Himalayan mountains on the map of India. The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on Earth
The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on Earth, located between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (in the south). This majestic mountain system is spread over the territories of India, Nepal, China (Tibet Autonomous Region), Pakistan, and Bhutan. The Himalaya mountain system at the junction of Central and South Asia is over 2,900 km long and about 350 km wide. The average height of the ridges is about 6 km, the maximum 8848 m is Mount Chomolungma (Everest). There are 10 eight-thousanders here - peaks over 8000 m above sea level.
The Himalayan mountain range, including the Karakoram Mountains (the second highest mountain system located in the northwest of the western Himalaya chain), stretches more than 2,414 km along the northern border of the Hindustan Peninsula, separating it from Asia to the north. Karakorum is home to the longest glacier outside the polar regions - Siyachen, stretching for 76 km.
Mount Rakaposhi (7788 m) has the steepest slope in the world. This mountain rises 6000 m above the Hunza Valley, and the length of the slope is almost 10 km; thus the total angle of inclination is 31°.
The Karakoram Mountains stretch from the northwest, from Northern Pakistan, to the southeast, through Kashmir in Northern India. The Himalayas turn to the east, capturing the mountain kingdoms of Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, and finally the province of Aru-Nachal Pradesh in the northeastern state of Assam. The northern borders of these countries lie along a mountainous watershed, to the north of which lie the Chinese regions of Tibet and Chinese Turkestan.
To the west of the Karakoram, the mountains divide into the Pamir and Hindu Kush, and to the east there is a sharp turn south towards the lower mountains of Northern Burma.
The peoples who inhabit the Himalayas have never particularly sought to explore the mountains, not dictated by their immediate needs of life; this “high” honor fell mainly to the more restless Europeans.
In the 19th century, as mountaineering pioneers began to scale the peaks of the European Alps, the Indian government's land management department calculated the location of a peak that seemed to be higher than the others. Completed in 1856, processing of theodolite surveys from 1849 and 1850 showed that the height of Peak XV on the Tibet-Nepal border is 8840 m, and therefore the highest peak in the world. It was named after Colonel Sir George Everest, former Surveyor General of India.
After the First World War, the efforts of climbers concentrated mainly on approaches to Everest from the Tibetan slopes, since Nepal was closed to any expeditions.
After World War II, Nepal opened its borders to researchers and exploration of the southern slopes began; however, the inaccessible peak was conquered only on May 29, 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
Currently, the Himalayas are an area of international mountaineering (mainly in Nepal).
The Himalayas rise above the Indo-Gangetic plain in 3 steps, forming the Shivalik mountains (Pre-Himalayas), the Lesser Himalayas (Pir Panjal, Dhaoladhar and others) and separated from them by a chain of longitudinal depressions (Kathmandu Valley, Kashmir Valley and others) the Greater Himalayas, which are subdivided to the Assamese, Nepalese, Kumaon and Punjab Himalayas.
Peaks more than 8 km above sea level make up the Greater Himalayas, the lowest passes in them are located at altitudes of more than 4 km. The Greater Himalayas are characterized by alpine-type ridges, huge altitudinal contrasts, and powerful glaciation (an area of over 33 thousand km²). From the east, this ridge is limited by the Brahmaputra valley, and from the west by the Indus (these powerful rivers cover the entire mountain system on three sides). The extreme northwestern peak of the Himalayas is Nanga Parbat (8126 m), the eastern one is Namcha Barwa (7782 m).
The peaks of the Lesser Himalayas reach an average height of 2.4 km, and only in the western part - 4 km above sea level.
The lowest ridge, the Shivalik, stretches along the entire mountain system from the Brahmaputra to the Indus, nowhere exceeding 2 km.
The main rivers of South Asia - the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra - originate in the Himalayas.
Highest peaks[edit | edit source text]
The Himalayas are home to 10 of the world's 14 eight-thousanders.
The highest peak on Earth is located on the border of Nepal and China (Tibet Autonomous Region). In Nepali she is called the King of Heaven - Sagarmatha, and in Tibetan - the Divine Mother of the Earth (Chomolungma). The name Everest was given to the mountain during the first measurement of its height in the middle of the 19th century in honor of George Everest (English George Everest, 1790-1866), the chief surveyor of the topographic survey of British India. The top of the mountain is at an altitude of 8848 m above sea level.
The world's highest mountains separate Hindustan from Asia.
Most travelers fly to India or Pakistan to reach the Himalayas and then travel north by train, highway and finally on foot. The path from the north, from Tibet, is more difficult.
Home to 96 of the world's 109 peaks over 7,300 m, the Himalayas are undeniably the greatest mountain range on Earth. And although the South American Andes form a longer (about 7,500 km) mountain range, they are not as high. But facts and figures are one thing, and the awe-inspiring view of the Himalayas is quite another.
Although the highest mountain on our planet is better known throughout the world under the English name Everest, its Nepalese name - Qomolungma - "Goddess Mother of Snow" - creates an image that can be applied to all the Himalayas.
The highest climb is on the southern slope of Annapurna I (8091 m), and the longest climb is on the Rupal-facing slope of Mount Nangaparbat in Karakoram with a climb height of 4482 m.
Among the highest peaks of the range, K2 in Karakorum (8661 m) and Kanchenjunga (8586 m) should be mentioned.
The Himalayas are considered to be the highest and most mysterious mountains on planet Earth. The name of this massif can be translated from Sanskrit as “land of snow.” The Himalayas serve as a conditional divider between South and Central Asia. Hindus consider their location to be sacred land. 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 dwelling of the gods gave rise to three great Asian rivers - the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.
Origin of the Himalayas
The origin and development of the Himalayan mountains took several stages, taking a total of about 50,000,000 years. Many researchers believe that the origin of the Himalayas was given by two colliding tectonic plates. 
It is interesting that even today the mountain system continues its development and formation of folding. The Indian plate is moving towards the northeast at a speed of 5 cm per year, while compressing by 4 mm. Scientists argue that such progress 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 considerable part of the entire surface of the Earth (0.4%). This territory is incomparably large in comparison with other mountain objects. 
On what continent are the Himalayas located: 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. To the south, this role went to the Indo-Gangetic Plain. 
The Himalayan mountain system stretches over 2,500 km and is at least 350 km wide. The total area of the array is 650,000 m².
Many Himalayan ridges boast heights 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 on the planet. Geographic coordinates – 27°59′17″ north latitude, 86°55′31″ east longitude. 
The Himalayas are spread over several countries. Not only the Chinese and Indians, but also the peoples of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan can be proud of their proximity to majestic mountains. Parts 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. Many areas have dangerous terrain and cold temperatures at high altitudes. Even in summer, frost remains here down to -25 °C, and in winter it intensifies to -40 °C. In the mountains, hurricane winds are not uncommon, gusts reaching 150 km/h. In summer and spring, the average air temperature rises to +30 °C. 
In the Himalayas, it is customary to distinguish between 4 climate options. From April to June, the mountains are covered with wild herbs and flowers, and the air is cool and fresh. From July to August, the mountains are dominated by rain and the highest amount of precipitation falls. During these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation and fog often appears. Until the arrival of November, warm and comfortable weather conditions persist, after which a sunny, frosty winter with heavy snowfalls sets in. 
Description of the flora
The Himalayan vegetation surprises with its diversity. On the southern slope, which is subject to frequent rainfall, altitude zones are clearly visible, and real jungles (terai) grow at the foot of the mountains. Large thickets of trees and shrubs are found in abundance in these places. In some places, dense vines, bamboo, numerous bananas, and low-growing palm trees are found. Sometimes you can get to areas intended for growing certain plant crops. These places are usually cleared and drained by humans. 
Climbing a little higher on the slopes, you can alternately take refuge in tropical, coniferous, mixed forests, behind which, in turn, lie 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 provide people with expensive wood and resin. Here you can get to the places where dhaka and sal trees grow. 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. The southern region of the mountain range has all the necessary conditions for living leopards, tigers and rhinoceroses. Representatives of the northern Himalayas include yaks, antelopes, mountain goats, and wild horses. 
In addition to the richest flora and fauna, the Himalayas abound in a variety of minerals. In these places, placer gold, copper and chrome ore, oil, rock salt, and brown coal are actively mined. 
Parks and valleys
In the Himalayas you can visit parks and valleys, many of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Sagarmatha.
- Flower Valley.
Sagarmatha National Park belongs to Nepal. Its special asset is the world's highest peak, Everest, and other high mountains. 
Nanda Devi Park is a natural treasure of India, located in the heart of the Himalayan mountains. This picturesque place lies 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, and the mystical Lake of Skeletons, around which, according to legend, numerous human and animal remains were discovered. It is generally accepted that the mass deaths were caused by the sudden fall of unusually large hail. 
Not far from Nanda Devi Park is the Flower Valley. Here, on an area of about 9,000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. More than 30 species of flora that adorn the Indian valley are considered endangered, and about 50 species are used for medicinal purposes. These places are also home to a variety of birds. 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 inaccessible places, and are buildings carved out of rock. Most 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 and the interior decoration of holy places. You can take beautiful photos in them. Entry into the territory of other shrines is strictly prohibited for visitors.
The largest and most revered monasteries include:
- Drepung, located in China.
- Temple complexes of Nepal – Boudhanath, Budanilkantha, Swayambhunath.
- Jokhang, which is the pride of Tibet.
Buddhist stupas are a carefully protected religious shrine found throughout the Himalayas. These religious monuments were built by 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 to travel to the Himalayas is considered to be from May to July and September to October. During these months, vacationers can count on sunny and warm weather, the absence 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 admirers of the local religion - ashrams with ascetic living conditions. Accommodation in such premises is quite cheap, and sometimes can be completely free. Instead of a fixed amount, the guest can offer a voluntary donation or help with housework.
In this article I will tell you about the most beautiful, most bewitching and most amazing
mountains of our vast planet. This - Majestic HIMALAYAS .
There are no such mountains anywhere else in the world.
Himalayas - This is a harsh region of snowy peaks rising above the ground. The mighty peaks of the Himalayas are located in the zone of eternal snow. During the day, in the rays of the bright sun, their snow-white caps sparkle; at sunset, their peaks turn soft red, where on the pink ridges of the mountains you can observe a bizarre play of light and shadow. With the arrival of night, the pointed peaks are outlined against the background of the blue-black starry sky.
Himalayas– this is not only one of the most beautiful places, created by nature itself, this is a sacred land, on where Buddhist and Hindu deities reside. Himalayan mountains – this is the largest mountain system, 2400 kilometers long. From the cold white pyramid of Namcha Barwa in the forests of northern Assam in the east, this “abode of snow” stretches west along the border of the Tibetan Plateau through Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and Ladakh.
They end in Pakistan with the powerful western bastion of Nanga Parbat. The peaks of the southern Siwalik Mountains rise to a maximum of 1520 meters above sea level. On in the north they border with small Himalayas, their average height is 4,570 meters.
The basis of the entire system is Great Himalayas, reaching their maximum height in Nepal. There in a small space there are 9 of the 14 highest faiths 
tires, including Everest (8846 m), Kanchen-junga 8598 m high, and Annapurna (8078 m). North of the Greater Himalayas, there is a mountain range called the Tibetan Himalayas (called Tethys), with the vast Tibetan Plateau. Geologists have established that the emergence of the Himalayan mountains occurred in at least three stages. The Greater Himalayas formed first (approximately 38 million years ago); then the Lesser Himalayas arose (about 26 and 27 million years ago); and finally, in the third stage, the Siwalik Mountains appeared (approximately 7 million years ago). Over the past 1,500 million years, the mountains have grown by 1,370 meters. In Hindu mythology, this region is called Devyabhuni - the land of the gods. According to legend, the great god Shiva lived on the top of Gaurishankar with his wife De 
vi and daughter of Himawat. Shiva
- one of the supreme gods included in the divine trinity, “master of animals.” Therefore, his home is located among the eternal snows of the Himalayas and three great rivers of Asia flow from it - Indus, Brahmaputra and ganges. However, judging by ancient Hindu and Buddhist legends, the god Shiva and his consort are not the only deities inhabiting the Himalayan mountains.
Legends say that here, in the center of the Earth, stands Mount Meru, around which the Sun, Moon and stars revolve. And it is here that Kubera lives - the god of wealth, the owner of earthly treasures and the lord of supernatural creatures called yakshas. Also (according to legend) the most important of the early Hindu gods, the Thunderer, lives on Mount Meru. God Indra, who gives rain and fertilizes the earth. In 400 BC. In search of religious truth, the Chinese monk Fa Xian came to the Himalayas. And the French geographer Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Harville compiled the oldest accurate map in the 30s of the 18th century. However, at that time, Baptiste was unable to correctly determine the height of many mountain peaks.
At the beginning of X 
In the 9th century, English hunters of large animals (tigers and bears), returning from the Himalayas, retold local legends about strange footprints in the snow. This was the first mention of the existence of Bigfoot. In the 50s of the 19th century the highest top of the world was known to the West simply as Peak XV. The Indians called it Sagarmatha - “heavenly peak”; for the Tibetans it was Chomolungma - i.e. "Mother Goddess of the Earth." In 1862, the peak was named Everest, this name was given to it by the British, in honor of Sir John Everest, the Governor-General of India. Six years earlier, Sir J. Everest led an expedition to map Himalayan mountains.
By the end of the 19th century Tibet and Nepalclosed their borders to Europeans. And in 1921, with the permission of the Dalai Lama, one expedition nevertheless visited the country. But they were only able to reach the foot of Everest and mapped only its lower slopes. Three years later, in 1924, George Mallory (participant of the last expeditions) undertook
a desperate attempt to climb the highest peak in the world. Mallory and his companion Andrew Irwin were perhaps the first people to stand on the summit of Everest. They were almost at the very peak when a cloud covered them. After that, no one ever saw them again.
30 years later, Everest was conquered by the British 
expedition led by John Hunt. But he also failed to reach the top.
The final assault was carried out by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Norgay Tenzing. They were the first to stand where no one had stood before them.
The attractiveness of Everest for climbers is undeniable, althoughmany attempts to reach the top ended in failure and sometimes in the death of expedition members. However, nothing stops the climbers. And to this day they continue to storm the highest peak. But so far only 400 of them have been able to reach the top and stand on the “roof of the world.”
Himalayas and Everest They carefully guard their secrets; even today they remain the only snow kingdom of its kind - the abode of the gods.
And man will never comprehend these secrets.
The greatest mountains of the world will forever remain a mystery to humanity...
However, these unique mountains are inhabited by some creatures that are not afraid to settle on the snowy peaks of the Himalayas.
Watch an amazing documentary about the inhabitants of the Himalayan peaks
The Himalayas are a world whose name, translated from Sanskrit, literally means “the place where snow lives.” Located in South Asia, this mountain range divides the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is home to most of the closest points to the sky on planet Earth, including Everest, the highest point (the Himalayas are not called the “roof of the world” for nothing). It is also known under another name - Chomolungma.
Mountain ecology
The Himalayan mountains have a wide variety of landscape shapes. The Himalayas lie on the territory of five countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Pakistan. Three large and powerful rivers - the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra - originate in the mountains. The flora and fauna of the Himalayas is directly dependent on climate, rainfall, mountain height and soil conditions.
The area around the base of the mountains is characterized by a tropical climate, while the tops are covered with perpetual ice and snow. Annual precipitation increases from west to east. The unique natural heritage and height of the Himalayan mountains are subject to modification due to various climatic processes.
Geological features
The Himalayas are mountains consisting primarily of sedimentary and mixed rocks. A distinctive feature of the mountain slopes is their steepness and peaks in the form of a peak or ridge, covered with eternal ice and snow and occupying an area of about 33 thousand km². The Himalayas, whose height in some places reaches almost nine kilometers, are relatively young compared to other, more ancient mountain systems on Earth.
As it did 70 million years ago, the Indian plate is still moving and moving up to 67 millimeters per year, and over the next 10 million years it will move 1.5 km in an Asian direction. What also makes the peaks active from a geological point of view is that the height of the Himalayan mountains is increasing, gradually rising by approximately 5 mm per year. Such seemingly insignificant processes over time have a powerful influence in geological terms; in addition, the area is unstable from a seismic point of view, and earthquakes sometimes occur.
Himalayan river system
The Himalayas have the third largest deposits of ice and snow in the world after Antarctica and the Arctic. There are approximately 15 thousand glaciers in the mountains, which contain about 12 thousand cubic kilometers of fresh water. The highest areas are covered with snow all year round. The Indus, which has its origins in Tibet, is the largest and deepest river, into which many smaller ones flow. It flows in a southwesterly direction through India, Pakistan and flows into the Arabian Sea.
The Himalayas, whose height reaches almost 9 kilometers at its highest point, are characterized by great river diversity. The main water sources of the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin are the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Yamuna rivers. The Brahmaputra joins the Ganges in Bangladesh and together they flow into the Bay of Bengal.
Mountain lakes
The highest Himalayan lake, Gurudongmar in Sikkim (India), is at an altitude of about 5 kilometers. In the vicinity of the Himalayas there are a huge number of picturesque lakes, most of which are located at an altitude of less than 5 kilometers above sea level. Some lakes are considered sacred in India. Nepal's Lake Tilicho, in the vicinity of the Annapurna mountain landscape, is one of the highest on the planet.
The Great Himalayan mountain ranges contain hundreds of beautiful lakes throughout India and neighboring Tibet and Nepal. The Himalayan lakes add special appeal to the magnificent mountain landscapes; many of them are steeped in ancient legends and interesting stories.
Impact on climate
The Himalayas have a great influence on climate formation. They prevent the flow of cold, dry winds in a southerly direction, which allows a warm climate to reign in South Asia. A natural barrier is formed for the monsoons (causing heavy rainfall), preventing their movement in a northerly direction. The mountain range plays a certain role in the formation of the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts.
The main part of the Himalayan mountains is influenced by subequatorial factors. In the summer and spring season it is quite hot here: the average air temperature reaches 35 °C. At this time of year, the monsoons bring with them large amounts of precipitation from the Indian Ocean, which then falls on the southern mountain slopes.
People and culture of the Himalayas
Due to climatic conditions, the Himalayas (mountains in Asia) are a fairly sparsely populated region. Most people live in the lowlands. Some of them make a living as guides for tourists and escorts for climbers who come to conquer some mountain peaks. The mountains have been a natural barrier for many thousands of years. They stopped the assimilation of the interior of Asia with the Indian peoples.
Some tribes are based in the Himalayan mountain range, namely in Northeast India, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, parts of West Bengal and others. Arunachal Pradesh itself is home to more than 80 tribes. The Himalayan mountains are one of the largest places in the world with a large number of endangered animal species as hunting is a very popular activity in the vicinity of the Himalayas. The main religions are Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. A famous Himalayan myth is the story of Bigfoot, who lives somewhere in the mountains.
Height of the Himalayan mountains
The Himalayas rise almost 9 kilometers above sea level. They extend over a distance of about 2.4 thousand kilometers from the Indus Valley in the west to the Brahmaputra Valley in the east. Some mountain peaks are considered sacred among the local population, and many Hindus and Buddhists make pilgrimages to these places.
On average, the height of the Himalayan mountains in meters together with glaciers reaches 3.2 thousand. Mountain climbing, which gained popularity at the end of the 19th century, has become the main activity of extreme tourists. In 1953, New Zealander and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer Everest (the highest point).
Everest: mountain height (Himalayas)
Everest, also known as Chomolungma, is the highest point on the planet. What is the height of the mountain? Known for its inaccessible peaks, the Himalayas attract thousands of travelers, but their main destination is the 8,848-kilometer-high Qomolangma. This place is simply a paradise for tourists who cannot imagine their life without risk and extreme sports.
The height of the Himalayan mountains attracts a large number of climbers from all over the globe. As a rule, there are no significant technical difficulties with climbing certain routes, but Everest is fraught with many other dangerous factors, such as fear of heights, sudden changes in weather conditions, lack of oxygen and very strong gusty winds.
Scientists have accurately determined the height of every mountain system on Earth. This was made possible through the use of NASA's satellite observation system. Having measured the height of each mountain, we came to the conclusion that 10 of the 14 highest on the planet are in the Himalayas. Each of these mountains belongs to a special list of “eight-thousanders”. Conquering all these peaks is considered the peak of a mountaineer's skill.
Natural features of the Himalayas at different levels
The Himalayan swampy jungles located at the foot of the mountains are called "Terai" and are characterized by a wide variety of vegetation. Here you can find 5-meter thickets of grass, palm trees with coconuts, ferns and bamboo thickets. At an altitude of 400 meters to 1.5 kilometers there is a strip of rainforest. In addition to numerous species of trees, magnolias, citrus fruits and camphor laurel grow here.
At a higher level (up to 2.5 km), the mountain space is filled with evergreen subtropical and deciduous forests; here you can find mimosa, maple, bird cherry, chestnut, oak, wild cherry, and alpine mosses. Coniferous forests extend up to a height of 4 km. At this height, there are fewer and fewer trees, they are replaced by field vegetation in the form of grass and shrubs.
Starting 4.5 km above sea level, the Himalayas are a zone of eternal glaciers and snow cover. The fauna is also diverse. In different parts of the mountainous surroundings you can encounter bears, elephants, antelopes, rhinoceroses, monkeys, goats and many other mammals. There are many snakes and reptiles here, which pose a great danger to people.
The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on Earth. To date, the peak of Chomolungma (Everest) has been conquered about 1200 times. Among them, a 60-year-old man and a thirteen-year-old teenager managed to climb to the very peak, and in 1998 the first person with disabilities reached the peak.
