Of all the mountains on the planet, the Himalayas are the most. The Himalayan mountains - their height, location, interesting facts. Geographical location of the Himalayas

The Himalayas are undoubtedly the highest mountain structure in the world. It stretches over a distance of 2,400 meters from the northwest towards the southeast. Its western part reaches a width of 400 kilometers, and the eastern part is approximately 150 kilometers wide.

In the article we will look at where the Himalayas are located, on the territory of which states it is located mountain range and who lives in the area.

Kingdom of the Snows

The pictures of the Himalayan peaks are mesmerizing. Many can easily answer the question of where on our planet these giants are located.

The map shows that they are located over a vast territory: starting from the northern hemisphere and ending they cross along the way South Asia and the Indo-Gangetic plain. Then they gradually develop into other mountain systems.

The unusual location of the mountains lies in the fact that they are located on the territory of 5 countries. The Himalayas can be boasted by the Indians, the Nepalese, the Chinese, the residents of Bhutan, and Pakistan, and the northern side of Bangladesh.

How the Himalayas appeared and developed

This mountain system, from a geological point of view, is quite young. It was assigned to the Himalaya coordinates: 27°59′17″ N latitude and 86°55′31″ E longitude

There are two phenomena that influenced the appearance of mountains:

1. The system was formed mainly from sediments and rocks interacting in earth's crust. At first they folded into peculiar folds, and then rose to a certain height.
2. The formation of the Himalayas was influenced by the merger of two lithospheric plates, which began about 50 million years ago. Because of this, the ancient Tethys ocean disappeared.

Dimensions of the Himalayan peaks

This mountain system includes 10 of the 14 highest mountains on Earth, which have exceeded the 8 km mark. The highest of them is Mount Chomolungma (Everest) - 8,848 meters up. On average, all Himalayan mountains exceed 6 km.

In the table you can see which peaks the mountain system includes, their height and the location of the Himalayas by country.

Three main steps

The Himalaya mountains have formed 3 main levels, each of which is higher than the previous one.

Description of the Himalayan steps, starting with the lowest height:

1. The Siwalik Range is the southernmost, lowest and youngest level. Its length is 1 km 700 meters between the lowlands of the Indus and Brahmaputra, and its width is from 10 to 50 km. The height of the Siwalik hill does not exceed 2 km. This mountain range is located mainly on the soil of Nepal, capturing the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
2. The Lesser Himalayas are the second stage, going in the same direction as the Siwalik, only closer to the north. On average, their height is approximately 2.5 km and only in the west they reach 4 km. These two Himalayan steps have many river valleys that divide the massif into isolated areas.
3. The Greater Himalayas are the third level, which is much further north and higher than the previous two. Some peaks here are much more than 8 km in height. And the depressions in the mountain ridges are more than 4 km. Multiple glacial accumulations are located over an area of ​​more than 33 thousand km 2. They contain fresh water in a volume of about 12 thousand km 3. The largest and most famous glacier is Gangotri - the beginning of the Indian Ganges River.

Himalayan water system

The three largest South Asian rivers - the Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganges - begin their journey in the Himalayas. The western Himalayan rivers are part of the Indus River catchment, while all others are adjacent to the Brahmaputra-Gangetic basin. The most east side The Himalayas belong to the system. Also in this mountain structure there are many naturally occurring reservoirs that do not have connections with other rivers, seas and oceans. For example, lakes Bangong Tso and Yamjoyum Tso (700 and 621 km 2, respectively). And then there is Lake Tilicho, which is located very high in the mountains - at 1919 m, and is considered one of the highest in the world.

Extensive glaciers are another feature of the mountain system. They cover an area of ​​33 thousand km 2 and store about 7 km 3 of snow. The largest and longest glaciers are Zema, Gangotri and Rongbuk.

Weather

The weather in the mountains is changeable, it is influenced by the geographical location of the Himalayas and their vast territory.

• On the southern side, under the influence of the monsoon, a lot of precipitation falls in summer - up to 4 meters in the east, up to 1 meter per year in the west, and almost none in winter.
• In the north, on the contrary, there is almost no rain at all; a continental climate, cold and dry, prevails here. High in the mountains there are severe frosts and strong winds. The air temperature is below -40 o C.

Temperature in summer time reaches -25 °C, and in winter - up to -40 °C. In mountainous areas, wind speeds of up to 150 km/h are often encountered. In the Himalayas, the weather changes quite often.

The Himalayan mountain structure also influences the weather of the entire region. The mountains act as protection from the freezing dry gusts of wind that blow from the north, so the climate in India is warmer than in Asian countries, which, by the way, are located in the same latitudes.

The weather in Tibet is very dry because all the monsoon winds that blow from the south and bring a lot of rain cannot cross the high mountains. All moisture-containing air volumes settle in them.

There is an assumption that the Himalayas also took part in the formation of the deserts of Asia, since they prevented the passage of rainfall.

Flora and fauna

Flora directly depends on the height of the Himalayas.

• The base of the Siwalik range is covered with swampy forests and terai (a kind of undergrowth).
• A little higher up, green, dense forests with tall stands begin; there are deciduous and coniferous plants. Further on there are mountain meadows covered with thick grass.
• Forests, which consist of deciduous trees and small shrubs, predominate at altitudes greater than 2 km. And coniferous forests are more than 2 km 600 meters.
• Above 3 km 500 meters the kingdom of bushes begins.
• On the northern slopes the weather is drier, so there is much less vegetation. Mostly mountainous deserts and steppes predominate.

The fauna is very diverse and depends on where the Himalayas are located and their position above sea level.

• The southern tropics are home to wild elephants, antelopes, tigers, rhinoceroses and leopards, and a very large number of monkeys.
• A little higher up live the famous Himalayan bears, mountain sheep and goats, and yaks.
• And even higher up, snow leopards are sometimes found.

There are many nature reserves in the Himalayas. For example, Sagarmatha National Park.

Population

A significant part of people live in the southern Himalayas, whose height does not reach 5 km. For example, in the Kashirskaya and Kathmandu basins. These areas are quite densely populated, land almost all are cultivated

In the Himalayas, the population is divided into ethnic groups. It so happened that it was difficult to get to these places; people lived for a long time in isolated tribes with little contact with their neighbors. Often in winter, the inhabitants of a certain basin found themselves completely isolated from others, because it was impossible to get to their neighbors due to snow piles in the mountains.

It is known where the Himalayas are located - on the territory of five countries. Residents of the region communicate in two languages: Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman.

Religious views also vary: some extol Buddha, while others worship Hinduism.

The Himalayan Sherpas live high in the mountains of Eastern Nepal, including the Everest region. They often work as assistants on expeditions: they show the way and carry things. They have adapted perfectly to the altitude, so even at the highest points of this mountain system they do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. Apparently, this is inherited at the genetic level.

The inhabitants of the Himalayas are mainly engaged in agricultural work. If the land is relatively flat and there is a sufficient amount of water in reserve, then peasants successfully grow potatoes, rice, peas, oats and barley. Where the climate is warmer, for example in depressions, lemons, oranges, apricots, tea and grapes grow. High in the mountains, residents keep yaks, sheep and goats. Yaks carry cargo, but they are also kept for meat, wool and milk.

Special values ​​of the Himalayas

There are many attractions in the Himalayas: Buddhist and Hindu monasteries, temples, relics. At the foot of the mountains is the city of Rishikesh - sacred place for Hindus. It was in this city that yoga was born; this city is considered the capital of harmony of body and soul.

The town of Hardwar or the “Gateway to God” is another sacred place for the locals. It is located on the descent from the mountain of the Ganges River, which flows out onto the plain.

You can take a walk through the Valley of Flowers National Park, which is located on the western side of the Himalayas. This area strewn with beautiful flowers is a UNESCO national heritage site.

Tourist travel

In the Himalaya mountain system, sports such as climbing peaks and hiking along mountain trails are very popular.

The most popular tracks include:

1. The famous Annapurna Path passes the slopes of the mountain range of the same name in northern Nepal. The length of the journey is about 211 km. In height it varies from 800 m to 5 km 416 meters. Along the way, tourists can admire the high-mountain Lake Tilicho.
2. You can see the area near Manaslu, which is located around the Mansiri Himal mountains. It partially coincides with the first route.

The travel time of these routes is influenced by the tourist’s preparation, time of year and weather. It is dangerous for an unprepared person to immediately climb to a height, as “mountain sickness” may begin. Besides, it's not safe. You need to be well prepared and purchase special equipment for mountaineering.

Almost every person knows where the Himalayas are and dreams of visiting there. Travel to the mountains attracts tourists from different countries, including from Russia. Remember that it is better to climb in the warm season, preferably in autumn or spring. In the Himalayas it rains in summer, and in winter it is very cold and impassable.

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

Where are the Himalayas located?

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

The Himalayas are located on the Eurasian continent, in the Asian part. They border on 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 Siwalik Mountains. This mountain system contains many of the highest peaks in the world. The average height of the mountain ridges of the Himalayas is 6000 meters. The tallest - famous mountain Everest (otherwise known as Chomolungma, 8848 meters). And this, as we probably remember, is the highest point on our planet.

The Himalayan ranges give rise to the most big rivers in southern Asia: Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra.

We already have the first data, namely, where the Himalayas are located. More specifically about countries with mountainous landscapes below.

Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas

Since the borders of countries are divided almost regardless of relief features, the Himalayan mountain ranges are located in several. These countries are India, Nepal, China (the area known as Tibet), Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Tajikistan. Each of them got a piece of beautiful natural formation.

The area of ​​the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square kilometers. At a distance from one another, many peoples live here. Natural conditions The conditions here are extremely harsh: cold at high altitudes, dangerous terrain. However local residents happy about our magnificent home.

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

Climate Features

The Himalayas are a particularly large landform. The mountains themselves on their southern side are swampy jungles, lush tropical forests, coniferous and deciduous, as well as a variety of shrubby 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. They lie on them 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 high altitudes of the mountains greatly influenced the climate of the surrounding countries. So, south of the Himalayas, at their very foot, there is a city with the most rainfall on the planet. This happens because the mountains retain precipitation moving with air masses from Indian Ocean, and they fall out at their feet. At an altitude of 4500 meters above sea level in the Himalayas lies a zone of eternal snow.

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

Residents of the mountain system

Surprisingly, many people live in such harsh conditions as in the Himalayas. According to scientists, records of the first settlements of the mountain system date back to 8000 BC. e. People came from the south (peoples from the Hindustan Peninsula) and from northeast direction(Tibetans), and from the west (Turkic peoples).
People built their settlements in the valleys. Their remoteness from one 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 sedentary lifestyle engaged in subsistence farming where there were all the conditions for this: horizontal surface, water, more or less fertile soil, suitable climate. Modern inhabitants of the Himalayan valleys also provide for themselves with their own labor. Here is another phenomenon that amazed us in the Himalayas, where some of the oldest natural farming is located.

In higher areas the key occupation local population- transhumance cattle breeding. There is an opportunity to practice it almost everywhere up to the edge of the snow.

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

Apart from knowing where the Himalayas are, several other features of this corner of the planet will also be interesting. We know about the Himalayas that this is the most inaccessible, highest (on average) mountain system in the world. But what does their name mean?

The word "Himalaya" means "Abode of Snow". And indeed: after all, already at an altitude of 4.5 kilometers, the snow here never melts. In terms of the amount of snow, this natural form is in third place on the planet. Only the Arctic and Antarctic have overtaken the Himalayas.
It is also interesting to know that with such a cold climate in most mountain areas, Hindus are sure that they are the refuge of their god Shiva.

Mount Everest (Qomolungma) is the highest in the world (above sea level). She is associated with triumph. Extreme sports enthusiasts from all over the world are literally trying to climb Everest. This first happened in 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit. Mountaineering in the Himalayas is very popular. The mountain system contains ten of the fourteen eight-thousander mountains (in fact, their height is even slightly higher). Conquering them all is the dream of professional mountaineers.

This concludes our article about where the Himalayas are and what this mountain system is.

Conclusion

“The Abode of Snows”, the Himalayas are the mountains to which the prefix “most” is firmly attached. The highest, the most inaccessible... And people strive to get here in order to experience the power of nature, which created such a miracle. But the Himalayas do not invite guests. They are unshakable and stern. However, brave travelers should try to become friends with the “heavenly Empire”. Yes, truly “under heaven”, because the sky is so close here!

Since our school days, we all know that the highest mountain on the planet is Everest, and it is located in the Himalayas. But not everyone clearly understands where the Himalayas actually are? IN last years became very popular mountain tourism, and if you are interested in it, then this miracle of nature - the Himalayas, is definitely worth a visit!

And these mountains are located on the territory of five countries: India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The total length of the largest mountain system on our planet is 2,400 kilometers, and its width is 350 kilometers. In terms of height, many peaks of the Himalayas are record holders. Here are the ten highest peaks on the planet, more than eight thousand meters high.

– Everest or Chomolungma, 8848 meters above sea level. The highest mountain in the Himalayas was conquered by man only in 1953. All the ascents that had taken place before were unsuccessful, because the slopes of the mountain are very steep and dangerous. Strong winds blow at the summit, which, combined with very low night temperatures, present a difficult challenge for those who dare to conquer this inaccessible peak. Everest itself is located on the border of two states - China and Nepal.

In India, the Himalayas, thanks to their gentler slopes, which are not so dangerous, have become a refuge for monks preaching Buddhism and Hinduism. Their monasteries in large quantities located in the Himalayas in India and Nepal. Pilgrims, followers of these religions and just tourists flock here from all over the world. Due to this, the Himalayas in these regions are highly visited.

But ski tourism in the Himalayas is not popular, since there are no suitable flat slopes for skiing that could attract tourists en masse. All states where the Himalayas are located are popular mainly among climbers and pilgrims.

Traveling through the Himalayas is not such an easy adventure; it is only possible with endurance and a strong spirit. And if you have these powers in reserve, then you should definitely go to India or Nepal. Here you can visit the most beautiful temples and monasteries located on picturesque slopes, take part in the evening prayer of Buddhist monks, and at dawn indulge in relaxing meditation and hatha yoga classes conducted by Indian gurus. Traveling through the mountains, you will see with your own eyes where such great rivers as the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra originate

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One of the most famous miraculous wonders of the world are the Himalayan mountains. The point is not only in the scale of this creation of nature, but also in a huge number the unknown that these gigantic peaks conceal within themselves.

Where are the Himalayas located?

The Himalayan mountain range passes through the territory of five states - this is India, China, Pakistan, Nepal and the Kingdom of Bhutan. The eastern foothills of the range touch the northern borders of the Republic of Bangladesh.

Mountain ranges rise in the north, completing the Tibetan Plateau, and separate from it vast areas of the Hindustan Peninsula - the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Even the average height of the entire mountain system reaches 6 thousand meters. It is in the Himalayas that the bulk of the “eight-thousanders” are located - mountain peaks whose height exceeds the 8-kilometer mark. Of the 14 similar peaks on the surface of the planet, 10 are located in the Himalayas.

Himalaya mountains on the map

Himalayas on the world map

The highest and most inaccessible mountains on the planet are the Himalayas. The name comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit, and literally means "Snow Abode". They are located in a giant loop on the continent, serving as a kind of border between Central and South Asia. The length of the mountain ranges from west to east is just under 3 thousand km, and the total area of ​​the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square meters. km.

The entire Himalayan mountain range consists of three distinctive steps:

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

Mount Chomolungma, aka Everest

The most high point world, located on the border of Nepal and China - Mount Chomolungma. However, it has several names and some variation in the estimate of its height. The names of this mountain peak in local dialects have always been associated with the divinity of its origin: Chomolungma in Tibetan, literally “Divine”, in Nepal it is called “Mother of the Gods” - Sagarmatha. There is another beautiful Tibetan name - “Mother - Queen of Snow-White Snows” - Chomo-Kankar. For Europeans, these names were too complicated, and in 1856 they gave the mountain an anglicized name Everest, in honor of the head of the British colonial geodetic survey, Sir George Everest.

Official today Everest height - 8848 meters including ice cap, and 8844 meters is the top of solid rock. But these indicators changed several times in one direction or another. Thus, the first measurement, carried out in the middle of the 19th century, showed 29,000 feet (8839 meters). However, scientific surveyors did not like the too round number, and they freely added another 2 feet, which gave a value of 8840 m. Measurements continued a century later, when the height was determined at 8848 m. However, several geographers made their own calculations, using the most modern means of radio direction finding and navigation. This is how two more values ​​appeared - 8850 and even 8872 meters. However, these values ​​were not officially recognized.

Himalaya records

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

Unfortunately, the Himalayas set sad records - 572 climbers died when trying to conquer their eight-kilometer heights. But the number of brave athletes does not decrease, because “taking” all 14 “eight-thousanders” and receiving 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.

Ski resorts in India

Northern mountainous areas India is a completely unique world, with its own philosophy and spirituality, ancient shrines and historical monuments, colorful population and diversity natural landscapes. Any traveler will always find a lot of interesting things here.

Gulmarg (Valley of Flowers)

This resort is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The height of the slopes is 1400-4138 m. Gulmarg was built in 1927 by the British, when they were “staying” in India, so it practically meets European standards. The season here starts from the end of December and ends at the end of March. The appropriate equipment is provided here, so beginners should be quite comfortable, unless, of course, they are afraid of steep descents.

Narkanda

A small ski tourist center located near Shimla city at an altitude of about 2400 meters surrounded by relict pine forest. Its snowy slopes are quite suitable for both beginner skiers and experienced skiers.

Solang

A fairly well-known place for extreme recreation in skiing circles. It is famous for its well-developed infrastructure, both sports and tourism. Everyone who has visited these places always leaves excellent reviews about the level of training of the resort's coaching and service staff.

Kufri

One of the most famous Indian ski resorts tourist centers. It is located just two dozen kilometers from Shimla city, which for many years was the residence of the English Viceroy of India. Kufri is also remarkable because in its immediate vicinity there is a huge natural National Park Himalayan nature, where the wide variety of wild flora and fauna of these places is carefully preserved. Climbing up the slopes of the mountains, tourists manage to visit several climatic zones - from the wildly blooming tropics to the harsh conditions of the northern latitudes.

Historical and cultural attractions of the Himalayas

For those who prefer to devote their time to getting to know historical places and cultural values, the Indian Himalayan region will provide these opportunities.

First of all, in these places, as already mentioned, there was a summer residence of the English governor in India - the Viceroy. That's why the little village Shimla turned into a city - capital of Himchal Pradesh. The famous museum located in Royal Palace, is replete with exhibits showing the cultural diversity of the region. Shimla is famous for its bazaar with traditional woolen products, national Indian clothing, handmade jewelry, ancient technology. As a rule, a horseback excursion through the surrounding picturesque mountains leaves no one indifferent.

Tourists love India. Read - Russians most often go there for the winter.

The discovery of India is the merit of the Portuguese. in another article.

Dharamsala for Buddhists it is probably the same as Mecca for Muslims. Travelers here encounter the hospitality of the local population, unprecedented anywhere else in the world. This small town is the residence of the Dalai Lama himself, who brought his Tibetan people here after many years of exile.

Visit the Indian Himalayas and not visit estate of Nicholas Roerich- unforgivable for a Russian! It is located in the town of Naggar, near the city of Manali. In addition to the environment in which the painter’s family lived, visitors will see a large collection of original works by this great author.

Capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, Shinagan city- another center of tourist pilgrimage. According to some theories, it was here that Jesus Christ found his final refuge. Travelers will definitely be shown the tomb of Yuz Asuf - a man identified with the Son of God. In the same city you can see unique floating houses - houseboats. No one probably left here without purchasing products made from the famous Kashmir wool as a souvenir.

Spiritual and health tourism

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 just to get acquainted with Vedic sciences, ancient postulates Yoga teachings, healing your body by Ayurvedic canons Panchakarma.

The pilgrim program must include visiting caves for deep meditation, waterfalls, ancient temples, bathing in the Ganges- a sacred river for Hindus. Those suffering can have conversations with spiritual mentors, receive from them parting words and recommendations for spiritual and physical cleansing. However, this topic is so broad and versatile that it requires a separate detailed presentation.

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

Enchanting time-lapse video of the unshakable Himalayas

This video was shot frame by frame on a Nikon D800 camera over 50 days over 5000 km. Places in India: Spiti Valley, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Leh, Zanskar, Kashmir.

Globe, in Asia, in China, Pakistan, India, Bhutan and Nepal. They stretch in an arc about 2500 km long and 200-350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km 2. Height up to 8848 m (Mount Chomolungma is the highest peak on the globe). 10 peaks exceed 8000 m, more than 100 - 7000 m.

In the north they are limited by the tectonic valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers (Matsang, Tsangpo), in the west by the Hinduraj ridge, in the east by the Dihang gorge of the Brahmaputra river, in the south by the Indo-Gangetic plain. The Himalayas are an important orographic, climatic and biotic barrier between the deserts of Central Asia and the monsoon tropics landscapes of South Asia.

Relief. The Himalayas are characterized by a clear trend of orographic elements from northwest to southeast. They include several parallel mountain ranges, rising from south to north in three giant steps, dissected by river gorges into separate massifs and blocks. The first stage (above the Indo-Gangetic plain) is formed by the Siwalik ridge (Pre-Himalayas) with a height of up to 3647 m (Mount Chaur). It reaches its greatest width (up to 120 km) in the western and central parts; east of 88° east longitude it narrows to 5-10 km. It is strongly dissected by deeply incised river valleys. The second stage - the Small (Low) Himalayas - is separated from Siwalik by a tectonic fault, along which there is a series of intermountain basins (dunes), formerly occupied by lakes. It consists of a system of massifs and ridges. The ridges are strongly dissected, the southern slopes are steep, the northern ones are flatter. In the west rises the Pir Panjal range (up to 6632 m), in the central part there are the Dhaoladhar (up to 5067 m) and Mahabharat ranges (up to 2891 m) with sharp ridges and deep valleys. A chain of intermountain depressions and ancient glacial basins (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.) separates the Lesser Himalayas from the highest level - the Greater (High) Himalayas with the highest massifs and peaks covered with glaciers. This part of the Himalayas forms a powerful alpine ridge 50-90 km wide, with passes lying above 4500 m. The northern slopes have soft outlines, the southern slopes are steep, dissected by deep gorges. Glacial landforms are typical (karas, troughs, gouge forms, terminal moraines). The Greater Himalayas begin in the northwest of the Nanga Parbat massif, where they are widest (over 300 km). There are also highlands (over 5000 m) and the Zaskar mountain range (up to 7756 m). East of the Teesta River valley, the Greater Himalayas decline significantly. This part is characterized by deeply incised river valleys, relatively poorly dissected massifs with dome-shaped peaks. In the Himalayas, the intensity of erosion processes is high, landslides and mudflows are frequent, and avalanches occur in the middle and high mountains. From west to east, the Himalayas are usually divided into Punjab (from the Indus River gorge in the northwest to the Sutlej River valley), Kumaon (between the Sutlej and Kali river valleys), Nepal (in Nepal), Sikkim (within the Indian state of Sikkim) and Assamese (west of Bhutan).

Siwalik Range.

Geological structure and minerals. Tectonically, the Himalayas are a fold-cover mountain system of the same name, which is a link in the Cenozoic Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt. In their structure, three zones are distinguished, corresponding to the steps of the relief; In addition, the High Himalayas are divided into two zones. Northern zone High Himalayas, called the Tethyan Himalayas, or Tethys-Himalayas, is composed of a thickness of marine sediments of the Middle Proterozoic - Eocene of enormous thickness (up to 17 km), accumulated on the gently sloping continental shelf of the Indian subcontinent (on the southern edge of the Tethys paleoocean). In the north, the Tethyan Himalayas are bounded by the Indus-Tsangpo tectonic depression, which marks the tectonic suture of the same name (suture), which is considered as a relic of the surface of the subduction zone, along which the Tethys crust subsided northward under the southern margin of Eurasia with the formation of the Trans-Himalayan volcanoplutonic belt (see article by Gandhisishan ). In the suture zone, ophiolites (their covers are established in the Tethyan Himalayas), metamorphic formations, sedimentary and igneous complexes come to the surface. In the south, the Tethyan Himalayas are separated by a gently sloping fault to the north from the Central Crystalline Zone of the High Himalayas. This zone is composed of repeatedly metamorphosed, mainly Precambrian complexes - mica schists, quartzites, gneisses, migmatites, which are intruded by Miocene leucogranites. The last metamorphic event in the zone meets the conditions very high temperatures and relatively low pressures. Metamorphic formations of the Central Crystalline Zone are thrust (along the Main Central Thrust) and partially overlap the complexes of the Low Himalayas, forming many isolated tectonic remnants. The Low Himalaya zone is formed by sedimentary strata of the Upper Proterozoic - Lower Eocene (sandstones, clays, limestones, tillites), similar to the cover of the Hindustan Platform. The deposits have undergone greenschist metamorphism and have a nappe-thrust structure. In the south, the Low Himalaya zone is thrust (along the Main Boundary Thrust) onto the Pre-Himalayan (or Outer Himalaya) zone, which is tectonically a foredeep that arose in modern times in front of the front of the growing Himalayan orogen and filled with Miocene sandy-clayey and Pliocene coarse molasse with a total thickness of up to 7 km. The folded molasse complexes of the Pre-Himalayas are separated by a system of gentle faults of the Frontal Himalayan thrust from the undeformed molasse of the Indo-Gangetic basin, which was not involved in uplift.

The formation of the Himalayas as a folded mountain structure is associated with the collision (collision) of the Hindustan block with Eurasia, which began about 55 million years ago (at the end of the Paleocene). Maximum deformations occurred: at the beginning of the Miocene (20-25 million years ago), when the Main Central Thrust was formed; in the late Miocene (15-10 million years ago) - the Main Boundary Thrust; at the end of the Pliocene - the Main Frontal Thrust. The modern uplift of the Himalayas is accompanied by intense seismicity, concentrated mainly along thrust zones.

There are a few known deposits of copper and gold ores; chromites, precious stones (sapphire, etc.) associated with metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Low and High Himalayas. Oil and natural combustible gas deposits have been discovered in the Pre-Himalayas.

Climate. The southern slopes of the Himalayas are heavily influenced by the Indian summer monsoon. The amount of precipitation decreases from the east (4000-5500 mm per year) to the west (1000-2000 mm). The inland areas receive about 400-750 mm of precipitation per year. Everywhere on the southern slope up to an altitude of 3000 m the average annual temperatures are positive, above 4500 m there is an area of ​​negative summer temperatures. The climate of the western part of the Himalayas is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations and strong winds. Average temperatures in July are about 18 °C, in January from -10 to -18 °C. The influence of the monsoon occurs in July - August south of the Pir Panjal range. Winter precipitation is associated with cyclones that bring rain and snowfall. The main passes are cleared of snow at the end of May. The climate of the eastern part is hotter, with a clearly defined monsoon moisture regime. Summer temperatures at an altitude of 1500 m reach 35 °C, in the valleys they rise to 45 °C. In winter at an altitude of 1800 m average temperature January 4 °C. Snowfalls occur annually above 2200-2500 m, and there is dense fog in the valleys. Above 5000 m precipitation all year round fall in the form of snow. The climate of the northern slopes of the Himalayas is cold, high-altitude desert. Daily temperature ranges reach 45 °C, precipitation is about 100 mm per year. In summer, at an altitude of 5000-6000 m, there are positive temperatures only during the day. In winter, snow often evaporates without melting.

Glaciation. On the southern slopes of the Punjab Himalayas, the snow line runs at an altitude of 4400-4600 m, in the Nepal Himalayas (on the slopes of Chomolungma) - 4700-4800 m, in the Assam Himalayas - 4600 m. On the northern, drier slopes of the Himalayas, it rises to 5800-6100 m. The high position of the snow line and the significant steepness of the slopes do not contribute to the formation large glaciers. The area of ​​modern glaciation in the Himalayas is small - about 33 thousand km 2. Most glaciers are grouped around the highest massifs. The largest glaciers in the Punjab Himalayas are Gangri (length 21 km), Shaffat (16 km), Milang (16 km), in the Kumaon Himalayas - Milam (20 km) and Gangotri (32 km, the largest in the Himalayas). In the Nepal Himalayas, in the Qomolungma region, there are about 600 glaciers, including the Western Rongbuk and Khumbu glaciers, 22 km long; in the Sikkim Himalayas, in the Kanchenjunga massif region, there are the Zemu (31 km) and Kanchenjunga (24 km) glaciers. Most of glaciers are retreating from average speed 10-15 m per year. The valley glaciers are predominantly dendritic, of the Himalayan type, descending 1300-1600 m below the snow line. In the western part of the Himalayas, valley glaciers of the Turkestan type predominate, fed mainly by avalanches and collapses of hanging glaciers. On steep slopes there are hanging and cirque glaciers. The northern slopes are characterized by giant curtains of corrugated ice that cover many of the peaks to their summits. The tongues of some glaciers are covered over a considerable distance by a cover of moraine.

Rivers and lakes. Despite its high altitude, the Himalayas are not the watershed of the rivers of the Indian Ocean basins and the drainless region of Central Asia. Due to the presence of through antecedent gorges, the sources of the Indus, Sutlej, Karnali, and Arun rivers are located in the Karakoram and on the Tibetan Plateau. The largest rivers of South Asia - the Ganges and Brahmaputra - originate on the slopes of the Himalayas. The river network is more developed on the southern slope. In the upper reaches of the river they are fed by snow and glaciers; in the middle and lower areas it is rainy, with maximum water flow in summer. The valleys are narrow and deep. The rivers have enormous hydropower resources that are practically not used. Large hydroelectric power stations and reservoirs have been created on the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Lakes ( tectonic origin and glacial) are located mainly in the western part of the Himalayas below 5000 m (Wular, Tso-Morari, etc.); large alpine lakes - Bangong, Mapam-Yumtso. When glacial lakes break out, glacial mudflows can occur.

Soils, plant and animal world. The landscapes of the Himalayas are very diverse, especially on the southern slopes. The maximum number of altitudinal zones is typical for the most humid slopes of the eastern part of the Himalayas. The foot of the mountains is bordered by a strip of terai - swampy trees and shrubs (jungles) on meadow-swamp tropical soils. Higher up the slope, moist evergreen tropical forests grow on mountain red soils. The predominant species are dipterocarp, palm, pandanus, and tree ferns intertwined with lianas (up to 400 species). At an altitude of 1200-1500 m, mountain evergreen subtropical forests of oaks, laurel, magnolia, and tea trees (castanopsis, phoebe) dominate. Above 2000-2200 m they give way to mixed deciduous forests on brown forest soils, in the forest stand of which species of temperate latitudes appear - maples, alder, hazel, birch and conifers (Himalayan pine, Himalayan spruce, dense fir). At an altitude of 3000 m, the belt of mountain coniferous forests of pine, fir, hemlock, yew, and juniper begins. At an altitude of 3700-3900 m, it gives way to a subalpine belt - a crooked forest of huge rhododendrons and junipers with the participation of ferns; above 4000 m - a belt of alpine meadows, the upper border of which passes at an altitude of about 5000 m, individual plants (arenaria, edelweiss) rise to an altitude of 6100 m. In the central part of the Himalayas, in the spectrum of altitudinal zones, there is no belt of moist evergreen tropical forests, and up to an altitude of 600-1000 m, deciduous forests of tallow with the participation of terminalia, albizia, etc. dominate.

In the drier western part of the Himalayas, the lower parts of the slopes (up to 600 m) are occupied by sparse xerophytic forests and shrubs with wild olive, an admixture of acacias, pomegranate, and oleander on mountain brown soils. Higher up (up to 1200-1500 m) monsoon deciduous forests grow with the dominance of tall on mountain red soils, which are replaced by mountain subtropical mixed forests of holm oak and mountain pines with evergreen undergrowth. From an altitude of 2000-2500 m, mountain mixed subboreal forests of long-leaved pine (chir), fir, Himalayan cedar (deodar) with the participation of oaks, maples on low-humus brown forest soils dominate. The belt of 3000-3500 m is dominated by mountain coniferous forests of fir with an admixture of birch on podzolized brown soils. Above 3500 m there is a subalpine birch forest, thickets of juniper and rhododendrons, giving way to a belt of alpine meadows and shrubs on mountain meadow soils. The upper limit of distribution of vascular plants is 6300 m. The northern slope is characterized by desert-steppe landscapes with cushion plants and xerophytic grasses on thin rocky mountain-desert soils. Woody vegetation (willows, poplars) is found along river valleys.

The Himalayas are home to about 300 species of mammals, more than 10 of them are endemic (golden langur, Himalayan tahr, pygmy pig, etc.), 175 species of reptiles (about 50 species are endemic), 105 species of amphibians. The avifauna numbers about 1000 species (15 species are endemic). The fauna of the Terai and low-mountain Himalayas belongs to the Indo-Malayan faunal region. Large mammals live here - elephants, rhinoceroses, gaurs, wild boars, several species of deer (muntjac, sambar), among predators - tigers and leopards, red wolf; of birds - peacocks, pheasants, parrots. In the eastern part of the Himalayas, the binturong (the civet family) is found. The fauna of the middle and high mountains belongs to the Chinese-Himalayan subregion of the Holarctic region. The forest and alpine zones are inhabited by wild yak, musk deer, red deer (hangul), mountain sheep (argali, blue sheep), marking goat, goral, takin, and black Himalayan bear. The clouded leopard and snow leopard (irbis) are endangered. The most common birds are the Himalayan snowcock, Himalayan crested pheasant, and tragopans.

The most famous protected areas of the Himalayas are the Corbett, Greater Himalaya, Namdapha, Kanchenjunga national parks (India); to the list World Heritage included the Manas Nature Reserve, Nandadevi and Valley of Flowers national parks (India), Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and Sagarmatha national parks (Nepal). Mountaineering is widely developed in the Himalayas, mainly in Nepal. Climatic resorts - Shimla, Macypi, Darjeeling, etc. (India).

The main occupation of the population is agriculture. On the northern slope of the Greater Himalayas (the vicinity of Lake Tangra-Yumtso) are the upper limits of agriculture in the world. Excessive grazing of livestock in alpine meadows and forests has led to increased erosion and mudflow processes.

Lit.: Singh G. Geography of India. M., 1980; Senkovskaya N. F. Land resources of the Himalayas and problems of their use // Bulletin of Moscow State University. Ser. 5. Geography. 1982. No. 6; she is the same. Features of the distribution of mudflow phenomena in the Himalayas // Ibid. 1984. No. 6; Kononov Yu. V. Country of subtropics and snow-capped mountains. M., 1985; Bedi R. Fauna of India. M., 1987; Dolgushin L. D., Osinova G. B. Glaciers. M., 1989; Golubchikov Yu. N. Geography of mountain and polar countries. M., 1996; State of Nepal's environment. Kathmandu, 2000; Khain V. E. Tectonics of continents and oceans (year 2000). M., 2001; Inventory of glaciers, glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst floods monitoring and early warning systems in Hindu Kush - Himalayan region. Kathmandu, 2002.

N. N. Alekseeva; Arc. V. Tevelev (geological structure and minerals).

Since our school days, we all know that the highest mountain on the planet is Everest, and it is located in the Himalayas. But not everyone clearly understands where the Himalayas actually are? Mountain tourism has become very popular in recent years, and if you are into it, then this miracle of nature - the Himalayas - is definitely worth a visit!

And these mountains are located on the territory of five countries: India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The total length of the largest mountain system on our planet is 2,400 kilometers, and its width is 350 kilometers. In terms of height, many peaks of the Himalayas are record holders. Here are the ten highest peaks on the planet, more than eight thousand meters high.

– Everest or Chomolungma, 8848 meters above sea level. The highest mountain in the Himalayas was conquered by man only in 1953. All the ascents that had taken place before were unsuccessful, because the slopes of the mountain are very steep and dangerous. Strong winds blow at the summit, which, combined with very low night temperatures, present a difficult challenge for those who dare to conquer this inaccessible peak. Everest itself is located on the border of two states - China and Nepal.

In India, the Himalayas, thanks to their gentler slopes, which are not so dangerous, have become a refuge for monks preaching Buddhism and Hinduism. Their monasteries are located in large numbers in the Himalayas in India and Nepal. Pilgrims, followers of these religions and just tourists flock here from all over the world. Due to this, the Himalayas in these regions are highly visited.

But ski tourism in the Himalayas is not popular, since there are no suitable flat slopes for skiing that could attract tourists en masse. All states where the Himalayas are located are popular mainly among climbers and pilgrims.

Traveling through the Himalayas is not such an easy adventure; it is only possible with endurance and a strong spirit. And if you have these powers in reserve, then you should definitely go to India or Nepal. Here you can visit the most beautiful temples and monasteries located on picturesque slopes, take part in the evening prayer of Buddhist monks, and at dawn indulge in relaxing meditation and hatha yoga classes conducted by Indian gurus. Traveling through the mountains, you will see with your own eyes where such great rivers as the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra originate

.

The most majestic and mysterious mountain range on our planet is the Himalayas. This massif, whose name translates as the abode of snow, conventionally separates Central and South Asia, and the height of its individual peaks reaches more than 8,000 meters. The Himalayas are rightfully considered the most high mountains in the world, 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 inaccessible mountains on 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 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:

• Siwalik 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 runs parallel to the Siwalik Range. The average altitude 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

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 this is where mountain conquerors from all over the planet flock, because climbing the highest peaks is the life’s work of a real climber.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the Himalayas changes with changes in altitude. Natural features The Himalayas at different levels surprise with the change of landscapes, animals and flora. 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 find wild tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and monkeys, and when you rise higher, the risk of encountering a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard increases.

In the mountains that captivate Nepal, there is a unique nature reserve, where endangered species of animals still exist. The zone is under the protection of UNESCO. Mount Everest is located within this reserve.

Rivers and lakes

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

The special pride of the Himalayas is, of course, the glaciers. By quantity of reserves fresh water Only the Arctic and Antarctic have bypassed the mountain range. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri formation, which reaches a length of 26 km.

When is it nice to be in the Himalayas?

According to travelers, it is always good in the Himalayas. Each season 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 summer, during the rainy season, lush greenery breaks through the light fog and gives freshness and coolness; autumn is a riot 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 global significance.

The types of landscapes and the possibility of conquering eight-thousand-meter mountains attract climbers from all over the world. Myths and legends envelop this piece of land, marked by the brightest spot (on the altitude scale) on physical map Eurasia. At the same time, the Himalayan upland system is the youngest on the planet.

The highest mountain range, the Himalayas, is located in South Asia, it stretches from west to east, its length is over 2400 km, its width is in the range of 180-350 km, and its area is about 650 km 2.

Relatively geographical objects ridge bordered by:

• north – Tibetan Plateau;
• south – Indo-Gangetic lowland;
• east – the valley of the Brahmaputra River;
• west - Indus Gorge.

The territory of the Himalayan mountains was divided among several Asian countries; the information is given in Table 1.

Table 1.

No.	State	Capital	Location on the Himalayan range
1.	Islamic Republic of Pakistan	Islamabad	West Side
2.	Republic of India	New Delhi	Western and central parts
3.	Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China	Lhasa PRC – Beijing	Northwestern part
4.	Federal Democratic Republic Nepal	Kathmandu	central part
5.	Kingdom of Bhutan	Thimphu	East End
6.	People's Republic of Bangladesh	Dhaka	Eastern foothills

Origin of the Himalayas and geology

The Himalayan mountains are marked on the map of geologists as the youngest on Earth.

The age of mountains is determined by their relief: the sharpness, amplitude of heights, and steepness of the slopes confirm their youth - the Himalayas belong to this type. The formation of the system began about 38 million years ago. And in our time, tectonic movements do not stop, they have simply become less intense.

There is a historical-geological theory according to which 200 million years ago globe there was one single continent. Due to changes within the earth, it split into several continents.

Over time, they changed and collided with each other. This is how the Hindustan and Asian lithospheric plates collided, from which the edges of both continents were deformed with the formation of high mountain ranges.

During its formation, the massif was divided into 3 conventional stages, starting from the south:

1. The southern step of the Pre-Himalayas is the Siwalik Mountains. Its height does not exceed 1 km, width 10-50 km. The mountain structure contains several ridges and the Potvar Plateau.
2. Lesser Himalayas. The width of the vast highland is 80-100 km, the height is on average 3.5-4 km, there are peaks, the highest is 6.5 km. Between the border ridge of Dauladar and the main Himalayan range lie the picturesque valleys of Kashmir and Kathmandu.
3. Great Himalayas. The string of ridges is divided into separate structures. The width reaches 90 km, the average height of the peaks is 5.5-6 km, it has 10 mountain ranges with peaks over 8 km.

Development and interesting facts

The development of mountains is associated with the desire to conquer the highest peaks on earth.

In total, there are 14 massifs on Earth with peaks higher than 8 km, the bulk of which are located in the Himalayas.

There are 10 mountain structures whose peak heights exceed this limit. Each of them has been conquered by climbers more than once. But the climber’s most desired goal is to conquer the highest peak on the planet – Chomolungma.

Some facts about conquering the peaks:

• The first summit of Annapurna was conquered in 1950 by the Frenchmen M. Herzog and L. Lachenal. This was the first world conquest of an eight-thousander peak.
• The first ascent of Chomolungma in 1953 was made by New Zealander E. Hillary with Sherpa T. Norgay. Sherpas are the people of Nepal, the best guides in the mountains.
• Japanese Junko Tabei was the first woman to conquer Chomolungma in 1976. The first European in 1978 was Polish V. Rutkevich.
• Most old man, who conquered Chomolungma - 76-year-old Nepalese M.B. Shirchan in 2008. The youngest is 13-year-old Californian D. Romero in 2010.
• A group of 11 Russians first conquered Chomolungma in 1982. The first Russian woman, E. Ivanova, conquered the height in 1990.
• The highest peak was conquered 3,700 times, and 570 climbers died during the ascents.

Peaks

Separate mountain structures can have several peaks over 8 km. Short description presented in Table 2.

Table 2.

No.	Array name	Height, m	Year of conquest	A country	Short description
1.	Chomolungma (Everest)	8848	1953	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	Has 2 peaks above 8 km. Part of Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)
2.	Kanchenjunga	8586	1955	Nepal, India	An array of 5 peaks, 4 of them are higher than 8 km. Part of a mountain in Kanchenjunga National Park
3.	Lhotse	8516	1956	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	An array of 3 peaks, all above 8 km
4.	Makalu	8463	1955	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	Consists of 2 peaks, both above 8 km
5.	Cho Oyu	8201	1954	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	Included in the Chomolungma massif. Part of Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)
6.	Dhaulagiri	8167	1960	Nepal	An array of 11 peaks, 10 of them are above 7 km
7.	Manaslu	8156	1956	Nepal	An array of 3 peaks, one higher than 7 km, the other – 6 km
8.	Nanga Parbat	8126	1953	Pakistan	Consists of 4 peaks, 2 – from 7 km, 1 – from 6 km
9.	Annapurna	8091	1950	Nepal	The ridge is 55 km long, with 13 peaks above 7 km, and 16 - 6 km
10.	Shishabangma	8027	1964	Tibetan Autonomous Republic	It is part of the Langtang ridge, has 3 peaks, the height of two is above 8 km

Weather

The Himalayan mountains on the map are indicative and are the barrier that separates the southern Indian lowlands from the northern Tibetan plateau.

On the slopes on the northern side the climate is continental cold with rare precipitation per year barely reaching 100 mm. Monsoon winds blow in the south, bringing heavy rainfall. During the summer period, precipitation up to 4 m falls in the eastern part, and less in the west - more than 1 m.

At the tops of the system the temperature in winter is down to -40°C, and in summer no higher than -25°C. Due to constant winds weather can change dramatically. Hurricane winds often blow, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h.

On the southern slope the weather has 4 seasons:

• April-June – cool spring with lush growth of herbs and flowers.
• July August - summer season rains and fogs, the flora develops especially rapidly.
• September-October – warm autumn, comfortable warm days begin.
• November-March – frosty winter with snowfalls and clear days.

Himalayan water system

The water system of the Himalayas is connected with the glacial and snow caps of mountain peaks. The snow boundary of the south begins from the east at an altitude of 4.5 and from the west – 5.1-5.3 km.

On the northern side the border is higher - up to 1 km. Glaciers have formed on all high-mountain peaks; in the west they have a valley character (the tongue of the glacier is located in a valley), in the east they are dendritic (valley, formed from several tongues).

Glaciers give rise to numerous rivers and deep rivers that pass through the next 2 stages of the Himalayas and flow down to the lowlands. Information about the most famous rivers are shown in Table 3.

Table 3.

River name	Length, km	Source	Estuary	Which countries does it flow through?
Indus	3180	Tibetan plateau	Arabian Sea	PRC (TAR), India, Pakistan
Sutlej	1536	Tibetan plateau	Indus River	PRC (TAR), India, Pakistan
Brahmaputra	2896	Confluence of the Jangtsi and Chema-Yundung rivers	Strait of Bengal	China (TAR), India, Bangladesh
Ganges	2700	Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers	Strait of Bengal	India, Bangladesh

Reservoirs for lakes are pits that appeared during the movement of ice masses. Another condition for the creation of lakes is the damming of mud masses during the movement of ice avalanches on rivers. The famous lakes of the system are usually sacred and are symbols of religious worship. Table 4 presents brief information about some lakes.

Table 4.

Lake name	Country locations	Altitude above sea level, m
Ansu	Northern Pakistan, Kaghan Valley	5027
Pangong Tso	North India, southwest Tibetan Autonomous Republic	4334
Manasarovar	Tibetan Autonomous Republic, southwestern region	4557
Gosaikund	Nepal, north central, Rusawa district	4380
Mebartso	Butane, central District, on the Tang River of Bumthang Region	3000

Flora and fauna

On mountain ranges The Himalayas form an altitudinal zonation of climatic conditions, flora and fauna. The tiers of the eastern and western zones are different; information is presented in Table 5.

Table 5.

No.	Belt height, km	Description of the belt	Representatives of the flora	Representatives of fauna
Eastern zone
1.	Up to 0.8-0.9	Terai - swampy jungle	Khair, sissu, bamboo, orchids, vines, rattan palm	Rhinoceroses, deer, fallow deer, crocodiles
2.	Up to 1-1.2	Tropical evergreen forests	Lianas, epiphytes, sal tree, shorea
3.	Up to 2	Tropical, subtropical forests	Oaks, maples, magnolias, chestnuts, Nepalese alder
4.	Up to 2.5	Evergreen and deciduous forests	Oaks, long-leaf pines, epiphytes	Wild boars, serow, Himalayan tara, red panda, pheasants, Danfe pheasants, deer, bears
5.	Up to 3.2	Evergreen forests with some deciduous trees	Himalayan spruce, Naples cherry, Simon's polyflorum, maples, hemlocks, rhododendrons
6.	Up to 4	Evergreen forests	Himalayan fir, useful birch, rhodendrons, junipers
7.	Up to 4.2		Rhodendrons, junipers, honeysuckle	Himalayan marmots, snow leopards, snowcocks, pikas, snow partridges, redstarts, musk deer, wild yaks, llamas
8.	Up to 5.2		Alpine herbals, flower beds, lichens, moss
Western zone
1.	Up to 1.5	Rainforests	Chestnuts and oaks, vines, longleaf pine	Gaurs, buffalos, tigers, leopards, deer
2.	Until 3	Subtropical evergreen forests	Cedars, Himalayan cedars, spruce, oak, fir, cedar, neem, banyan tree	Wild boars, serow, bears, red panda, pheasants, gorals
3.	Up to 4.3	Subalpine, alpine stripes	Rarely birches, pines, rhodendrons, mostly shrubs, sedge thickets, mosses, lichens	Marmots, deer, yaks, llamas, leopards, snow partridge, redstarts, woodpeckers, mountain pheasants

An inhabitant of the northern slopes of the Himalayan mountains is the snow leopard.

The northern slopes are distinguished by a harsh climate, where even in summer the temperature rarely reaches above zero at noon; at night it drops into the sub-zero zone. Therefore, vegetation and fauna are very scarce.

Parks and valleys

Himalayan mountains (on the map you can see the presence of numerous national parks, nature reserves) have protective zones that are created to protect the unique wildlife.

They can be used for scientific geographical and biological research purposes. Some parks have become part of the UNESCO list. It is better to visit them in spring or autumn; the rest of the time there is heavy rainfall.

The most famous parks and valleys:

• India. "Valley of Flowers" located at an altitude of 4 km, in the north-west of the country. Picturesque Alpine meadow with flora unique to this area. Accommodation is prohibited here, you can only move on foot. It is adjacent to the high-mountain Nanda Devi Park (the highest peak is 7816 m). There are 2 more parks in India with UNESCO heritage status: “Great Himalayas” and “Kanchenjunga”.

• Nepal. "Kathmandu Valley" located in the north-central part of the country. There are many historical and cultural international monuments on it. This is a sacred land with several pilgrimage centers on it. There are 7 sites in the valley that are on the UNESCO list. Another park, Sagarmatha, was created to protect the Chomolungma peak.

• Butane. " Royal Park Manas" located in the south of the country, combined with the “biological corridors” of several nature reserves and national parks. The height of the park reaches the ice fields. Therefore, everyone participates in it climatic zones Himalayas with many various types plants, animals, birds, insects. There are 2 more reserves under UNESCO protection: Bumdeling and Sakten.

In Pakistan, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and Bangladesh there are also many national parks that do not have UNESCO heritage status.

Buddhist temples

Buddhism is an ancient world religion. Since ancient times, Buddhist temples and monasteries have been built; time has not spared the oldest temple complexes. Mostly medieval churches have survived. Numerous adherents of esotericism, Buddhism and Hinduism come to these holy places.

Temples:

• Pakistan. Takht-i-Bahi– the complex was built in the 1st century. BC. near the city of Mardan in the north of the country. It was built in 4 stages, up to several centuries passed between stages, the last extension was undertaken in the 6th-7th centuries. AD It was destroyed during the Hun invasion. It is on the UNESCO heritage list.
• India. Tabo Gompa Monastery in northern India it is located at an altitude of 3.2 km. Founded 996 AD Rinchen Japo. The monastery has 8 temples and 24 stupas (a cult monolithic structure with a hemispherical outline).

• Tibetan AR. Most ancient monastery Tibet – Tolin located in the western part, built in 996. There are several halls on the territory, a group of 108 pagodas along the Sainchuan River. Excellent frescoes, a statue of Sakyamuni, and paintings of King Atisha have been preserved in the halls.
• Nepal. Swayambhunath Stupa located in the suburbs of Kathmandu, erected in 460, in the 13th century. became largest center Buddhism. Throughout its history, it was destroyed, restored, refurbished, and in 2015 it was partially collapsed due to an earthquake. The stupa is located on a mountain; to climb it you need to overcome 365 steps; there are several monasteries around it.

• Butane. Tamshing Lakhang- a temple complex near the city of Jakar in the Bumthang Valley. The complex has main temple and monastic hostels. Festivals are held here once a year in honor of Pema Lingla, the founder of the monastery; he erected it in 1501. The culture of temple dances has been preserved, reflecting the era of the founder of the monastery. UNESCO heritage.

Resorts of the Himalayas

The Himalayan hills are a natural heritage of all the countries in which they are located. The highest peaks of planet Earth are concentrated here, so this mountain system is a Mecca for climbers and extreme tourism hunters.

Most popular places:

• In the Indian Himalayas the most popular resort considered Gulmarg, located on the slopes of the Pir Panjal mountains in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The resort offers winter activities from December to March: luge, skiing, snowboards, freeride (skating outside the designated area). The ski area is 4-2 km above sea level. In the summer they enjoy mountain biking and golf. There are 40 hotels nearby different conditions residence.

• Tibetan AR, the city of Purang in the Ngari region. It is an ancient center of trade and a stopover for pilgrims on their way to sacred mountain Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. The city is open to tourists only in the summer from July to October; in winter the roads are blocked by snow. Tourists can admire local attractions. You can stay in a hotel, but there are not many of them.
• Ride in Nepal ski equipment Tourists recently discovered it at the resort of Mount Annapurna using heli-skiing (landing at the base by helicopter). Skiing is carried out from different heights from 3.4 to 5.5 km, descending to heights of 3.2-3.5 km. Accommodation or overnight stays are organized in nearby villages where guesthouses (private households) are located.

• In Bhutan, tourism is excursion and pilgrimage in nature.. Hiking expeditions to religious complexes, or long mountain hikes of up to 1 month are carried out. In temples you can heal your body and soul using unconventional methods; the peace and tranquility that reigns in the country also helps to achieve harmony. You can stay not only in the capital, but also in the city of Paro in hotels from 2-5 stars.

Historical and cultural attractions

Himalayan attractions in all countries are mainly associated with the religious ways of the countries. Religion celestial countries imposed certain rules, and they are closely related to mountain peaks. On the territory of the countries there are many holy places, there are fortifications and cultural buildings worthy of tourist exploration.

Just look at a map with historical values ​​and see that there are a lot of interesting places in this area of ​​the Earth:

• In Pakistan, one of the ancient monuments is Altit Fort in the Hunza Valley. The fortress is built on a rock overlooking the valley. The ancient Shikari tower of the fort is 1100 years old. The fortress has small rooms with exquisitely carved wooden portals.

• In India, this is the summer residence of the Viceroy of England in the city of Shimla, Himchal Pradesh state, northeast of the country. The residence was built in 1888 with British chic, with local influences. The museum has many exhibits.

• In the Tibetan Autonomous Republic of China they can offer a tour to the city of Burang. Above the city on the mountain ridge, the Simbiling monastery and the large Tegla Kar fort were built - currently the fort remains in ruins, the monastery has been restored. Below them is a 9-story destroyed monastery of the Bon religion - Tsegu Gompa. The route to Burang passes through sacred lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.

• In Nepal, it is worth staying in Kathmandu, himself ancient city, which has preserved many ancient buildings, there are palace complexes, museums and religious temples. Durbar Square has about 50 historical and cultural monuments of the country, the Hanuman Dhoka complex is especially interesting.

• Butane. Among the country's attractions stands out National Library, created in 1967 to preserve the historical heritage of the people. She is in beautiful building octagonal shape. In addition to books, ancient letters and historical documentation are kept there. There are other historical buildings around.

Tourists visiting the Himalayas

Tourists visit the Himalaya mountain system for different purposes:

• mountaineering;
• skiing;
• pilgrimage;
• physical and spiritual healing.

Tourists flock here in the thousands, and the flow is growing every year. The most suitable period is May-July and September-October. Summer and winter are rainy and snowy seasons. The Himalayas are located on the territories of 5 countries, so how to get here, get a visa, what fees will be charged for the trip, you need to find out in advance from your operator, or find information on the Internet.

The scale of the Himalayan peak system attracts not only tourists, but also scientists. Due to the long political isolation of mountainous countries and the inaccessibility of their territories, this area of ​​the Earth has still not been sufficiently studied by biologists, geographers, geologists, and historians.

Although the study is gaining momentum, there are still many blank spots on all thematic maps of elevations.

Article format: Svetlana Ovsyanikova

Video on the topic: mysteries of the Himalayan mountains

The Himalayas are the most mysterious place on Earth:

Himalayas- this is the highest mountain system of our planet, which stretches in Central and South Asia and is located on the territory of countries such as China, India, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal. In this mountain range There are 109 peaks, their average height reaches more than 7 thousand meters above sea level. However, one of them surpasses them all. So, we will talk about the highest peak of the Himalaya mountain system.

What is it, the highest peak of the Himalayas?

The highest peak of the Himalayas is Mount Qomolungma, or Everest. It rises in the northern part of the Mahalangur Himal range, the highest mountain range of our planet, which can be reached only after arriving in. Its height reaches 8848 m.

Chomolungma is the name of the mountain in Tibetan, which means “Divine Mother of the Earth”. In Nepali, the peak sounds like Sagarmatha, which translates to “Mother of the Gods.” Everest it was named after George Everest, a British explorer who led a geodetic survey in the surrounding areas.

The shape of the highest peak of the Himalayas, Chomolungma, is a triangular pyramid, in which the southern slope is steeper. As a result, that part of the mountain is practically not covered with snow.

Conquering the highest peak of the Himalayas

The impenetrable Chomolungma has long attracted the attention of climbers on Earth. However, unfortunately, due to unfavorable conditions, the mortality rate here is still high - there were more than 200 official reports of death on the mountain. At the same time, almost 3,000 people successfully climbed and descended from Everest. The first ascent to the summit took place in 1953 by Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary using oxygen devices.