of the Lesser Himalayas lies the

autochthonous belt of highly compressed Upper Palaeozoic to Eocene rocks, often containing volcanic material. Examples of autochthonous belts are found between Murree and Panjal thrust in Kashmir, Giri thrusts in the Shimla region and Krol and Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in Garhwal region. This region is subjected to extensive erosion due to heavy rainfall, deforestation and urbanisation.