Consider the following statements regarding the Northwestern Himalayas : 1. Karewa formations in Kashmir consist of thick deposits of glacial clay and other materials embedded with moraines. 2. Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri in Ladakh are freshwater lakes. 3. River Jhelum exhibits meanders in the Kashmir Valley. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Statement 1 is correct: Karewas are lacustrine (lake) deposits found in the Kashmir Valley. They consist of thick deposits of glacial clay and other materials embedded with moraines. These formations are extremely useful for the cultivation of Zafran (a local variety of saffron).

Statement 2 is incorrect: Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, located in the Ladakh region, are saline/brackish water lakes, not freshwater lakes. Pangong Tso is a famous endorheic lake that freezes completely during winter despite being saline.

Statement 3 is correct: In the Kashmir Valley, the River Jhelum is found in its youth stage, yet it exhibits meanders. This is an unusual geomorphological feature caused by the extremely low gradient of the flat valley floor, which was historically a large lake bed.