Give the altitudinal distribution of Montane Forests.
Answer:
In mountainous areas, the decrease in temperature with increasing altitude leads to the corresponding change in natural vegetation.
- The foothills of the Himalayas—Shiwaliks have tropical moist deciduous flora. Sal and bamboo are important trees upto 1,000 m in height.
- They are followed by the wet hill forests. They lie between about 1,000 to 2,000 mts. Important trees are oak, chestnut, ash, birch, etc.
- Between 1,500 and 3,300 m above sea level, there occur the well-known coniferous forests. Pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce, etc., are some dominant trees.
- Above the coniferous forests lie the alpine forests at an altitude of about 3,600 m. Important trees are silver fir, pine, birch, etc.