Snow Lines and Glaciers

Total Questions: 10

1. The snow-line in Himalayas lies between [39th B.P.S.C.(Pre)1994]

(a) 4300 to 6000 meters in East
(b) 4000 to 5800 meters in West
(c) 4500 to 6000 meters in West
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (a) 4300 to 6000 meters in East

Solution:The altitude in a particular place above which some snow remains on the ground throughout the year is called snow line. The snowline in the Himalayas has different heights in different parts. On an average it has height of 5500-6000m in Northern Part and 4500-6000m in Sourthern Part of the Himalaya. In this way snowline in Himalayas lies between 4300 m to 6000 m.

2. Siachen Glacier is situated to the: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]

(d) North of Nubra Valley
(a) East of Aksai Chin
(b) East of Leh
(c) North of Gilgit

Correct Answer: (d) North of Nubra Valley

Solution:Siachen Glacier is located in the Eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, and it lies to the North of Nubra Valley. The Siachen glacier (highest battlefield in the world) demarcates central Asia from the Indian subcontinent, and seperates Pakistan and China in the region. The Saltoro Ridge of the Siachen glacier serves as a divide that prevents direct links of POK with China, preventing them to develop any military links on land.

3. Which of the following is the largest glacier? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A.(PRE) 2013]

(a) Siachen
(b) Baltoro
(c) Chogo Lungma
(d) Biafo

Correct Answer: (a) Siachen

Solution:The length of the above glaciers is as follow:

Glacier	Length (km)
Siachen	76.64
Baltoro	63
Chogo Lungma	50
Biafo	60

In the above question, Siachen is the largest glaciers. So option (a) is correct.

4. Which of the following is the largest glacier? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre)1995]

(a) Kanchenjunga
(b) Rundum
(c) Gangotri
(d) Kedarnath

Correct Answer: (c) Gangotri

Solution:The length of above glaciers are given below:
Gangotri - 30.2km
Rundum -19km
Kanchenjunga -26km
Kedarnath -14km
In the above question, Gangotri is the largest glacier. So option (c) is correct.

5. Which amongst the following is the largest glacier? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2017]

(a) Sasaini
(b) Gangotri
(c) Zemu
(d) Siachen

Correct Answer: (d) Siachen

Solution:Siachen is the largest glaciar in India. According to the textbooks titled as 'Bhautik Bhugol ka Swaroop' written by Savindra Singh, 'Geography of India' written by V.S. Chauhan and Alka Gautam and 'Physical Geography (Introduction to Earth)' written by K. Bharadwaj and 'Bharat Ka Bhugol (Geography of India)' written by Professor Ram Chandra Tiwari, the length of Siachen is 72 km. According to world Glaciar Inventory length of the Siachen is 76.64 km.

6. Chaurabari Glacier is located towards - [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2004, U.P.P.C.S.(GIC) 2010]

(a) South of Kedarnath temple
(b) West of Kedarnath temple
(c) North of Kedarnath temple
(d) East of Kedarnath temple

Correct Answer: (c) North of Kedarnath temple

Solution:Chaurabari Glacier is located in Garhwal Himalayas region of Uttarakhand. The glacier lies in north of the Kedarnath Temple. Due to melting of glacier, a lake is formed which is named as Gandhi Sarovar Lake.

7. The rate of melting of Himalayan glaciers is: [Uttarakhand P.C.S.(Pre) 2006 ]

(a) Lowest in the world
(b) Highest in the world
(c) Same as of the glacier of other parts of the world
(d) No information is available about the melting rate of Himalayan glacier

Correct Answer: (b) Highest in the world

Solution:The rate of melting of Himalayan Glaciers is highest in the world. The Gangotri Glacier from where river Ganga originates is melting very fast, due to which it is reduced to half of its extension in the last 50 years.

8. Which one of the following glaciers is located in Kumaun region of Uttarakhand? [U.P.P.S.C.(R.I.) 2014]

(a) Hispar
(b) Zemu
(c) Milam
(d) Rupal

Correct Answer: (c) Milam

Solution:Milam Glacier is a major glacier of the Kumaun region in Uttarakhand. Sharda River (Kali Ganga) originates from this glaciers.

9. Consider the following pairs: [U.P.S.C.(Pre) 2019]

Glacier	River
1. Bandarpunch	Yamuna
2. Bara Shigri	Chenab
3. Milam	Mandakini
4. Siachen	Nubra
5. Zemu	Manas

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 3 and 5

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4

Solution:Mandakini river originates from Charibari glacier. Zemu Glacier is the largest glacier in the Eastern Himalaya. It is about 26 kilometres in length and is located at the base of Kanchenjunga in the Himalayan region of Sikkim. The Manas River is transboundary river in Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan & India. It is the most extensive river system of Bhutan.

Besides Nubra, Yamuna & Chenab originates from the several glaciers, i.e. Siachen, Bandarpunch & Bara Shigri.

10. Arrange the following glaciers in decreasing order of their lengths: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Biafo > Hispar > Sonapani > Bara Shigri > Drang
(b) Hispar > Drang Drung > Biafo > Sonapani > Bara Shigri
(c) Hispar > Biafo > Drang Drung > Sonapani > Bara Shigri
(d) Biafo > Hispar > Bara Shigri > Sonapani > Drang Drung

Correct Answer: (c) Hispar > Biafo > Drang Drung > Sonapani > Bara Shigri

Solution:Decreasing order of the length of the glaciers are-
Hispar > Biafo > Drang Drung > Sonapani > Bara Shigri