30 Abode of Gods
lower Himalayan forests upto 3000 ft. and covers the plains
between Yamuna and Sharda and more particularly the
area which lies below the foothills. This area has remark-
able absence of water.
The great rivers preserve their course with same dimuni-
tion in their volume, but all the minor streams that have
their origin in the lower hills on entering this belt lose
themselves in ice deposit that constitutes the substratum.
This area is called as Tarai and Bhabar and the forests
covering it provide an apron to the great Himalayas.
{B) Coniferous tree forest area : This is normally above 3,000 ft.
and constitutes Binus Longi-flora, carpifolia (Khirsu) fir,
and shodendron forests. In fact, most of the hill stations
are located between 5,000—7,000 ft.
(C) Alpine area : Alpine shrubs are found above 10,000 ft. and
a little above are alpine grasslands, which provide excellent
fodder for the cattle and sheeps which move up during
summer to these places. As we mount upwards to the pass,
the chir or pine tree (Pines longifolia) with its long feathery
tufts of leaves gives place to thick shady ibex (onerosu
delical) zunipurous and rhodendron bushes.
Due to these interesting aspects and their monolithic magni-
tude, the Himalayas are not only a climbers' paradise but
-explorers' ideal haunt too.
Flora and fauna
The Himalayas are known as the repositary of vast mineral
and herbal wealth. Besides its rich forests and rivers, it is the
best habitat for the medicinal plants like Pyrethrum (vegetable
insecticide), digitales piar putea (loxglosi) and aromatic plants
like nepeta, mentha, juniperous saussaria, artemesia etc. which
forms raw material for atrophine, tincture and many other
ligaments etc. The other well known plants are Jatawasi,
Guggal, Mamtre and Hathajari etc.
Today, the Himalayan fauna is thus classified :
(i) Wild animals like boar/? panthers, tiger are found upto
6,000 ft. Elephants live in Tarai.
(ii) Musk dear, barking deer, ghural and Himalayan black