Q. With reference to the Hindukush Mountain Range, consider the following statements:
1.It has the largest concentration of frozen water on Earth after the North Pole and South Pole.
2.Nepal and Bhutan lie entirely within the Hindu Kush Mountain Range.
3.Mount Godwin-Austen (K2) is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush Mountain Range.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is correct. The Hindu Kush Mountain Range, due to its extensive snow and ice coverage, holds the largest concentration of frozen water on Earth after the North and South Poles. It plays a crucial role in the regional hydrology and climate, often referred to as the ‘Water Tower of Asia.’
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect. Nepal and Bhutan do not lie entirely within the Hindu Kush Mountain Range. Nepal falls partly within the Himalayas, which is a separate mountain range, while Bhutan is situated in the eastern Himalayas. The Hindu Kush Mountain Range stretches over 3500 kilometers across eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan. K2 is a part of the Karakoram Range, which is a separate mountain range adjacent to the Hindu Kush. The highest peak in the Hindu Kush Range is Tirich Mir, with an elevation of 7,708 meters (25,289 feet).
Source: Forum IAS
