Highlight the major geographical characteristics of Karewas. (HPAS Mains Question Paper 2022 – GS 1, Q.17)
Karewas are a distinctive geographical feature of the Indian subcontinent, particularly the Kashmir Valley. They are flat-topped plateaus formed by the deposition of lacustrine sediments on the valley floor during the Pleistocene epoch, roughly 2.5 million years ago.
Karewas’ major geographical characteristics include:
- Karewas are primarily found in the Kashmir Valley, a valley in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley has a distinct topography because it is surrounded by the Himalayan and Pir Panjal mountain ranges.
- Karewas are found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 metres above sea level. They are elevated above the surrounding valley floor and are frequently used as natural terraces for agriculture and settlement.
- Karewas formed during the Pleistocene epoch from the sedimentation of lacustrine deposits. These clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposits are thought to have been deposited by glacial meltwater that flowed into the valley during the Pleistocene epoch.
- Karewas are typically flat-topped and have a gentle slope down to the valley floor. They are frequently covered with a layer of fertile soil and are used for agriculture, particularly rice, maize, and vegetable cultivation.
- Size: Karewas are typically small, ranging from a few hectares to several square kilometres. The Doda Karewas, which cover an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometres, are the largest in the Kashmir Valley.
- Karewas are a crucial geographical feature in Kashmir Valley because they provide a natural terrace for agriculture and settlement. They also serve as a natural reservoir for the glacial meltwater that flows into the valley, making them an essential source of groundwater.
Development of Karewas in Kashmir Valley:
- The Kashmir Himalayas are located between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal hills. The river’s flow had previously ceased due to the upliftment of the Pir Panjal hills. As a consequence, the whole Kashmir valley turned into a big lake. The glacial sediments have slowly accumulated in this lake. As a result, a substantial lacustrine plain was formed. The water eventually drained away, but the unconsolidated sediments remained. Karewa formation refers to these unconsolidated gravel and mud deposits.
Spread of Karewa Deposit:
- These plateaus comprise 13,000-18,000 metre-thick layers of alluvial soil and sediments such as sandstone and mudstone. It is located in Northwest India, between the Pir Panjal Range and the Great Himalayan Range. These teams are familiar in the region west of the Jhelum River. The Karewa series is on the Kashmir Valley floor, above the river alluvium, and over the folded Paleozoic-Mesozoic Kashmir Basin rocks. It spans about 2,500 square kilometres. The Karewa sediments support the bulk of the agricultural areas in the Kashmir Valley.
- Karewa deposits are significant because they include sand, silt, clay, shale, mud, lignite, gravel, and loessic sediments.
Consequently, agricultural and horticultural techniques in the valley rely heavily on it.
1. Agricultural- The world-famous saffron, called local saffron, is grown on these deposits. It also encourages the development of almonds, apples, walnuts, and other income crops.
2. These areas are used to grow Kashmir saffron, declared a Geographical Indication (GI) in 2020 because of its bigger and thicker stigmas, deep-red colour, robust aroma, and bitter flavour.
3. Most areas are owned by individuals who use them for farming and grazing, although some are owned by the government.
4. Karewa strata include fossils and remains of different human civilisations and habitations, making them archaeologically significant. They are identified by mammal fossils and, in some instances, peat.
