>Rodw: Disambiguating links to Sirmaur (link changed to Sirmaur district) using DisamAssist.

2021-06-29T17:00:20Z

Disambiguating links to Sirmaur (link changed to Sirmaur district) using DisamAssist.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox place geography
|km area = 55,673
|highest point = [[Reo purgyil (mountain)|reo purgyil]] ({{cvt|7,026|m|disp=or}})
}}
[[File:LeoPargial.jpg|thumb|250px|View of [[Reo Purgyil]], in Himachal Pradesh]]

The state of [[Himachal Pradesh]] is spread over an area {{cvt|55,673|km2}} and is bordered by [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Ladakh]] on the north, [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] on the southwest, [[Haryana]] on the south, [[Uttarakhand]] on the southeast, a small border with [[Uttar Pradesh]] in the south (touching [[Sirmaur district|Sirmaur]]), and [[Tibet]] on the east. Himachal is a mountainous region, rich in natural resources.

==Characteristics==
Elevation ranges from {{cvt|465|m}} to over {{cvt|7,000|m}} above sea level. The region extends from the [[Siwalik Hills|Shivalik]] range of mountains. There is a noticeable increase in elevation from [[west]] to [[east]] and from [[south]] to [[north]]. At 6816 m [[Reo Purgyil]] is the second highest mountain peak in the state of Himachal Pradesh, while [[Shilla (mountain)|Shilla]] is the highest.

The general physiographic divisions from south to north are:
# The outer Himalayas ([[Siwalik Hills|Shivaliks]])
# The lesser Himalayas (central zone)
# The Great [[Himalaya]]s (northern zone)
# Zanskar range (shilla Peak-kinnaur, Pangi chamba)
#
The [[Shiwalik Hills|Shiwalik]] range consists of lower hills (600 m above sea level). The hills of the region are composed of highly unconsolidated deposits which results in high rates of [[erosion]] and [[deforestation]].

The [[Kangra valley]] is a longitudinal [[trough (geology)|trough]] which is at the foot of the [[Dhauladhar]] range. [[Dhauladhar]] (which means the 'White Peak') has a mean elevation of nearly 4,550 metres. It has a rapid rise of 3,600 m above the [[Kangra valley]]. The largest of the lesser [[Himalaya]]n ranges, the Pir Panjal, branches off from the Greater [[Himalaya]]n range near the bank of the [[Sutlej]]. A number of glaciers exist and several passes lie across the Pir Panjal. The [[Rohtang Pass]] (3,978 m) is one of these.

The Great Himalayan range (5,000 to 6,000 metres) runs along the eastern boundary and is slashed across by the [[Sutlej]]. Some of the famous passes in this range are Kangla (5,248 m), Bara Lacha (4,512 m), Parang (5,548 m) ,Cheni Pass Churah Pangi (4,400m) and Pin Parvati (4,802 m).

The Zanskar Range, the easternmost range, separates [[Kinnaur]] and [[Spiti]] from [[Tibet]] and Pangi Chamba from Leh Ladkh UT. It has peaks up to 7,026 m high. Some of the well-known peaks are [[Shilla (mountain)|Shilla]] (6,132 m) and Riwo Phargyul (6,791 m); these are among the highest peaks in this range. There are many [[glacier]]s over the Zaskar and the Great Himalayan ranges.

[[Himachal]] is well known for its rich [[flora]]. Forests covered about 27.72% (15,433 sq.km) of the state's area in 2019 which is higher than the national average.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-state-of-forest-report-isfr-2019#:~:text=The%202019%20survey%20has%20found,last%20assessment%20it%20w|title=Increase in forest cover of Himachal as per India state of forest report, 2019|website=drishtiias.com}}</ref>

[[Himachal]] has 49 cities and towns. The smallest town is [[Naina Devi]] and the largest is [[Shimla]] with a total state population of 6,856,509. Urban population is only 7.5% of the state population. Most of the population reside in rural areas.<ref>[http://www.webindia123.com/himachal/land/land.htm General outline Himachal Pradesh Geography]</ref> The lesser [[Himalaya]]s are spotted by a gradual elevation towards the [[Dhauladhar]] and the Pir Panjal ranges. The rise is more rapid in the [[Shimla]] hills, to the south of which is the high peak of Choodh — Chandni (3647 m). North of the river [[Sutlej]], the rise is steady.

==See also==
*[[Geology of Himachal Pradesh]]

==References==
<references/>
{{Himachal Pradesh topics}}
{{Geography of India by state or territory}}
[[Category:Geography of Himachal Pradesh| ]]

Geography of Himachal Pradesh - Revision history

>Rodw: Disambiguating links to Sirmaur (link changed to Sirmaur district) using DisamAssist.