Nepal Himalayas mountains. Where are the Himalayas? Natural features of the Himalayas at different levels

Translated into Russian, the word "Himalayas" means "the kingdom of the snows." This highest mountain system in the world rises on the border between Central and South Asia and separates the Tibetan plateau from the lowlands of the Indus and Ganges (see a map of the physical and geographical zoning of Eurasia with links to photographs of the nature of this region). It was formed during the Cenozoic within that part of ancient Tethys, where the rapprochement of the marginal zones of Eurasia and the Hindustan block, which separated from Gondwana, occurred.

Relief. The Himalayas are the most important geomorphological, climatic and floristic borders. Physico-geographical and geomorphological boundaries of the mountain system itself are clearly expressed. In the north, these are the longitudinal intermountain valleys of the Indus and Brahmaputra, in the south - the edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, in the northwest and southeast - the transverse valleys of the Indus and Brahmaputra. In the north-west, the Himalayas border on the Hindu Kush, in the southeast - on the Sino-Tibetan mountains. The total length of the mountain system is more than 2400 km, width - 200-350 km. The Himalayas are part of China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Dozens of peaks in the Himalayas reach 7000 m, 11 peaks exceed 8000 m, passes are on average at an altitude of 5000 m, which exceeds the maximum height of the Alps (Fig. 50).

Fig. 50. Comparative profile of the Alps and the Himalayas

The highest peak of the Himalayas and the whole world - Chomolungma (Everest), (8848 m) - was conquered only in 1953. The rise of the Himalayas has not ended and at present, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and the high position of the early Quaternary sediments above sea level.

Geological  structure. The structure of the mountains involves crystalline, metamorphic, sedimentary and volcanic rocks of various ages, from Archean to Quaternary, crumpled into intense folds complicated in the central parts by powerful thrusts and splits.

The peculiarities of the geological structure — the predominance of Precambrian rocks similar to the complexes of the Indian platform, the very limited distribution of marine sedimentary strata and the presence of continental sediments close to Gondwana — give reason to consider the Himalayas as a mountain system that arose on the outskirts of the Indian platform, which underwent tectonic activation in Neogene - Quaternary time in connection with the incorporation of the Hindustan Plate into the rest of Eurasia and the closure of Tethys.

The Himalayas do not form ridges stretched over long distances, but disintegrate into separate massifs, separated from one another by deep transverse river valleys. This is due to the fact that the valleys of the largest rivers - Indus, Sutleja, Brahmaputra - were established before the general grandiose rise of the mountains began. The rise was accompanied by the incision of rivers and the formation of epigenetic valleys of the Himalayas.

The foothills of the Himalayas are composed of young sediments collected in folds in the middle of the Quaternary. They are known under the general name of the Sivalik mountains; their height in the territory of Nepal is about 1000 m. In some places they are closely pressed to the ridges of the Himalayas themselves, in others they are separated by a strip of wide tectonic valleys - dunes. The Sivalik mountains break steeply to the north and south.

The next highest step of the Himalayas is the Small Himalayas; they are composed of crystalline Precambrian rocks, as well as sedimentary, highly metamorphosed deposits of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleogene. This band is characterized by intense folding, faults and volcanism. The height of the ridges reaches an average of 3500-4500 m, and individual peaks rise to 6000 m. In the northwest, the Pir-Panjal ridge stretches over 6000 m in height, then to the southeast it is replaced by the Small Himalayas, which merge with the Great Himalayas (Main Himalayan ridge) powerful mountain massif Dhaulagiri (8221 m). Further to the east, the entire Himalaya system narrows, the Small Himalayas zone is pressed to the Main Range, forming the mid-high mountains of the Mahabharat, and even to the east - the high and highly dissected mountains of the Duara.

Between the Small and Large Himalayas stretches a strip of tectonic basins, which in the recent past were occupied by lakes and processed by glaciers. The most famous in the west is the Kashmir basin at an altitude of 1600 m, with the main city of Kashmir Srinagar. The existence of the lake, which previously filled the basin, is indicated by terraces, well expressed on the slopes. On the surface of the flat bottom, several residual lakes remained. The second large basin of the central part of the Himalayas - Kathmandu in Nepal - is located at an altitude of about 1400 m; it contains the bulk of the population of this highland country.

To the north of the basins the Great Himalayas rise, reaching an average height of 6000 m. This is a well-defined alpine ridge, above which the highest peaks of the world rise. At the western end of the Main Range, this is the grandiose Nangaparbat massif (8126 m), then there are a number of peaks in excess of 6000 and 7000 m, then the eight-thousandth giants covered with snow and ice rise: Dhaulagiri (8167), Kutang (8126 m), Gosaintan (8013 m ) and others. Among them, the highest peak of the world of Jomolungma (Everest) with a height of 8848 m is not even particularly distinguished. Only Kanchenjunga (8598 m) is magnificent and majestic.

The northern slope of the Great Himalayas is more accessible and accessible than the southern. Along it stretches the Ladakh ridge up to 7728 m high. On its slopes many rivers originate, then cross the Main Ridge. To the north of Ladakh, behind the wide longitudinal valleys of the Indus and Brahmaputra, the outlying ridges of the Tibetan Plateau (Transhimalaya) rise.

Useful  fossils. The Himalayas are rich in minerals. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, alluvial gold, arsenic and chromium ore. In the foothills and intermontane basins oil, combustible gases, brown coal, potassium and rock salts are deposited.

Climatic  conditions. The Himalayas are Asia’s largest climate division. Continental air of moderate latitudes prevails to the north of them, and tropical air masses to the south. Summer equatorial monsoon penetrates the southern slope of the Himalayas. The winds reach such strength there that they make it difficult to climb the highest peaks. Therefore, you can climb the Chomolungma only in the spring, in a short period of calm before the summer monsoon. On the northern slope, the winds of northern or western rhubas blow from the continent supercooled in winter or strongly warmed up in summer, but always dry. From the northwest to the southeast, the Himalayas extend approximately between 35 and 28 ° N, and the summer monsoon hardly penetrates 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 strip of internal tectonic basins and in the internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, 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 to an altitude of 2000 m, the average January temperature is 6 ... 7 ° C, July 18 ... 19 ° C; to an altitude of 3000 m, the average temperature of the winter months does not fall below 0 ° C, and only above 4500 m the average July temperature becomes negative. The snow border in the eastern part of the Himalayas runs 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  water. High altitude and heavy rainfall contribute to the formation of powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snows cover all the highest peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of glacial tongues have considerable absolute height. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reaches no more than 5 km in length. But the farther east and the more rainfall, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. On Jomolungma and Kanchenjung the most powerful glaciation, the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendrite-type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main trunk. The Zemu glacier in Kanchenjung reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. The 19 km long Rongbuk glacier slides from the Jomolungma, which ends at an altitude of 5000 m. The Gangotri Glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas reaches 26 km; one of the origins of the Ganges originates from it.

Especially many rivers flow from the southern slope of the mountains. They begin in the glaciers of the Great Himalayas and, crossing the Small Himalayas and the foothill zone, go to the plain. Some large rivers originate from the northern slope and, heading towards the Indo-Gangetic plain, cut the Himalayas through deep through valleys. This is Indus, its tributary Sutlej and Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).

The food of the Himalayan rivers is rainy, glacial and snowy, therefore the main maximum discharge occurs in summer. In the eastern part, the role of monsoon rains in nutrition is great, in the west - snow and ice of the alpine zone. Narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas abound with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most violent snowmelt begins, and until October, when the summer monsoon ends, the rivers tumble down the mountains in stormy streams, entraining the masses of clastic material that they deposit when leaving the Himalayan foothills. Monsoon rains are often the cause of severe floods on mountain rivers, during which time the 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 alpine ones in size and beauty. Some lakes, for example in the Kashmir basin, occupy only part of those tectonic depressions that were previously filled entirely. The Pir-Panjal ridge is known for numerous glacial lakes formed in ancient carafes or in river valleys as a result of their loading by moraine.

Vegetation. On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal belts from tropical forests to alpine tundra are extremely pronounced. At the same time, the southern slope is characterized by significant differences in the vegetation cover of the wet and hot eastern and drier and colder western parts. Along the foot of the mountains from their eastern tip to the course of the Jamna River stretches a kind of swampy strip with black silty soils called terai. Terai are characterized by jungle - dense tree and shrubbery, sometimes almost impenetrable due to vines and consisting of soap tree, mimosa, banana, undersized palms, bamboos. Among the terai there are cleared and drained areas that are used for cultivation of various tropical crops.

Evergreen tropical forests of tall trunks, laurels, tree ferns and gigantic bamboos, with many vines (including rattan palm) and epiphytes, grow above the terai along the wet slopes of the mountains and along river valleys up to 1000-1200 m. In drier places, less dense forests of lard tree, losing foliage during the dry period, with rich undergrowth and grass cover prevail.

At heights of more than 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to mix with the thermophilic forms of the rainforest: 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 representatives of the subtropical flora, for example, magnificently flowering magnolias, only occasionally 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-shaped rhododendrons. Many mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. Subalpine belt replacing forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of bushes, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and sparse during the transition to the alpine zone. The highland meadow vegetation of the Himalayas is unusually rich in species, among them primroses, anemones, poppies and other brightly flowering perennial herbs. The upper boundary of the alpine zone in the east reaches a height of about 5000 m, but individual plants are much higher. When climbing the Jomolungma, plants were discovered at an altitude of 6218 m.

Due to lower humidity in the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas there is no such richness and diversity of vegetation; the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is no terae band at all, the lower parts of the mountain slopes are covered with rare-standing xerophytic forests and bushes, some subtropical Mediterranean species such as evergreen stone oak and golden-leaf olive are found above, coniferous forests of pine and magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) predominate. Shrub undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but meadow alpine vegetation is more diverse.

The landscapes of the northern ranges of the Himalayas, facing Tibet, approach 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 large river valleys to snow-capped peaks, rare thickets of dry grasses and xerophytic shrubs spread. Woody vegetation is found only in some river valleys in the form of thickets of stunted poplars.

Animal  peace. Himalaya landscape differences are reflected in the composition of 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, buffalos, wild boars, antelopes. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Macaques and thinbodies are especially characteristic. Of the predators, tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers) are the most dangerous for the population. Peacocks, pheasants, parrots, wild hens stand out among the birds for their beauty and brightness.

In the upper zone of the mountains and on the northern slopes, the fauna approaches the composition of the Tibetan. There is a black Himalayan bear, wild goats and rams, yaks. Especially a lot of rodents.

Population  and environmental issues. Most of the population is concentrated in the middle zone of the southern slope and in the mountain tectonic basins. There are many cultivated lands. Rice is sown on the irrigated flat bottoms of the hollows, tea bush, citrus fruits, and vine are grown on the terraced slopes. Alpine pastures are used for grazing sheep, yaks and other livestock.

Due to the high altitude 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. Passes are available only in the summer. In winter, they are littered 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 the lowlands and hollows, the intensive cattle grazing on the mountain slopes and the ever-increasing influx of climbers from around the world, the Himalayas remain a refuge for valuable plant and animal species. The real “treasures” are the national parks of India and Nepal — Nan Dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan — included in the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The Himalayas are the highest and most powerful mountain system in the entire globe. It is believed that tens of millions of years ago, the rocks that make up the Himalayan mountains formed the bottom of the ancient Tefian ancestral ocean. The peaks began to gradually rise above the water as a result of the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Asian mainland. The growth process of the Himalayas took many millions of years, and no mountain system in the world can be compared with them in the number of peaks - “seven-thousanders” and “eight-thousanders”.

Story

Researchers studying the history of the origin of this unusual mountain system in many respects came to the conclusion that the formation of the Himalayas took place in several stages, according to which the areas of the Shivalik mountains (Predhimalaya), the Small Himalayas and the Great Himalayas are distinguished. The Great Himalayas were the first to break through the water, the hypothetical age of which is about 38 million years. After about 12 million years, the gradual formation of the Lesser Himalayas began. Finally, relatively recently, “only” seven million years ago, the “younger” mountains of Sivalik saw sowing.

Interestingly, people climbed the Himalayas in ancient times. First of all, because these mountains have long been endowed with magical properties. According to ancient Buddhist and Hindu legends, many mythological creatures lived here. In classical Hinduism, it is generally accepted that Shiva and his wife once lived in the Himalayas. Shiva is the god of creative destruction, one of the three most revered gods in Hinduism. If Shiva is a kind of reformer, speaking in modern language, then Buddha - who has attained enlightenment (bodhi) - was born, according to legend, at the southern foothills of the Himalayas.
Already in the 7th century the first trade routes connecting China and India appeared in the impassable Himalayas. Some of these routes still play an important role in the trade of these two countries (of course, these days we are not talking about multi-day walking crossings, but about road transport). In the 30s of the XX century. an idea appeared to make transport connections more convenient, for which it was necessary to lay a railway through the Himalayas, but the project was never implemented.
Nevertheless, a serious study of the Himalayan mountains began only in the period of the XVIII-XIX centuries. The work was extremely difficult, while the results left much to be desired: for a long time, topographers could neither determine the height of the main peaks, nor draw up accurate topographic maps. But the ordeals only fueled the interest and enthusiasm of European scientists and researchers.
In the middle of the 19th century, attempts were made to conquer the highest peak in the world - (Jomolungmu). But the great mountain, rising above the ground at 8848 m, could give victory only to the strongest. After countless unsuccessful expeditions on May 29, 1953, man finally managed to reach the summit of Everest: the New Zealander Edmund Hillary, accompanied by Sherpa Norgay Tenzing, was the first to overcome the most difficult route.

The Himalayas are one of the pilgrimage centers in the world, especially for adherents of Buddhism and Hinduism. In most cases, temples for the glory of deities are located in the holy Himalayan places, with whose actions one or another place is associated. Thus, the temple of Sri Kedarnath Mandir is dedicated to God Shiva, and in the south of the Himalayas, at the source of the Jamuna River, in the 19th century. a temple was built in honor of the goddess Yamuna (Jamuna).

Nature

Many are attracted to the Himalayas by the diversity and uniqueness of their natural features. With the exception of the gloomy and cold northern slopes, the Himalayan mountains are covered with dense forests. The vegetation of the southern part of the Himalayas is especially rich, where the humidity level is extremely high and the average rainfall can reach 5500 mm per year. Here, like layers of a pie, zones of swampy jungle (the so-called terai), tropical thickets, stripes of evergreens and conifers replace each other.
Many sites in the Himalayan mountains are under state protection. One of the most important and at the same time the most impassable is Sagarmatha National Park. On its territory is Mount Everest. In the western region of the Himalayas, the possessions of the Nanda-Devi Nature Reserve extend, since 2005 including the Valley of Flowers, which enchants with a natural palette of colors and shades. It is kept by vast meadows full of delicate alpine flowers. Among this magnificence, far from human eyes, rare predator species live, including snow leopards (in the wild no more than 7,500 individuals of these animals remain), Himalayan and brown bears.

Tourism

Western Himalayas are famous for high-class Indian mountain resorts (Shimla, Darjeeling, Shillong). Here, in an atmosphere of complete peace and detachment from the hustle and bustle, you can not only enjoy breathtaking mountain views and air, but also play golf or go skiing (although most Himalayan routes belong to the category “for experts”, on the western slopes there are tracks for newcomers).
Not only lovers of outdoor recreation and exotic come to the Himalayas, but also seekers of real, unprogrammed adventures. Since that time, when the world became aware of the first ever successful ascent on the slopes of Everest, thousands of climbers of all ages and levels of training began to come to the Himalayas annually to test their strength and skill. Of course, not everyone achieves their cherished goal; some travelers pay for their courage with life. Even with an experienced guide and good equipment, traveling to the top of the Jomolungma can be a difficult test: in some areas the temperature drops to -60 ° C, and the speed of the ice wind can reach 200 m / s. Those who dare to make such a difficult transition have to endure the vagaries of mountain weather and deprivation for more than one week: the guests of the Jomolungma have every chance to spend about two months in the mountains.

general information

The highest mountain system in the world. Located between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Countries: India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan.
Largest cities:  , Patan (Nepal), (Tibet), Thimphu, Punakha (Bhutan), Srinagar (India).
The largest rivers:  Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges.

Largest airport:  Kathmandu International Airport.

Figures

Length: more than 2400 km.
Width: 180-350 km.

Area: about 650,000 km 2.

Average height: 6000 m.

Highest point:  Mount Everest (Chomolungma), 8848 m.

Economy

Agriculture:  tea and rice plantations, growing corn, grain; animal husbandry.

Services: tourism (climbing, climatic resorts).
Minerals:  gold, copper, chromite, sapphires.

Climate and weather

Varies greatly.

Average summer temperature:  in the east (in the valleys) + 35ºС, in the west + 18ºС.

Average winter temperature:  up to -28ºС (above 5000-6000 m temperatures are negative all year round, can reach -60ºС).
Average rainfall:1000-5500 mm.

sights

Kathmandu

Temple complexes Budanilkantha, Bodnath and Swayambhunath

National Museum of Nepal

Lhasa

Potala Palace

Among the conquerors of Everest there are also “originals”. On May 25, 2008, the oldest climber in the history of climbing climbed the path to the summit - Nepal's native Min Bahadur Shirchan, who was 76 years old at that time. There were cases when very young travelers took part in the 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 Tzheri was considered the youngest guest of the Jomolungma).

Tourism development does not benefit the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the trash left by people. Moreover, in the future there may be severe pollution of the rivers originating here. 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 narrated by many ancient texts. The followers of the Buddha believe in its existence unconditionally. It captivates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. In reality, Shambhala did not doubt, in particular, the most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. Gumilev. However, there is no conclusive 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 the belief that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of mankind, which is owned by bright and wise forces. Even if this key is not a guide to how to become happy, but just an idea. Not open yet ...

The majestic Himalayas ... A harsh land of pristine beauty, where a person can be left alone with the whole world. Thousands of square kilometers of mountains and amazing wildlife, inspiring thoughts about the eternal secrets of being - all this can be found by a wanderer in the Himalayas. Here is the pinnacle of the world, and we invite you to learn more about it.

Where are the Himalayas

About 70 million years ago, two giant tectonic plates collided - Indo-American and Eurasian. A powerful push laid the foundation for the largest mountain system on our planet. Just imagine: it occupies 0.4% of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe planet, which is incredibly much in relation to other geographical objects.

The Himalayas are located on the continent of Eurasia, in the Asian part. They border the Tibetan Plateau in the north and the Indo-Gangetic Plain in the south. The length of the system is more than 2400 km, the width reaches 350 km. Adjacent to the southern part of the Himalayas are the so-called Pre-Himalayas - the smaller Sivalik mountains. This mountain system contains many of the highest peaks in the world. The average height of the Himalayan mountain ridges is 6,000 meters. The highest is the famous Mount Everest (otherwise - Chomolungma, 8848 meters). And this, as we probably remember, is the highest point of our planet.

The ridges of the Himalayas give rise to the largest rivers in southern Asia: the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra.

We already have the first data, namely, where are the Himalayas. More specifically about countries with a mountainous landscape in the area, next.

Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas

Since the borders of the countries are divided almost independently of the relief features, the mountain ranges of the Himalayas are located in several. These countries are India, Nepal, China (known as Tibet), Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Tajikistan. Each of them went to the site of a beautiful natural formation.

The area of \u200b\u200bthe entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square kilometers. In the remoteness of one from another, many peoples live here. The natural conditions here are extremely harsh: cold at high altitudes, a dangerous relief. However, the locals are delighted with their magnificent home.

The first secrets have already been revealed to us by the Himalayas: where are they located, a country (even several), which has mountainous areas on its territory. Further on the climatic conditions in the Himalayas.

Climate features

The Himalayan mountains are a particularly large relief. The mountains themselves on their south side are swampy jungle, lush tropical forests, coniferous and deciduous, as well as a variety of shrub plants and meadows. The northern slopes are not so rich and diverse. Their surfaces are semi-deserts and mountain steppes. The ridges of the Himalayan ranges are of the Alpine type - sharp, steep. On them lie huge glaciers in unlimited quantities.

It is noteworthy that the coordinates where the Himalayas are located are such that the mountain system serves as a natural climatic boundary between the tropics of the south and the desert lands north of the Himalayas. The colossal areas and great heights of the mountains greatly influenced the climate of the surrounding countries. So, south of the Himalayas, at their very foot, is the city with the highest rainfall on the planet. This is because the mountains delay precipitation, moving with air masses from the Indian Ocean, and they fall at their foot. At an altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level in the Himalayas lies an area of \u200b\u200beternal snow.

The Himalayas, where the huge glaciers are located, impressed us. What about the inhabitants of the mountain system?

Mountain dwellers

Surprisingly, in such harsh conditions as in the Himalayas, many people live. According to scientists, memos on the first settlements of the mountain system date back to 8000 BC. e. People came from the south (ethnic groups from the Hindustan Peninsula), and from the northeast direction (Tibetans), and from the west (Turkic peoples).
People settled in the valleys. Their remoteness one from another contributed to the separate development of these ethnic groups.

Readers must have wondered: how can one survive in such inhospitable places? Those communities that led a settled lifestyle were engaged in subsistence farming where there were all conditions: a horizontal surface, water, more or less fertile soil, and a suitable climate. Modern residents of the Himalayan valleys also provide themselves with their own labor. Here is another phenomenon that struck us in the Himalayas, where some of the oldest subsistence farms are located.

In higher territories, the key occupation of the local population is cattle breeding. The opportunity to deal with it is almost everywhere to the edge of the snow.

And we will consider some more facts that will be interesting to know about the Himalayas.

In addition to knowing where the Himalayas are located, several other features of this corner of the planet will also be interesting. That this is the most impregnable, the highest (average) mountain system in the world, we know about the Himalayas. But what does their name mean?

The word "Himalayas" means "abode of snow." And really: after all, already at an altitude of 4.5 kilometers, the snow here never melts. By the amount of snow, this natural form is in third place on the planet. Only the Arctic and Antarctica overtook the Himalayas.
It is also interesting to know that in such a cold climate in most areas of the mountains, Hindus are sure that they are the refuge of their god Shiva.

Mount Everest (Chomolungma) is the highest in the world (above sea level). She is associated with triumph. Extreme people from all over the world are literally trying to climb Mount Everest. This first happened in 1953, when the peaks reached Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Mountain climbing in the Himalayas is very popular. The mountain system contains ten of the fourteen eight-thousanders (in fact, their height is even a little more). To conquer them all is the dream of professional climbers.

With this, our article about where the Himalayas are and what this mountain system is about is coming to an end.

Conclusion

"The abode of snow", the Himalayas - mountains to which the prefix "the most" is firmly attached. The highest, the most impregnable ... And people strive to get here in order to experience the power of nature that created such a miracle. But the Himalayas do not invite guests. They are unshakable and harsh. However, brave travelers should try to become friends with the "under heaven." Yes, really "under heaven", because the sky is so close here!

The most magnificent and mysterious mountains on our planet are the Himalayas. This massif, whose name is translated as the abode of snow conditionally separates 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. We look at the Himalayas on a map and find out why these mountains are so unusual.

Himalaya mountain system location on world map

“Where are the mountains of the Himalayas, in which country” - this question often arises among novice travelers who have heard about the beauty of the most inaccessible mountains of the planet and decided to go there in search of adventure. Looking at the 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 countries whose territories cover the Himalayas. The most visited country in the Himalayas is India. There are many attractions and resorts. The array is 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. In the mountain system, there are 83 peaks, the highest of which is Everest, the height of the mountain is 8848 m.

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

• Sivalik Range. This is the southernmost part of the mountain range. The ridge 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 stretches parallel to the Sivalik ridge. The average height here is 2.5 km.
• Great 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

On the territory of the mountain range, 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world are located. Here are the highest of them:

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

Most of them are located in Tibet, and it is here that mountain climbers from all over the planet are tearing, because climbing the highest peaks is a matter of the life of a real climber.

Flora and fauna

The plant world of the Himalayas changes with a change in height. The natural features of the Himalayas at different levels surprise with the change of landscapes, animal and plant life. In the foothills of the small Himalayas, terai or swampy jungles predominate, tropical forests replace them, then mixed, coniferous and finally, alpine meadows appear. Deserts and semi-deserts prevail on the northern slopes. The fauna of the Himalayas is as diverse as the flora. Here you can still see wild tigers, rhinos, elephants and monkeys, and rising higher increases the risk of meeting a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard.

A unique nature reserve is located on the territory of the mountains that capture Nepal, where endangered species of animals are still preserved. The area is protected by 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 mountains there are many beautiful and cleanest lakes. The highest mountain is Lake Tilicho, located at an altitude of 4919 m.

The special pride of the Himalayas is of course glaciers. By the amount of fresh water reserves, only the Arctic and Antarctica bypassed the massif. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri stratum, which reaches 26 km in length.

When is the Himalayas good?

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

The main tourist season is in the autumn months, but even in winter there are many skiing enthusiasts, because in the Himalayas there are many ski resorts of world significance.

Himalayas: the highest mountains in the world

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

Geographic location

The Himalayas are located in five states:

• India
• Nepal;
• Bhutan
• China
• Pakistan

The mountains have a total area of \u200b\u200b153,295,000 square meters. km, occupy 0.4% of the entire surface of the earth.

The Himalayas is the most inaccessible region of the Earth.

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

Huge rivers originate in the Himalayas and the highlands of Tibet:

• Ganges;
• Yamuna.

The tops of the mountains are unsuitable for people because of the harsh climate: cold, lack of oxygen, and strong winds. In the valleys between the mountains there are a small number of settlements, with small inhabitants.

The local population lives on tourism and escort climbers who want to see or conquer the mountain peaks.

Local religions and beliefs

The main religions of the Himalayan inhabitants are:

• islam;
• buddhism;
• hinduism.

The story of a 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. Kanchenjunga, height 8 586 km.
3. Lhotse, altitude 8 516 km.
4. Makalu, altitude 8,463 km.
5. Cho Oyu, height 8 201 km.
6. Dhaulagiri, altitude 8 167 km.
7. Manaslu, altitude 8,156 km.
8. Nanga Parbat, height 8 126 km.
9. Annapurna, altitude 8,091 km.
10. Shishabangma, height 8,027km.

Many people die every year in attempts to conquer the peaks of the Himalayas. But the danger does not stop the real extremists and travelers who can not live without risk.

The mountains are fraught with many dangerous surprises, for example - rapidly changing weather conditions with gusty winds, or lack of oxygen.

Vegetation

Vegetation in the Himalayas varies depending on the height:

• in the valleys swampy forest thickets prevail;
• green tropical jungle, coniferous and deciduous forests grow slightly higher;
• further settled alpine meadows;
• at the level of 3,500 m only shrubs grow.

The purest plants for medicine grow exclusively in the foothills.

In the Himalayas there are quite a lot of Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries.

The Valley of Flowers is a national park. It is located in the western Himalayas and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.