Ladakh and Zanskar

The Himalayan mountain chain is orographically fragmented, both in the east-west and in the north-south directions. The latter area is characterised by a greater landscape diversity, owing to its zonality and the vertical zonation of both climate and vegetation.

In terms of tectonics and orography, and taking into account the prevalent influence of the monsoon and continental climates, the Himalayan mountain system can be divided into two parts – the external arc (southern), that is the Higher (or Great) Himalayas and the internal arc (northern), that is the so-called Trans-Himalayas.

Similarly to the external arc of the Himalayas, the post-glacial relief in the Trans-Himalayas is marginal only. It is an area with a prevalence of denudation (nival, frost, gravitation and eolian) processes. Slopes of tectonic valleys or basins, covered with colourful surface deposits rising as high as even two thirds of their altitude, dominate the landscape.

The Zanskar ridges and the Ladakh range represent a transitional zone between the Trans-himalayas and Eastern Karakoram.