Nature

HimalayasIndia has amongst the world’s largest snow mountain system; highest rainfalls; biggest deserts; longest rivers; biggest waterfalls; thickest vegetation; longest coastlines and most fertile land.

World’s Highest Mountains (except Asia)

Source: National Geographic Society

Continent Place Height (ft)
N. America
S. America
Africa
Pacific
Europe
Antartica
McKinley, Alaska
Aconcagua, Argentina
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Jaya, New Guinea
Mt Blanc, France-Italy
Vinson Massif
20,320
22,834
19,340
16,500
15,771
16,864

Asia’s Highest Mountains

Source: National Geographic Society

Peak Place Height (ft)
Everest
K2
Kanchenjunga
Lhotse I
Makalu I
Lhotse II
Dhaulagiri
Manaslu I
Cho Oyu
Nanga Parbat
Annapurna I
Gasherbrum
Broad
Gosainthan
Annapurna II
GyachungKang
Disteghil Sar
Himalchuli
Nutpse
Masherbrum
Nanda Devi
Rakaposhi
Kamet
Namcha Barwa
Gurla Mandhat
Ulugh Muz Tagh
Nepal
India
India
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
India
Nepal
India
India
Tibet
Nepal
Nepal
India
Nepal
Nepal
India
India
India
India
Tibet
Tibet
Xinjiang
29,028
28,250
28,208
27,923
27,824
27,560
26,810
26,760
26,750
26,660
26,504
26,470
26,400
26,287
26,041
25,910
25,868
25,801
25,726
25,660
25,645
25,550
25,447
25,445
25,355
25,340

Note: Some peaks mentioned above fall in the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir but are  illegally occupied by Pakistan.

Indian HimalayasThe tallest peaks in the other continents of the world are not even taller than Thirty tallest mountains of India.

India’s largest Peaks

Source: National Geographic Society
(Not counting the ones mentioned above)

Peak Height (ft)
Skyang Kangri
Jongsang Peak
Sia Kangri
Tent Peak
Kabru
Baltoro Kangri
Mana
Nepal Peak
Badrinath
Nunkun
Pyramid
Pauhunri
Trisul
Kangto
Trisuli
Dunagiri
24,750
24,472
24,350
24,165
24,002
23,990
23,860
23,500
23,420
23,410
23,400
23,385
23,360
23,260
23,210
23,184

Principal World Rivers

Source: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Library

River Continent Outflow Length (mi)
Nile
Congo
Niger
Africa
Africa
Africa
Mediterranian Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
4160
2900
2590
Chang
Huang
Ob-Irtysh
Lena
Mekong
Yenisey
Ob
Brahmaputra
Indus
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
East China Sea
Yellow Sea
Gulf of Ob
Laptev Sea
South China Sea
Kara Sea
Gulf of Ob
Bay of Bengal
Arabian Sea
3964
3395
3362
2734
2700
2543
2268
1800
1800
Murray-Darling Australia Indian Ocean 2543
Volga Europe Caspian Sea 2290
Amazon
Parana
Purus
Madiera
Sao Francisco
S. America
S. America
S. America
S. America
S. America
Atlantic Ocean
Rio de la Plata
Amazon River
Amazon River
Atlantic Ocean
4000
2485
2100
2013
1988
Mississipi-Red Rock
Mobile
Mississipi
Missouri-Red Rock
Yukon
Rio Grande
N. America
N. America
N. America
N. America
N. America
N. America
Gulf of Mexico
Mississipi River
Gulf of Mexico
Mississipi River
Bering Sea
Gulf of Mexico
3710
2540
2340
2315
1979
1900

Note – Only rivers longer than Brahmaputra are shown above.

Other Indian Rivers

River Outflow Length (mi)
Ganges
Godavari
Yamuna
Krishna
Narmada
Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
Ganges River
Bay of Bengal
Arabian Sea
1560
900
855
800
800

Jog fallsWaterfalls

Source: National Geographic Society

The earth has thousands of waterfalls, some of considerable magnitude. Their relative importance is determined not only by height but also by volume of flow, steadiness of flow, crest width, whether the water drops sheerly or over a sloping surface, and where it descends in one leap or in a succession of leaps. A series of low falls flowing over a considerable distance is known as a cascade.

Name Elevation (ft)
Tugela, South Africa# 2014
Jog, Sharavathi R., India* 830
Wollomombi, Australia 1,100
Tully, Australia 885
Wallaman, Stony Cr., Australia# 1,137
Helena, NZ 890
Sutherland, Arthur R., NZ# 1,904
Gavarnie, Austria* 1,385
Maralsfossen, Norway (N) 1,535
Maralsfossen, Norway (S)# 2,149
Skjeggedal, Nybuai R., Norway #** 1,378
Skykje, Norway ** 984
Vetti, Morka-Koldedola R, Norway 900
Giessbach, Switzerland (C) 984
Staubbach, Switzerland 984
Trummelbach, Switzerland # 1,312
Della, Canada# 1,443
Takakkhaw, Daly Glacier, Canada# 1,200
Ribbon, USA** 1,612
Silver Strand, Meadow Br., USA** 1,170
Yosemite, USA## 2,425
Glass, Brazil 1,325
Catarata de Candelas, Cusiana R, Colombia 984
Great, Kamarang R, Guyana 1,600
Angel, Venezuela#* 3,212
Cuquenan, Venezuela 2,000

Note:
Estimated mean annual flow, in cubic feet per second, of major waterfalls, are as follows: Niagara, 212,200; Paulo Afonso, 100,000; Urubupunga, 97,000; Iguazu, 61,000; Patosa-Maribondo, 53,000; Victoria, 35,4000; and Kaieteur, 23,400.
Elevation= total drop in feet in one or more leaps. # = falls of more than one leap; * = falls that diminish greatly seasonally; ** = falls that reduce to a trickle or are dry for part of each year. If the river names are not shown, they are same as the falls. R = river; (C) = cascade type.

Indian desertBiggest deserts in the world

Source: National Geographic Society

Name Country Size (sq mi)
Arabian (E)
Chihuahuan
Dasht-e Kauir
Gibson
Gobi
Great Sandy
Great Victoria
Kalahari
Kara Kum
Kyzyl Kum
Libyan
Namib
Nubian
Patagonia
Rub a-Khali
Sahara
Sonoran
Syrian
Taklimakan
Thar
Egypt
US-Mex.
Iran
Australia
Mongolia
Australia
Australia
Africa
Turkmenistan
Kazakhstan
Libya
Africa
Sudan
Argentina
S Arabia
Africa
US-Mex
Saudia
China
India
70,000
140,000
30,000
120,000
500,000
150,000
150,000
225,000
120,000
100,000
450,000
48,000
100,000
300,000
250,000
3,500,000
70,000
100,000
140,000
100,000