Massive Fire in Morni Forest | 01 Jun 2024

Why in News?

Recently, Morni Hills, the solitary hill station in Haryana, faced a significant forest fire due to temperatures exceeding 46°C.

Key Points

  • The extreme heat and arid conditions fed the fire, causing it to rapidly spread through a vast area of the hills, consuming shrubs, bushes, and trees in its wake.
  • Morni Hills located in the lower part of the Shivalik range, this area stands at an altitude of 3,600 feet above sea level, boasting a diverse variety of plants and animals.
    • Various hills and ranges can be found in different parts of Haryana.
    • The Shivalik Range is situated in the north of Haryana, the Aravalli Range stretches from the southwest through Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
    • Morni Hills are situated in the Panchkula district, being the sole hill station in Haryana, while Dhosi Hills in the Mahendragarh district are known for being an extinct volcano.

The Aravalli Range

  • The Aravallis are one of the oldest fold residual mountains of the world composed primarily of folded rock strata. This formation resulted from the convergence of tectonic plates during the Proterozoic Era (2500-541 million years ago).
  • The Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, defined the Aravallis to include the hills and a uniform 100-meter-wide buffer zone around the downsides of the hills.
  • They have an elevation of 300m to 900m. The mountains are divided into two main ranges – the Sambhar Sirohi Range and the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan.
  • Guru Shikhar Peak on Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range (1,722 m).
  • Major tribal communities include the Bhil, Bhil-Meena, Meena, Garasia, and others.
  • The Supreme Court in 2009 ordered a complete ban on mining in the Aravalli hills of Faridabad, Gurgaon, and Nuh districts of Haryana

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