How was karewa formed?

Sediments kept coming in through rivers and kept on depositing in that lake, thus resulting in the formation of a lacustrine plain. Over the time the water drained away leaving behind deposits viz. unconsolidated gravel and mud. These deposits are known as KAREWA.

What is Karewa land?

The word Karewa in Kashmiri dialect means, “elevated table-land.” This term was first used by Godwin-Austin (1859) and later by Lydekker (1878) for an unconsolidated to semi – consolidated sand-clay-conglomerate sequence.

Where is karewa soil found?

The Karewa sequence, occupying an area of about 2,500 sq km (Bhatt, 1989), rests over the folded Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks of the Kashmir Basin in the Kashmir Valley floor, above the river alluvium. Most of the cultivated fields in the Kashmir Valley are situated on the Karewa sediments.

Which part of Himalaya do we find Karewa formation?

The word karewa in Kashmir in Kashmiri means “Elevated table land”. It is found in the north-western and Kashmir Himalayas.

What kind of soil is found in Karewa formations?

Karewa deposits have different soil and sediments such as sand, clay, silt, shale, mud, lignite and losses. Hence, these are very useful for agricultural and horticulture activities. Karewa formations are useful for the cultivation of Zafran. Zafran is a local variety of Saffron in Kashmir valley.

When did the formation of karewas take place?

They are characterized with fossils of mammals and at places by peat. Karewas were formed during the Pleistocene Period (1 million years ago), when the entire Valley of Kashmir was under water. Due to the rise of Pirpanjal, the drainage was impounded and a lake of about 5000 sq. km area was developed and thus a basin was formed.

How is Karewa formation related to Kashmir Himalayas?

Karewa formation has a link with the Kashmir Himalayas. these are lacustrine deposits of Plio Pleistocene age. In the Kashmiri dialect, the term Karewa means “elevated table land”. Firstly, this term was used by Godwin Austin in 1859 and later on by Lydekker in 1878 for unconsolidated to semi-consolidated sand clay conglomerate sequence.

What are Karewa deposits and what are their significance?

Karewas are lacustrine deposits. According geographers, the Karewa Formation are glacio- fluvial-lacustrine and aeolian loess of Plio-Pleistocene age. In other words, these lacustrine deposits are witness to and treasure of many human civilizations and habitations.