Himalayas: the highest mountains in the world

5 (100%) 2 votes

The Himalayas consist of approximately 30 mountains, nine of which are the highest peaks on the planet, including Everest. Extreme lovers from all over the planet consider this place as a center of mountaineering. We will tell you the most Interesting Facts about the Himalayas.

Geographic location

The Himalayas are located on the territory of five states:

• India;
• Nepal;
• Bhutan;
• China;
• Pakistan

The mountains have a total area of ​​153,295,000 sq. km, occupy 0.4% of the entire surface of the earth.

The mountain range of the Himalayas is the most impregnable region of the Earth.

If we do not take into account Antarctica and the Arctic, then the Himalayas are in the lead in terms of deposits of ice and snow. A great many glaciers contain enough water for rivers and lakes, which are here in considerable quantity.

Huge rivers originate in the Himalayas and highlands of Tibet:

• Ganges;
• Yamuna.

The tops of the mountains are unsuitable for human life due to the harsh climate: cold, lack of oxygen, and strong winds. In the valleys between the mountains there are not a large number of settlements with few inhabitants.

The local population lives off tourism and accompanying climbers who want to see or conquer Mountain peaks.

Local religions and beliefs

The main religions of the Himalayan inhabitants are:

• Islam;
• Buddhism;
• Hinduism.

The story of Bigfoot living somewhere in the mountains has become the most popular myth in the Himalayas.

According to Hindu mythology, this place is considered the refuge of Lord Shiva.

The highest mountains of the Himalayas:

1. Chomolungma, height 8,848 km.
2. Kangchenjunga, height 8,586 km.
3. Lhotse, height 8,516 km.
4. Makalu, height 8,463 km.
5. Cho Oyu, height 8,201 km.
6. Dhaulagiri, height 8,167 km.
7. Manaslu, height 8,156 km.
8. Nanga Parbat, height 8,126 km.
9. Annapurna, height 8091 km.
10. Shishabangma, height 8027 km.

Many people die every year trying to conquer the peaks of the Himalayas. But the danger does not stop real extreme sportsmen and travelers who cannot live without risk.

Mountains hold many dangerous surprises, such as rapidly changing weather conditions with gusty winds, or lack of oxygen.

Vegetation

Vegetation in the Himalayas varies with altitude:

• swampy forest thickets predominate in the valleys;
• green tropical jungle, coniferous and deciduous forests grow a little higher;
• further settled alpine meadows;
• at the level of 3500 m only bushes grow.

The purest plants for medicine grow exclusively in the foothills.

There are quite a few Hindu temples in the Himalayas and Buddhist monasteries.

Valley of Flowers is a national park. It is located in the western Himalayas and is included in the UNESCO heritage list.

The Himalayas are considered to be the highest and most mysterious mountains of the planet Earth. The name of this massif can be translated from Sanskrit as "the country of snow". The Himalayas serve as a conditional separator between South and Central Asia. Hindus consider their location to be sacred ground. Numerous legends claim that the peaks of the Himalayan mountains were the habitat of the god Shiva, his wife Devi and their daughter Himavata. According to ancient beliefs, the home of the gods gave rise to the three great Asian rivers - the Indus, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra.

Origin of the Himalayas

For the birth and development Himalayan mountains it took several stages, taking a total of about 50,000,000 years. Many researchers believe that two colliding tectonic plates gave rise to the Himalayas.

It is interesting that at present the mountain system continues its development, the formation of folding. The Indian plate is moving towards the northeast at a rate of 5 cm per year, while shrinking by 4 mm. Scholars argue that such an advance will lead to further rapprochement between India and Tibet.

The speed of this process is comparable to the growth of human nails. In addition, intense geological activity in the form of earthquakes is periodically observed in the mountains.

An impressive fact - the Himalayas occupy a large part of the entire surface of the Earth (0.4%). This area is incomparably large in comparison with other mountain objects.

What continent are the Himalayas located on: geographical information

Tourists preparing for a trip should find out where the Himalayas are. Their location is the continent of Eurasia (its Asian part). In the north, the massif's neighbor is the Tibetan Plateau. IN southbound this role went to the Indo-Gangetic plain.

The Himalayan mountain system stretches for 2,500 km, and its width is at least 350 km. total area array - 650,000 m².

Many Himalayan ridges boast a height of up to 6 km. The highest point is represented, also called Chomolungma. Its absolute height is 8848 m, which is a record among other mountain peaks of the planet. Geographical coordinates are 27°59′17″ north latitude, 86°55′31″ east longitude.

The Himalayas are spread over several countries. Proud of being close to majestic mountains not only the Chinese and Hindus, but also the peoples of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan. Sections of this mountain range are also present in the territories of some post-Soviet countries: Tajikistan includes the northern mountain range (Pamir).

Characteristics of natural conditions

The natural conditions of the Himalayan mountains cannot be called soft and stable. The weather in this area is prone to frequent changes. In many areas there is dangerous terrain, and at high altitudes there is cold. Even in summer, frost remains here down to -25 ° C, and in winter it intensifies to -40 ° C. In the mountains, hurricane-force winds are not uncommon, gusts of which reach 150 km / h. In summer and spring, the average air temperature rises to +30 °C.

In the Himalayas, it is customary to distinguish 4 types of climate. From April to June, the mountains are covered with wild herbs and flowers, coolness and freshness reign in the air. Starting in July and ending in August, rains rule in the mountains, the largest amount of precipitation falls. During these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation, fogs often appear. Until the arrival of November, warm and comfortable weather conditions persist, after which a sunny frosty winter sets in with heavy snowfalls.

Description of the flora

Himalayan vegetation surprises with its diversity. Altitude zones are clearly visible on the southern slope, subject to frequent precipitation, and real jungles (terai) grow at the foot of the mountains. In these places, large thickets of trees and shrubs are found in abundance. In some places, dense creepers, bamboo, numerous bananas, and undersized palm trees are found. Sometimes you can get to the plots intended for the cultivation of some vegetable crops. These places are usually cleared and drained by man.

Climbing a little higher up the slopes, you can alternately hide in tropical, coniferous, mixed forests, behind which, in turn, are picturesque alpine meadows. In the north of the mountain range and in drier areas, the territory is represented by steppe and semi-deserts.

In the Himalayas there are trees that give people expensive wood and resin. Here you can get to the places of growth of dhaka, sal trees. At an altitude of 4 km, tundra vegetation in the form of rhododendrons and mosses is found in abundance.

local fauna

The Himalayan mountains have become a safe haven for many endangered animals. Here you can meet rare representatives of the local fauna - snow leopard, black bear, Tibetan fox. In the southern region mountain range there are all necessary conditions for living leopards, tigers and rhinos. The representatives of the north of the Himalayas include yaks, antelopes, mountain goats, wild horses.

In addition to the richest flora and fauna, the Himalayas abound in a variety of minerals. Alluvial gold, copper and chromium ore, oil, rock salt, brown coal are actively mined in these places.

parks and valleys

In the Himalayas, you can visit parks and valleys, many of which are included in the fund world heritage UNESCO:

1. Sagarmatha.
2. Flower Valley.

Sagarmatha National Park belongs to the territory of Nepal. Its special property is the world's highest peak Everest and other high mountains.

Nanda Devi Park is a natural treasure of India, and is located in the heart of the Himalayan mountains. This picturesque place is located at the foot of the hill with the same name, and has an area of ​​more than 60,000 hectares. The height of the park above sea level is at least 3500 m.

The most picturesque places of Nanda Devi are represented by grandiose glaciers, the Rishi Ganga river, mystical lake Skeletons, around which, according to legend, numerous human and animal remains were found. It is generally accepted that the sudden fall of an unusually large hail led to mass deaths.

Not far from Nanda Devi Park is the Flower Valley. Here, on an area of ​​about 9,000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. Over 30 varieties of flora that adorn the Indian valley are considered endangered, and about 50 species are used for medicinal purposes. A variety of birds also live in these places. Most of them can be seen in the Red Book.

Buddhist temples

The Himalayas are famous for their Buddhist monasteries, many of which are located in hard-to-reach places, and are buildings carved from the rock. Most of the temples have a long history of existence, up to 1000 years old, and lead a rather "closed" lifestyle. Some of the monasteries are open to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the way of life of monks, the interior decoration of holy places. They can do beautiful photos. Entrance to the territory of other shrines for visitors is strictly prohibited.

The largest and most revered monasteries include:

• Drepung located in China.
  
  
  
  
• Temple complexes in Nepal Boudhanath, Boudanilkantha, Swayambhunath.
  
  
  
• Jokhang, which is the pride of Tibet.
  
  
  

A carefully guarded religious shrine, found everywhere in the Himalayas, are Buddhist stupas. These religious monuments were built by the monks of the past in honor of some important event in Buddhism, as well as for the sake of prosperity and harmony throughout the world.

Tourists visiting the Himalayas

The most suitable time for traveling to the Himalayas is the period from May to July and September-October. During these months, vacationers can count on sunny and warm weather, lack of heavy rainfall and strong winds. For lovers of adrenaline sports, there are few, but modern ski resorts.

In the Himalayan mountains you can find hotels and inns of various price categories. In religious quarters, there are special houses for pilgrims and worshipers of the local religion - ashrams, which have ascetic living conditions. Living in such premises is quite cheap, and sometimes it can be completely free. Instead of a fixed amount, the guest can offer a voluntary donation or help with the housework.

general information

The mountain system of the Himalayas at the junction of Central and South Asia is over 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km². The average height of the ridges is about 6 km, the maximum height is 8848 m - Mount Chomolungma (Everest). There are 10 eight-thousanders here - peaks with a height of more than 8000 m above sea level. In the northwest of the western chain of the Himalayas is another highest mountain system - the Karakorum.

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, although the climate allows the cultivation of only a few types of cereals, potatoes and some other vegetables. The fields are located on sloping terraces.

Name

The name of the mountains comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit. "Himalaya" means "Snow Abode" or "Kingdom of Snows".

Geography

Whole mountain range The Himalayas consists of three peculiar steps:

• The first is the Pre-Himalayas (locally called the Shivalik Range) - the lowest of all, the mountain peaks of which do not rise more than 2000 meters.
• The second step - the Dhaoladhar, Pir-Panjal and several other, smaller ridges, is called the Small Himalayas. The name is rather conditional, since the peaks are already rising to solid heights - up to 4 kilometers.
• Behind them are several fertile valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu and others), serving as a transition to the highest points on the planet - the Great Himalayas. Two great South Asian rivers - the Brahmaputra from the east and the Indus from the west, seem to cover this majestic mountain range, originating on its slopes. In addition, the Himalayas give life to the sacred Indian river - the Ganges.

Himalaya records

The Himalayas are a place of pilgrimage for the strongest climbers in the world, for whom conquering their peaks is a cherished life goal. Chomolungma did not submit immediately - since the beginning of the last century, many attempts have been made to climb the "roof of the world". The first to achieve this goal was in 1953 the New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary, accompanied by a local guide, Sherpa Norgay Tenzing. The first successful Soviet expedition took place in 1982. In total, Everest has already conquered about 3,700 times.

Unfortunately, the Himalayas also set sad records - 572 climbers died while trying to conquer their eight-kilometer heights. But the number of brave athletes does not decrease, because "taking" all 14 "eight-thousanders" and getting the "Crown of the Earth" is the cherished dream of each of them. The total number of "crowned" winners to date is 30 people, including 3 women.

Minerals

The Himalayas are rich in minerals. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, alluvial gold, arsenic and chromium ores. Oil, combustible gases, brown coal, potash and rock salts occur in the foothills and intermountain basins.

Climatic conditions

The Himalayas are the largest climate divide in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes prevails, to the south - tropical air masses. Up to the southern slope of the Himalayas, the summer equatorial monsoon penetrates. The winds reach such a force there that it is difficult to climb the most high peaks, therefore, you can climb Chomolungma only in spring, during a short period of calm before the start of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope throughout the year, the winds of the northern or western rhumbs blow, coming from the continent supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but always dry. From the northwest to the southeast, the Himalayas stretch approximately between 35 and 28 ° N, and the summer monsoon almost does not penetrate into the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All this creates great climatic differences within the Himalayas.

Most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the band of internal tectonic basins and in internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. In some places, annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m, winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m, snow occurs throughout the year.

On the southern slopes up to a height of 2000 m, the average temperature in January is 6 ... 7 ° C, in July 18 ... 19 ° C; up to a height of 3000 m, the average temperature of the winter months does not fall below 0 ° C, and only above 4500 m does the average July temperature become negative. The snow limit in the eastern part of the Himalayas passes at an altitude of 4500 m, in the western, less humid, - 5100-5300 m. On the northern slopes, the height of the nival belt is 700-1000 m higher than on the southern ones.

natural waters

High altitude and abundant rainfall contribute to the formation powerful glaciers and dense river network. Glaciers and snow cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of the glacial tongues have a significant absolute height. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reach no more than 5 km in length. But the farther to the east and more precipitation, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. On Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga, the most powerful glaciation, the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main shaft. The Zemu glacier on Kangchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. from it originates one of the sources of the Ganges.

Especially many rivers flow down from the southern slope of the mountains. They begin in the glaciers of the Greater Himalayas and, crossing the Lesser Himalayas and the foothill zone, come out onto the plain. Some major rivers originate from the northern slope and, heading towards the Indo-Gangetic plain, cut through the Himalayas with deep through valleys. This is the Indus, its tributary Sutlej and Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).

The Himalayan rivers are fed by rain, ice and snow, so the main flow maximum occurs in summer. In the eastern part, the role of monsoon rains in nutrition is great, in the west - snow and ice of the high-mountain zone. The narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas abound with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid snowmelt begins, until October, when the action of the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down from the mountains in violent streams, carrying away masses of detrital material that they deposit when they leave the Himalayan foothills. Often monsoon rains cause severe floods on mountain rivers, during which bridges are washed away, roads are destroyed and landslides occur.

There are many lakes in the Himalayas, but among them there are none that could be compared with the Alpine ones in size and beauty. Some lakes, for example in the Kashmir Basin, occupy only a part of those tectonic depressions that were previously filled entirely. The Pir-Panjal ridge is known for numerous glacial lakes formed in ancient cirque funnels or in river valleys as a result of their damming by moraine.

Vegetation

On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal belts from tropical forests to high mountain tundra are exceptionally pronounced. At the same time, the southern slope is characterized by significant differences in the vegetation cover of the humid and hot eastern part and the drier and colder western part. Along the foot of the mountains from their eastern extremity to the course of the Jamna River stretches a kind of marshy strip with black silty soils, called terai. Terai are characterized by jungles - dense tree and shrub thickets, in places almost impassable due to vines and consisting of soapwood, mimosas, bananas, stunted palms, and bamboos. Among the Terai, there are cleared and drained areas that are used for the cultivation of various tropical crops.

Above the terai, on the damp slopes of the mountains and along the river valleys, up to a height of 1000-1200 m, evergreen tropical forests grow from tall palms, laurels, tree ferns and gigantic bamboos, with many lianas (including rattan palm) and epiphytes. The drier areas are dominated by less dense forests of sal tree, which lose their leaves during the dry period, with rich undergrowth and grass cover.

At altitudes of more than 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to mix with the heat-loving forms of the tropical forest: pines, evergreen oaks, magnolias, maples, chestnuts. At an altitude of 2000 m, subtropical forests are replaced by temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only occasionally representatives of the subtropical flora, such as magnificently flowering magnolias, come across. At the upper border of the forest, conifers dominate, including silver fir, larch, and juniper. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. Lots of mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. The subalpine belt that replaces forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of shrubs, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and more sparse when moving to the alpine zone.

The alpine meadow vegetation of the Himalayas is unusually rich in species, including primroses, anemones, poppies and other brightly flowering perennial herbs. The upper limit of the Alpine belt in the east reaches a height of about 5000 m, but individual plants are found much higher. When climbing Chomolungma, plants were found at an altitude of 6218 m.

In the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas, due to less humidity, there is no such richness and diversity of vegetation, the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is absolutely no strip of terai there, the lower parts of the slopes of the mountains are covered with sparse xerophytic forests and thickets of shrubs, higher there are some subtropical Mediterranean species such as evergreen holm oak and golden olive, coniferous forests of pines and magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) predominate even higher. The shrub undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but the alpine meadow vegetation is more diverse.

The landscapes of the northern ranges of the Himalayas, facing towards Tibet, are approaching the desert mountain landscapes of Central Asia. The change in vegetation with height is less pronounced than on the southern slopes. From the bottoms of the large river valleys up to the snow-covered peaks, sparse thickets of dry grasses and xerophytic shrubs spread. Woody vegetation is found only in some river valleys in the form of thickets of low-growing poplars.

Animal world

The landscape differences of the Himalayas are also reflected in the composition of the wild fauna. The diverse and rich fauna of the southern slopes has a pronounced tropical character. In the forests of the lower parts of the slopes and in the Terai, many large mammals, reptiles, and insects are common. There are still elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wild boars, antelopes. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Macaques and thin-bodied are especially characteristic. Of the predators, the most dangerous for the population are tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers). Among birds, peacocks, pheasants, parrots, wild chickens stand out for their beauty and brightness of plumage.

In the upper belt of mountains and on the northern slopes, the fauna is close in composition to the Tibetan. The black Himalayan bear, wild goats and rams, yaks live there. Especially a lot of rodents.

Population and environmental issues

Most of the population is concentrated in the middle belt of the southern slope and in intramountain tectonic basins. There is a lot of cultivated land there. Rice is sown on the irrigated flat bottoms of the basins, and tea bushes, citrus fruits, and vines are grown on terraced slopes. Alpine pastures are used for grazing sheep, yaks and other livestock.

Due to the high height of the passes in the Himalayas, communication between the countries of the northern and southern slopes is significantly complicated. Dirt roads or caravan trails pass through some passes, there are very few highways in the Himalayas. The passes are only accessible during the summer. In winter, they are covered with snow and completely impassable.

The inaccessibility of the territory played a favorable role in preserving the unique mountain landscapes of the Himalayas. Despite the significant agricultural development of low mountains and hollows, intensive grazing on mountain slopes and an ever-increasing influx of climbers from different countries world, the Himalayas remain a haven for valuable plant and animal species. The real "treasures" are included in the List of World Cultural and natural heritage National parks India and Nepal - Nan-dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan.

Attractions

• Kathmandu: temple complexes Boudanilkantha, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, National Museum Nepal;
• Lhasa: Potala Palace, Barkor Square, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery;
• Thimphu: Bhutan Textile Museum, Thimphu Chorten, Tashicho Dzong;
• Temple complexes of the Himalayas (including Sri Kedarnath Mandir, Yamunotri);
• Buddhist stupas (memorial or reliquary structures);
• Sagarmatha National Park (Everest);
• National parks Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers.

Spiritual and health tourism

The spiritual principles and the cult of a healthy body are so closely intertwined in various directions of Indian philosophical schools that it is impossible to draw any visible division between them. Every year, thousands of tourists come to the Indian Himalayas precisely to get acquainted with the Vedic sciences, the ancient postulates of the teachings of Yoga, and improve their body according to the Ayurvedic canons of Panchakarma.

The program of pilgrims necessarily includes visiting caves for deep meditation, waterfalls, ancient temples, bathing in the Ganges - a sacred river for Hindus. Those who suffer can have conversations with spiritual mentors, get parting words and recommendations from them on spiritual and bodily cleansing. However, this topic is so extensive and versatile that it requires a separate detailed presentation.

The natural grandiosity and highly spiritual atmosphere of the Himalayas fascinates the human imagination. Anyone who has ever come into contact with the splendor of these places will always be obsessed with the dream of returning here at least once.

• About five or six centuries ago, a people called Sherpas moved to the Himalayas. They know how to provide themselves with everything necessary for life in the highlands, but, in addition, they are practically monopolists in the profession of guides. Because they are really the best; the most knowledgeable and the most enduring.
• Among the conquerors of Everest there are also "originals". On May 25, 2008, the oldest climber in the history of ascents, a native of Nepal, Min Bahadur Shirchan, who at that time was 76 years old, overcame the path to the top. There were times when very young travelers took part in expeditions. The last record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who climbed in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him, the fifteen-year-old Sherpa Tembu Tsheri was considered the youngest guest of Chomolungma).
• The development of tourism does not benefit the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the garbage left by people. Moreover, in the future, severe pollution of the rivers that originate here is possible. The main trouble is that it is these rivers that provide millions of people with drinking water.
• Shambhala is a mythical country in Tibet, which is described in many ancient texts. The followers of the Buddha believe in its existence unconditionally. It fascinates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. The most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. Gumilev. However, there is still no irrefutable evidence of its existence. Or they are irretrievably lost. For the sake of objectivity, it should be said: many believe that Shambhala is not located in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about it lies the proof that we all really need faith that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of mankind, which is owned by the forces of light and wise. Even if this key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet open...

Himalayas in art, literature and cinema

• Kim is a novel written by Joseph Kipling. It tells the story of a boy who looks on with delight at British imperialism while surviving the Great Game.
• Shangri-La is a fictional country located in the Himalayas, described in the novel "Lost Horizon" by James Hilton.
• Tintin in Tibet is one of the albums by the Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé. Journalist Tintin investigates a plane crash in the Himalayas.
• The film "Vertical Limit" describes the events taking place on Mount Chogori.
• Several levels in Tomb Raider II and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend are located in the Himalayas.
• The film "Black Narcissus" tells the story of an order of nuns who founded a monastery in the Himalayas.
• The Realm of the Golden Dragons is a novel by Isabel Allenda. Most of the events take place in the Forbidden Kingdom - a fictional state in the Himalayas.
• Drachenreiter is a book by German writer Cornelia Funke about a brownie and a dragon traveling to "Edge's Edge" - a place in the Himalayas where dragons live.
• Expedition Everest is a themed roller coaster at Walt Disney World.
• Seven Years in Tibet is a film based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Heinrich Harrer, describing the adventures of an Austrian mountaineer in Tibet during World War II.
• G.I. Joe: The Movie is an animated film that tells the story of the Cobra-La civilization that escaped the Himalayas after the Ice Age.
• Far Cry 4 - A first-person shooter that tells the story of a fictional region of the Himalayas, dominated by a self-proclaimed king.

Solarshakti / flickr.com View of the snowy Himalayas (Saurabh Kumar_ / flickr.com) Great Himalayas - view on the way to Leh from Delhi (Karunakar Rayker / flickr.com) You will have to cross this bridge if you are going to Everest Base Camp (ilker ender / flickr.com) Greater Himalayas (Christopher Michel / flickr.com) Christopher Michel / flickr.com Christopher Michel / flickr.com Sunset on Everest (旅者河童 / flickr.com) Himalayas - from a plane (Partha S. Sahana / flickr.com) Lukla Airport, Patan, Kathmandu. (Chris Marquardt / flickr.com) Valley of Flowers, Himalayas (Alosh Bennett / flickr.com) Himalayan Landscape (Jan / flickr.com) Ganges Bridge (Asis K. Chatterjee / flickr.com) Kanchenjunga, Indian Himalayas (A.Ostrovsky / flickr.com) Climber at sunset, Nepal Himalayas (Dmitry Sumin / flickr.com) Manaslu - 26,758 feet (David Wilkinson / flickr.com) Animal world Himalayas (Chris Walker / flickr.com) Annapurna (Mike Behnken / flickr.com) On the border of India and Tibet in Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh (Partha Chowdhury / flickr.com) A nice place in Kashmir (Kashmir Pictures / flickr.com) Abhishek Shirali / flickr.com Parfen Rogozhin / flickr.com Koshy Koshy / flickr.com valcker / flickr.com Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal (Matt Zimmerman / flickr.com) Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal (Matt Zimmerman / flickr.com)

Where are the Himalaya mountains, the photos of which are so amazing? For most people, this question is unlikely to cause difficulty, at least they will answer exactly on which mainland these mountains stretch.

If you look at geographical map, you can see that they are located in the northern hemisphere, in South Asia, between the Indo-Gangetic plain (in the south) and the Tibetan plateau (in the north).

In the west, they pass into the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain systems.

Peculiarity geographical location Himalayas in that they are located on the territory of five countries: India, Nepal, China (Tibet Autonomous Region), Bhutan and Pakistan. The foothills also cross the northern outskirts of Bangladesh. The name of the mountain system can be translated from Sanskrit as "abode of snows".

Height of the Himalayas

The Himalayas contain 9 of the 10 highest peaks on our planet, including the highest point in the world - Chomolungma, whose height reaches 8848 m above sea level. Her geographical coordinates: 27°59′17″ North 86°55′31″ East. The average height of the entire mountain system exceeds 6000 meters.

The highest peaks of the Himalayas

Geographic description: 3 main steps

The Himalayas form three main steps: the Sivalik Range, the Lesser Himalayas and the Greater Himalayas, each of which is higher than the previous one.

1. Sivalik Range- the southernmost, lowest and most geologically young step. It stretches for about 1700 km from the Indus Valley to the Brahmaputra Valley with a width of 10 to 50 km. The height of the ridge does not exceed 2000 m. Sivalik is located mainly in Nepal, as well as in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
2. The next step is the Lesser Himalayas, it runs north of the Sivalik ridge, parallel to it. The average height of the ridge is about 2500 m, and in the western part it reaches 4000 m. The Sivalik ridge and the Lesser Himalayas are strongly cut by river valleys, breaking up into separate massifs.
3. Greater Himalayas- the northernmost and highest step. The height of individual peaks here exceeds 8000 m, and the height of the passes is more than 4000 m. Glaciers are widely developed. Their total area exceeds 33,000 square kilometers, and the total fresh water reserves in them are about 12,000 cubic kilometers. One of the largest and most famous glaciers - Gangotri, is the source of the Ganges River.

Rivers and lakes of the Himalayas

The three largest rivers of South Asia - the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra - begin in the Himalayas. The rivers of the western extremity of the Himalayas belong to the Indus basin, and almost all other rivers belong to the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin. The easternmost edge of the mountain system belongs to the Irrawaddy basin.

There are many lakes in the Himalayas. The largest of them are Lake Bangong Tso (700 km²) and Yamjo Yumtso (621 km²). Lake Tilicho is located at an absolute mark of 4919 m, which makes it one of the highest in the world.

Climate

The climate in the Himalayas is quite diverse. Monsoons have a strong influence on the southern slopes. The amount of precipitation here increases in the direction from west to east from less than 1000 mm to more than 4000 mm.

On the border of India and Tibet in Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh (Partha Chowdhury / flickr.com)

The northern slopes, on the other hand, are in the rain shadow. The climate here is dry and cold.

In the highlands there are severe frosts and winds. In winter, temperatures can drop to minus 40 °C or even lower.

The Himalayas have a strong influence on the climate of the entire region. They are a barrier to cold dry winds blowing from the north, which makes the climate of the Indian subcontinent much warmer compared to neighboring regions of Asia located at the same latitudes. In addition, the Himalayas are a barrier to the monsoons blowing from the south and bringing a huge amount of rainfall.

High mountains do not allow these humid air masses to pass further north, which makes the climate of Tibet very dry.

There is an opinion that the Himalayas played a significant role in the formation of the deserts of Central Asia, such as Takla-Makan and Gobi, which is also explained by the rain shadow effect.

Origin and geology

Geologically, the Himalayas are one of the youngest mountain systems in the world; refers to the Alpine folding. It is composed mainly of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, crumpled into folds and raised to a considerable height.

The Himalayas were formed as a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian lithospheric plates, which began approximately 50-55 million years ago. During this collision, the ancient Tethys Ocean closed and an orogenic belt was formed.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the Himalayas is subject to altitudinal zonation. At the foot of the Sivalik Range, the vegetation is represented by swampy forests and thickets, known locally as "terai".

Himalayan Landscape (Jan / flickr.com)

Above, they are replaced by evergreen tropical, deciduous and coniferous forests, and even higher - by alpine meadows.

Deciduous forests begin to prevail at absolute elevations of more than 2000 m, and coniferous forests - above 2600 m.

At an altitude of more than 3500 m, shrub vegetation already predominates.

On the northern slopes, where the climate is much more arid, the vegetation is much poorer. Mountain deserts and steppes are common here. The height of the snow line varies from 4500 (southern slopes) to 6000 m (northern slopes).

Wildlife of the Himalayas (Chris Walker / flickr.com)

The local fauna is quite diverse and, like the vegetation, depends mainly on the height above sea level. The fauna of the tropical forests of the southern slopes is typical for the tropics. Elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, and antelopes are still found here in the wild; numerous monkeys.

The Himalayan bears, mountain goats and rams, yaks, etc. are found higher up. In the highlands, there is still such a rare animal as the snow leopard.

The Himalayas are home to many different protected areas. Among them it is worth noting national park Sagarmatha, within which Everest is partially located.

Population

Most of the population of the Himalayas lives in the southern foothills and in the intermountain basins. The largest basins are Kashmir and Kathmandu; these regions are very densely populated, and almost all the land is cultivated.

Bridge over the Ganges (Asis K. Chatterjee / flickr.com)

Like many others mountain regions The Himalayas are characterized by great ethnic and linguistic diversity.

This is due to the inaccessibility of these places, due to which the population of almost every valley or basin lived very apart.

Contacts even with neighboring regions were minimal, since in order to reach them, it is necessary to overcome high mountain passes, which in winter are often covered with snow, and they become completely impassable. In this case, some intermountain basin could be completely isolated until next summer.

Almost the entire population of the region speaks either Indo-Aryan languages, which belong to the Indo-European family, or Tibeto-Burman languages, which belong to the Sino-Tibetan family. Most of the population professes Buddhism or Hinduism.

The most famous people of the Himalayas are the Sherpas, who live in the highlands of Eastern Nepal, including in the Everest region. They often work as guides and porters on expeditions to Chomolungma and other peaks.

Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal (Matt Zimmerman / flickr.com)

Sherpas have hereditary high-altitude adaptation, thanks to which, even at very high altitudes, they do not suffer from altitude sickness and do not need additional oxygen.

Most of the population of the Himalayas is employed in agriculture. In the presence of a sufficiently flat surface and water, people cultivate rice, barley, oats, potatoes, peas, etc.

In the foothills and in some intermountain basins, more heat-loving crops are also grown - citrus fruits, apricots, grapes, tea, etc. In the highlands, the breeding of goats, sheep and yaks is common. The latter are used as a beast of burden, as well as for meat, milk and wool.

Sights of the Himalayas

In the Himalayas there are many different attractions. This region has a huge number of Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples, as well as simply places considered sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism.

Valley of Flowers, Himalayas (Alosh Bennett / flickr.com)

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas Indian city Rishikesh, which is sacred to Hindus and is also commonly known as world capital yoga.

Another sacred Hindu city is Hardwar, located at the point where the Ganges descends from the Himalayas to the plain. From Hindi, its name can be translated as "gateway to God."

Of the natural attractions, it is worth mentioning the Valley of Flowers National Park, located in the Western Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarkhand.

The valley fully justifies its name: it is a continuous flower carpet, quite different from ordinary alpine meadows. Together with the Nanda Devi National Park, it is a UNESCO heritage site.

Tourism

Mountaineering is popular in the Himalayas hiking over the mountains. From hiking trails the most famous track around Annapurna, passing along the slopes of the mountain range of the same name, in the north of the central part of Nepal.

Climber at sunset, Nepal Himalayas (Dmitry Sumin / flickr.com)

The length of the route is 211 km, and its altitude varies from 800 to 5416 m.

Sometimes tourists combine this track with a hike to Lake Tilicho, located at an absolute mark of 4919 m.

Other popular route is a track around Manaslu, passing around the Mansiri-Himal mountain range and partially coinciding with the route around Annapurna.

How long it will take to complete these routes depends on the physical fitness of the person, the time of year, weather conditions and other factors. In high altitude areas, you should not climb too quickly to avoid symptoms of altitude sickness.

The conquest of the Himalayan peaks is quite difficult and dangerous. It requires good training, equipment and implies the presence of mountaineering experience.

The most majestic and mysterious mountain range on our planet is the Himalayas. This array, whose name is translated as the abode of snow, conditionally separates the Central and South Asia, And the height of its individual peaks reaches more than 8,000 meters. The Himalayas are rightfully considered the highest mountains in the world, let's look at the Himalayas on the map and find out why these mountains are so unusual.

Location of the Himalayas mountain system on the world map

“Where are the Himalayas, in which country” - this question often arises among novice travelers who have heard about the beauty of the most impregnable mountains on the planet and decided to go there in search of adventure. Looking at a world map, you can see that the Himalayas are located in the northern hemisphere between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh are the countries whose territories cover the Himalayas. The most visited country in the Himalayas is India. There are many attractions and resorts here. The massif is 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. There are 83 peaks in the mountain system, the highest of which is Everest, the height of the mountain is 8848 m.

The Himalayan mountains on the map consist of three main stages:

• Sivalik Ridge. This is the southernmost part of the mountain range. The range is located in Nepal and affects several states of India. Here the height of the Himalayan mountains does not exceed 2 km.
• Small Himalayas. This ridge runs parallel to the Sivalik ridge. The average height here is 2.5 km.
• Big Himalayas. This is the highest and oldest part of the mountain range. The height of the ridge exceeds 8 km, and it is here that the highest peaks of the planet are located.

highest peaks

The mountain range contains 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world. Here are the highest ones:

• Chomolungma - 8848 m.
• Kanchenjunga - 8586 m.
• Lhotse - 8516 m.
• Makalu - 8463 m.
• Cho Oyu - 8201 m.

Most of them are located on the territory of Tibet, and it is here that conquerors of mountains from all over the planet rush, because climbing the highest peaks is the life work of a real climber.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the Himalayas changes with the change in altitude. natural features The Himalayas at different levels surprise with the change of landscapes, flora and fauna. In the foothills of the small Himalayas, terai or swampy jungles predominate, above them they are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous, and finally, alpine meadows appear. The northern slopes are dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. The fauna of the Himalayas is as diverse as the flora. Here you can still meet wild tigers, rhinos, elephants and monkeys, and having risen higher, the risk of meeting with a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard increases.

On the territory of the mountains that capture Nepal, there is a unique nature reserve where endangered animal species still exist. The zone is under the protection of UNESCO. Mount Everest is located on the territory of this reserve.

Rivers and lakes

It is in the Himalayas that the three largest rivers of South Asia originate. These include, Brahmaputra and Indus. Moreover, in the mountain range there are many beautiful and clean lakes. The highest mountain is Lake Tilicho, located at an altitude of 4919 m.

The special pride of the Himalayas is, of course, glaciers. In terms of the amount of fresh water reserves, the mountain range was surpassed only by the Arctic and Antarctic. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri layer, which reaches a length of 26 km.

When is it good in the Himalayas?

According to travelers, it is always good in the Himalayas. Each season of the year gives the slopes of this ridge unique landscapes, the beauty of which is simply impossible to describe in words. In spring, the slopes are strewn with beautiful flowers, the aroma of which spreads for many kilometers, in the summer, during the rainy season, lush greenery breaks through a light fog and gives freshness and coolness, autumn is rampant with colors, and in winter, when snow falls, there is no cleaner and whiter place in the world.

Basic tourist season falls in the autumn months, but in winter there are many skiing enthusiasts, because in the Himalayas there are many ski resorts world importance.