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Significance of The Himalayas
Significance of The Himalayas
Significance of The Himalayas
2. Climate Influence: The Himalayas have a profound effect on the climate of the
Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau. They prevent frigid, dry Arctic winds blowing
south into the subcontinent, which keeps South Asia much warmer than corresponding
temperate regions in the other continents. It also forms a barrier for the monsoon winds,
keeping them from traveling northwards, and causing heavy rainfall in the Terai region. The
Himalayas are also believed to play an important part in the formation of Central Asian
deserts, such as the Taklamakan and Gobi.
The mountain ranges also prevent western winter disturbances in Iran from traveling
further, resulting in snow in Kashmir and rainfall for parts of Punjab and northern India.
Despite being a barrier to the cold, northerly winter winds, the Brahmaputra valley
receives part of the frigid winds, thus lowering the temperature in the North East India
and Bangladesh.
6. Tourist abode: the high altitude snowy ranges have a moderating influence
on the temperature and humidity of northern India. When the neighboring plains
are suffering from scorching heat in summer, the Himalayas ranges enjoy a cool and
pleasant climate and are therefore great place of tourist interest.
Significance of Indian Ocean
2. Climate
The climate north of the equator is affected by a monsoon climate. Strong north-east
winds blow from October until April; from May until October south and west winds
prevail. In the Arabian Sea the violent Monsoon brings rain to the Indian subcontinent.
In the southern hemisphere the winds are generally milder, but summer storms near
Mauritius can be severe. When the monsoon winds change, cyclones sometimes strike the
shores of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean
in the world.
3. Economy
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and
East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of
petroleum and petroleum products from the oil fields of the Persian Gulf and
Indonesia. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of
Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's
offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy
minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries,
particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Due to the relatively high traffic of petroleum tankers, piracy off the Somali coast has
been rising. This has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of
the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century.
4. Marine Life
The warmth of the Indian Ocean keeps phytoplankton production low, except along the
northern fringe and in a few scattered spots elsewhere; life in the ocean is thus limited.
Fishing is confined to subsistence levels. Its fish are of great and growing importance to
the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia,
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and
tuna.
Endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales.
Oil and ship pollution threatens the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea.
Port Louis, Mauritius is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and
can accommodate fourth and fifth generation container vessels. At present, only Cape
Town and Port Louis can achieve that in Sub-Saharan Africa