Karewas

Subject :Geography

Section: Indian Physical geography

Context: Nourishing soils of Kashmir’s karewas crumble under infrastructure.

About Karewas:

Karewas are alluvial deposits of different soil and sediments such as sand, clay, silt, shale, mud, lignite and loess.
Geologist Godwin-Austen first used the term karewas in the year 1859.
The karewas of Kashmir occupy nearly an area of 2500 square kilometres, spread across the Valley.
Karewas are soft sediments. Normally, they consist of clay and sand. However, some beds may also contain boulders, prints of volcanic ash and coal in some places. The rest of the lithology of Kashmir consists of hard rocks and are identifiable to the naked eye.

Formation in Kashmir Valley

Kashmir valley resides between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal ranges of the Kashmir Himalayas. In earlier times, when the upliftment of the Pir Panjal ranges happened, the flow of the river had stopped.
As a result, the whole of Kashmir valley became a large lake. Slowly, the glacial deposits have accumulated here in this lake. Thus creating a large lacustrine plain.
Later on, the water drained away and these unconsolidated deposits remained These unconsolidated gravel and mud deposits are known as Karewa formation.

Significance of Karewas:

Geological Treasure: The karewas beds can help study the climatic condition of the period they were formed. Moreover, the faults and folds of karewas are important to know about the tectonic activities that happened in the Valley.
Livelihood of the Valley: almond and walnut trees, makes up 80% of the Cultivation
Saffron Farming: the moisture-retaining quality of this formation makes it ideal for saffron farming.
Predict the future climatic conditions: By studying the karewas, we can even predict the future climatic conditions of Europe.

Threats to karewas:

Illegal and unregulated mining as one of the major threats to the karewas.
The karewas are imperilled by rapid urbanisation and illegal extractive land uses.
Karewa soils now line the base of highways or railway tracks.
karewas sites are being converted to commercial residential areas.