The Himalayas in India and China are the highest mountains on Earth.

Where is it located and how to get there

Geographical coordinates:Latitude:29°14′11″N (29.236449), Longitude:85°14′59″E (85.249851)
Directions from Moscow-You come to China or India and it’s just a stone’s throw away. Don't forget your mountain gear
Travel from St. Petersburg: You come to Moscow and then come to China or India and it’s just a stone’s throw away. Don't forget your mountain gear
Distance from Moscow - 7874 km, from St. Petersburg - 8558 km.

Description in the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron (published at the border of the 19th-20th centuries)

Himalayan mountains
(Himalaja, in Sanskrit - winter or snowy dwelling, among the Greeks and Romans Imans and Hemodus) - the highest mountains on Earth; separate Hindustan and the western part of Indochina from the Tibetan Plateau and extend from the exit point of the Indus (at 73°23′E Greenwich) in a south-easterly direction to the Brahmaputra (at 95°23′E) for 2375 km with a width of 220-300 km. The western part of the Himalayas (hereinafter referred to as G.) at 36° N. w. so closely connected into one mountain node (the greatest on Earth) with the almost parallel beginning of the Karakorum ridge (see), which stretches at a short distance from it, with the Kuen-Lun ridge, limiting Tibet from the north, and with the Hindu Ku, that all these four mountain ranges are part of one hill. The G. Mountains make up the southernmost and highest of these ranges. The eastern end of the G. mountains passes approximately to the 28th parallel to the northern. parts of the British province of Assam and Burma into the Yun Ling Mountains already belonging to China. Both mountain masses are separated from each other by the Brahmaputra, which cuts the mountains here and makes a bend from N to SW. If we imagine a line running south from Lake Mansarovar, which lies between the sources of the Settlej and the Brahmaputra, then it will divide the G. mountains into the west. and east half and at the same time will serve as an ethnographic border between the Aryan population of the Indus basin and the population of Tibet. The average height of the city is 6941 m; numerous peaks are well above this line. Some of them are higher than all the peaks of the Andes and represent the highest points on the earth's surface. Up to 225 of these peaks have been measured; of which 18 rise above 7600 m, 40 above 7000, 120 above 6100. The highest of all are Gaurizankar, or Mount Everest, at 8840 m, Kantschinjinga at 8581 m and Dhawalagiri at 8177 m. All of them lie in the eastern half of the G. mountains. The average height of the snow line on the G. mountains is approximately 4940 m in the south. slope and 5300 m to the north. Of the huge glaciers, some descend to 3400 and even 3100 m. The average height of the passages (Ghâts) leading through the mountains, of which 21 are known, is 5500 m; the height of the highest of them, the Ibi-Gamin pass, between Tibet and Garhwal, is 6240 m; the height of the lowest, Bara-Latscha, is 4900 m. The mountains do not form one completely continuous and continuous chain, but consist of a system of more or less long ridges; partly parallel, partly intersecting, wide and narrow valleys lie between them. Real plateaus in G. not found in mountains. Generally southern. the G. side of the mountains is more fragmented than the northern side; there are more spurs and side ridges, between which lie the states of Kashmir, Gariwal, Kamaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, more or less dependent on the Indo-British government. To the south On the G. side of the mountains, tributaries of the Indus originate: Jhelum, Shenab and Ravi, the Ganges with its left tributaries and the Jamuni.
G. mountains, more than all other mountains on the globe, are rich in the majestic beauties of nature; They present a particularly picturesque view from the south. Concerning geological structure G. g., then at the base predominantly sandstones and clastic rocks are visible. Higher up, to approximately 3000-3500 m altitude, gneiss, mica, chlorite and talc schist predominate, cut through often by thick veins of granite. The higher peaks consist mainly of gneiss and granite. Volcanic rocks are not found on the G. mountains and in general there are no signs of volcanic activity here, although there are various hot springs (up to 30 in number), the most famous of which are located in Badrinath (see). The vegetation is extremely diverse. At the southern base of the east. Half of the swampland, called Tarai, is unhealthy and unsuitable for settlement, 15-50 km wide, overgrown impenetrable jungle and giant grass. It is followed, up to an altitude of approximately 1000 m, by extremely rich tropical and especially Indian vegetation, followed up to an altitude of 2500 m by forests of oaks, chestnuts, laurel trees, etc. Between 2500 and 3500 m the flora corresponds to the flora of southern and central Europe ; conifers predominate, namely Pinus Deodora, P. excelsa, P. longifolia, Aties Webbiana, Picea Morinda, etc. The border of tree vegetation runs higher to the north. side (the last tree species here is birch) than on the south. (one species of oak, Quercus semicarpifolia, rises highest here). The next area of ​​bushes reaches the snow line and to the north. side ends with one species of Genista, on the south. - several species of Rhododendron, Salix and Ribes. Cultivation on the Tibetan side rises to 4600 m, on the Indian side only to 3700; the grasses on the first grow up to 5290 m, on the second - up to 4600 m. The fauna of the mountains is also extremely interesting and very rich. To the south on the side up to 1200 m it is specially Indian; its representatives are the tiger, elephant, monkeys, parrots, pheasants and beautiful views chickens In the middle region of the mountains there are bears, musk deer and different kinds antelopes, and to the north. on the side adjacent to Tibet - wild horses, wild bulls (yaks), wild sheep and mountain goats, as well as some other mammals belonging to the fauna of Central Asia and especially Tibet. The G. mountains not only constitute the political border between the Anglo-Indian possessions and Tibet, but in general also the ethnographic border between the Hindu Aryans living south of the G. mountains and the inhabitants of Tibet belonging to the Mongolian tribe. Both tribes spread through the valleys deep into the mountains and mixed with each other in various ways. The population is densest in extremely fertile valleys, at an altitude of 1500 to 2500 m. At an altitude of 3000 it becomes rare.
History of the name (toponym)
Himalayas, from Nepalese himal - “snowy mountain”.

The Himalayas are the highest and most powerful mountain system all over the globe. It is assumed that tens of millions of years ago, the rocks that make up the Himalayan mountains formed the bottom of the ancient Tethys proto-ocean. The peaks began to gradually rise above the water as a result of the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Asian continent. The process of growth of the Himalayas took many millions of years, and not a single mountain system in the world can compare with them in the number of peaks - “seven thousand meters” and “eight thousand meters”.

Story

Researchers who studied the history of the origin of this in many respects unusual mountain system came to the conclusion that the formation of the Himalayas occurred in several stages, according to which the regions of the Shivalik Mountains (Pre-Himalayas), Lesser Himalayas and Greater Himalayas are distinguished. The first to break through the water surface were the Great Himalayas, whose hypothetical age is approximately 38 million years. After about 12 million years, the gradual formation of the Lesser Himalayas began. Finally, relatively recently, “only” seven million years ago, the “younger” Shivalik mountains saw the seeds.

Interestingly, people have been climbing the Himalayas since ancient times. First of all, because these mountains have long been endowed with magical properties. According to ancient Buddhist and Hindu legends, many mythological creatures lived here. In classical Hinduism, it is generally accepted that Shiva and his wife once lived in the Himalayas. Shiva is the god of creative destruction, one of the three most revered gods in Hinduism. If Shiva is a kind of reformer, in modern terms, then Buddha - who achieved enlightenment (bodhi) - was born, according to legend, at the southern foothills of the Himalayas.
Already in the 7th century, the first trade routes connecting China and India appeared in the rugged Himalayas. Some of these routes still play an important role in trade between the two countries (of course, these days we are not talking about multi-day treks on foot, but about road transport). In the 30s of the XX century. there was an idea to do transport connection more convenient, for which you need to lay railway through the Himalayas, but the project was never brought to life.
However, serious exploration of the Himalayan mountains began only in the period of the 18th-19th centuries. The work was extremely difficult, and the results left much to be desired: for a long time, topographers were unable to determine the height of the main peaks or draw up accurate topographic maps. But difficult trials only fueled the interest and enthusiasm of European scientists and researchers.
In the mid-19th century, attempts were made to conquer the highest peak in the world - (Chomolungma). But the great mountain, towering 8848 m above the ground, could give victory only to the strongest. After countless unsuccessful expeditions, on May 29, 1953, man finally managed to reach the top of Everest: the first to overcome the most difficult route was New Zealander Edmund Hillary, accompanied by Sherpa Norgay Tenzing.

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

Nature

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

Tourism

The Western Himalayas are famous for their high-class Indian mountain resorts (Shimla, Darjeeling, Shillong). Here, in an atmosphere of complete peace and detachment from the bustle, you can not only enjoy breathtaking mountain views and air, but also play golf or ride a alpine skiing(Although most Himalayan routes are classified as “for experts”, there are routes for beginners on the western slopes as well).
Not only lovers of outdoor recreation and exotic things come to the Himalayas, but also seekers of real, unprogrammed adventures. Since the world became aware of the first ever successful ascent of the slopes of Everest, thousands of climbers of all ages and levels of training began to come to the Himalayas every year to test their strength and skills. Of course, not everyone achieves their cherished goal; some travelers pay for their courage with their lives. Even with an experienced guide and good equipment, traveling to the top of Chomolungma can be a difficult ordeal: in some areas the temperature drops to -60ºС, and the icy wind speed can reach 200 m/s. Those who dare to make such a difficult trek have to endure the vagaries of mountain weather and hardships for more than one week: guests of Chomolungma have every chance to spend about two months in the mountains.

general information

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

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

Largest airport: international Airport Kathmandu.

Numbers

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

Area: about 650,000 km2.

Average altitude: 6000 m.

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

Economy

Agriculture: tea and rice plantations, growing corn, grains; livestock farming

Service sector: tourism (mountaineering, climatic resorts).
Minerals: gold, copper, chromite, sapphires.

Climate and weather

Varies greatly.

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

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

Attractions

Kathmandu

Temple complexes of Budanilkantha, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath

National Museum of Nepal

Lhasa

Potala Palace

Among the conquerors of Everest there are also “originals”. On May 25, 2008, the oldest climber in the history of climbing, a native of Nepal, Min Bahadur Shirchan, who was 76 years old at that time, overcame the path to the summit. There have been cases when very young travelers took part in expeditions. The latest record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who climbed in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him, fifteen-year-old Tembu Tsheri Sherpa was considered the youngest guest of Chomolungma).

The development of tourism does not benefit the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the garbage left by people. Moreover, in the future there may be severe pollution of the rivers that originate here. The main problem is that these rivers provide millions of people with drinking water.

Shambhala is a mythical country in Tibet, about which many ancient texts tell. Buddha's followers believe in its existence unconditionally. It captivates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. In particular, the most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. had no doubt about the reality of Shambhala. Gumilev. However, there is still no irrefutable evidence of its existence. Or they are irretrievably lost. For the sake of objectivity, it should be said: many believe that Shambhala is not located in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about her lies proof that we all really need the belief that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of humanity, which is owned by bright and wise forces. Even if this key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet open...

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

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

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

Rice. 50. Comparative profile of the Alps and Himalayas

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

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

Features of the geological structure - the predominance of Precambrian rocks similar to the complexes of the Indian Platform, the very limited distribution of marine sedimentary strata and the presence of continental sediments close to Gondwanan - give reason to consider the Himalayas as a mountain system that arose on the site of the edge of the Indian Platform, which underwent tectonic activation in the Neogene -Quaternary time in connection with the attachment of the Hindustan Plate to the rest of Eurasia and the closure of the Tethys.

The Himalayas do not form ridges stretching over long distances, but break up into separate massifs, separated from one another by deep transverse river valleys. This is due to the fact that the valleys of the largest rivers - the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra - were formed before the start of the general grandiose uplift of the mountains. The uplift was accompanied by the incision of rivers and the formation of epigenetic valleys of the Himalayas.

The foothills of the Himalayas are composed of young sediments folded in the middle of the Quaternary period. They are known collectively as the Siwalik Mountains; their height on the territory of Nepal is about 1000 m. In some places they are closely pressed against the ridges of the Himalayas proper, in others they are separated by a strip of wide tectonic valleys - dunes. The Siwalik Mountains fall steeply to the north and south.

The next highest step of the Himalayas is the Lesser Himalayas; they are composed of crystalline Precambrian rocks, as well as highly metamorphosed sedimentary deposits of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Paleogene. This strip is characterized by intense folding, faulting and volcanism. The height of the ridges reaches an average of 3500-4500 m, and individual peaks rise up to 6000 m. In the northwest, the Pir Panjal ridge with a height of more than 6000 m stretches, then to the southeast it is replaced by the Lesser Himalayas proper, which join the Greater Himalayas (Main Himalayas). Himalayan range) high-mountainous powerful massif Dhaulagiri (8221 m). Further to the east, the entire Himalayan system narrows, the zone of the Lesser Himalayas presses against the Main Range, forming the medium-high Mahabharata Mountains, and even further east - the high and highly dissected Duar Mountains.

Between the Small and Great Himalayas stretches a strip of tectonic basins, which in the recent past were occupied by lakes and processed by glaciers. The most famous in the west is the Kashmir Basin at an altitude of 1600 m, with the main city of Kashmir being Srinagar. The existence of a lake that formerly filled the basin is evidenced by terraces well defined on the slopes. Several residual lakes remain on the surface of the flat bottom. The second large basin of the central part of the Himalayas - Kathmandu in Nepal - is located at an altitude of about 1400 m; it contains most of the population of this high mountainous country.

To the north of the basins rise the Great Himalayas, reaching an average height of 6000 m. This is a well-defined alpine ridge, above which the highest peaks of the world rise. At the western end of the Main Range this is the grandiose Nangaparbat massif (8126 m), then there is a series of peaks exceeding 6000 and 7000 m, then eight-thousandth giants rise, covered with snow and ice: Dhaulagiri (8167), Kutang (8126 m), Gosaintan (8013 m) ) etc. Among them, the highest peak of the world, Chomolungma (Everest), with a height of 8848 m, does not even particularly stand out. Kanchenjunga (8598 m), which is only slightly inferior to it, is magnificent and majestic.

The northern slope of the Greater Himalayas is flatter and more accessible than the southern one. The Ladakh ridge with a height of up to 7728 m stretches along it. Many rivers originate on its slopes, which then cross the Main Range. To the north of Ladakh, behind the wide longitudinal valleys of the Indus and Brahmaputra, the marginal ridges of the Tibetan Plateau (Trans-Himalaya) rise.

Useful fossils. The Himalayas are rich in mineral resources. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, placer gold, arsenic and chromium ores. The foothills and intermountain basins contain oil, flammable gases, brown coal, potassium and rock salts.

Climatic conditions. The Himalayas are the largest climate division in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes predominates, to the south - tropical air masses. The summer equatorial monsoon penetrates all the way to the southern slope of the Himalayas. The winds reach such strength there that they make it difficult to climb the highest peaks. Therefore, you can climb Chomolungma only in the spring, during a short period of calm before the onset of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope, winds from the northern or western directions blow throughout the year, coming from the continent, which is supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but is always dry. From northwest to southeast, the Himalayas extend approximately between 35 and 28° N, and the summer monsoon almost does not penetrate into the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All this creates large climatic differences within the Himalayas. The most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the zone of internal tectonic basins and in internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. In some places, annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m, winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m snow occurs throughout the year.

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

Natural water. High altitude and heavy precipitation contribute to the formation of powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snow cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of the glacial tongues have a significant absolute height. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reach no more than 5 km in length. But the further east you go and the more precipitation there is, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. The most powerful glaciation is on Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga, and the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main trunk. The Zemu glacier on Kanchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. The Rongbuk glacier, 19 km long, slides down from Qomolungma and ends at an altitude of 5000 m. The Gangotri glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas reaches 26 km; one of the sources of the Ganges originates from it.

Especially many rivers flow from the southern slope of the mountains. They begin in the glaciers of the Greater Himalayas and, crossing the Lesser Himalayas and the foothills, reach the plain. Some large rivers They originate from the northern slope and, heading towards the Indo-Gangetic Plain, cut through the Himalayas with deep through valleys. These are the Indus, its tributary the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).

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

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

Vegetation. On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal zones from tropical forests to high-mountain tundras are exceptionally pronounced. At the same time, the southern slope is characterized by significant differences in the vegetation cover of the humid and hot eastern part and the drier and colder western part. Along the foot of the mountains from their eastern extremity to the course of the Jamna River stretches a peculiar swampy strip with black silty soils, called the Terai. The Terai are characterized by jungles - dense thickets of trees and shrubs, almost impenetrable in places due to vines and consisting of soap trees, mimosa, bananas, low-growing palm trees, and bamboos. Among the terai there are cleared and drained areas that are used for the cultivation of various tropical crops.

Above the terai, on the damp slopes of the mountains and along river valleys up to an altitude of 1000-1200 m, evergreen tropical forests grow of tall palms, laurels, tree ferns and gigantic bamboos, with many vines (including the rattan palm) and epiphytes. Drier areas are dominated by thinner forests of salwood, which loses its leaves during the dry season, with rich undergrowth and grass cover.

At altitudes above 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to mix with the heat-loving forms of the tropical forest: pines, evergreen oaks, magnolias, maples, chestnuts. At an altitude of 2000 m, subtropical forests give way to temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only occasionally are representatives of subtropical flora, for example, magnificently flowering magnolias found. The upper border of the forest is dominated by conifers, including silver fir, larch, and juniper. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. There are many mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. The subalpine belt replacing forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of shrubs, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and sparse as it moves to the alpine belt. The high-altitude meadow vegetation of the Himalayas is unusually rich in species, including primroses, anemones, poppies and other brightly flowering perennial herbs. The upper limit of the alpine belt in the east reaches an altitude of about 5000 m, but individual plants are found much higher. When climbing Chomolungma, plants were discovered at an altitude of 6218 m.

In the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas, due to lower humidity, there is no such richness and diversity of vegetation; the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is a complete absence of the Terai strip, the lower parts of the mountain slopes are covered with sparse xerophytic forests and bushes, higher up there are some subtropical Mediterranean species like evergreen holm oak and golden olive, and even higher up coniferous forests of pine trees and magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) predominate. The shrub undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but the meadow alpine vegetation is more diverse.

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

Animal world. The landscape differences of the Himalayas are also reflected in the composition of the wild fauna. The diverse and rich fauna of the southern slopes has a distinct tropical character. Many large mammals, reptiles, and insects are common in the forests of the lower slopes and in the terai. Elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalos, wild boars, and antelopes are still found there. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Particularly characteristic are macaques and thin-bodied animals. Of the predators, the most dangerous to the population are tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers). Among the birds, peacocks, pheasants, parrots, and wild chickens stand out for their beauty and brightness of plumage.

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

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

Due to the high altitude of the passes in the Himalayas, communication between the countries of the northern and southern slopes is significantly complicated. Some passes are crossed by dirt roads or caravan trails; there are very few highways in the Himalayas. The passes are accessible only in summer. In winter they are covered with snow and completely impassable.

The inaccessibility of the territory has played a favorable role in preserving the unique mountain landscapes of the Himalayas. Despite the significant agricultural development of low mountains and basins, intensive grazing of livestock on mountain slopes and the ever-increasing influx of climbers from different countries world, the Himalayas remain a refuge for valuable plant and animal species. The real “treasures” are the national parks of India and Nepal - Nandadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan - included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

The Himalayan mountains are the highest in the world. They are located on the territory of several Asian countries and attract tens of thousands of tourists with their grandeur. The local population reveres every peak, so dozens of ceremonies and magical rituals are held annually.

Travelers are attracted by the opportunity to climb one of the peaks, breathe clean air and admire incredible beauty nature.

Information about the Himalayas

Before you go on a trip, you need to carefully study all available information about the Himalayan mountains. Thanks to it, you can better prepare for your trip, choose the shortest route, and also take into account the weather conditions.

Geographical location

The Himalayas are a high mountain system located in the Northern Hemisphere. Due to their large length, they cover an area of ​​more than 1 million square meters. km.

Among the others geographical features highlight:

• total length - 2.3 thousand km;
• the width of the mountains is 1.3 thousand km;
• the average height of the ridges is 6 km;
• time of formation - Cretaceous period;
• the age of the Himalayas is approximately 38 million years;
• coordinates on the map are 28 degrees north latitude and 83 degrees east longitude;
• countries in which the Himalayas are located - Chinese People's Republic, Nepal, India, Kingdom of Bhutan, Pakistan, Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Himalayan mountains are located between the Indo-Gangetic Plain in southern Eurasia and the Tibetan Plateau in the north of the continent. Thanks to this, they are a natural divider between the southern and central part Asia.

Climatic conditions and minerals

According to climatic conditions, the Himalayan mountains can be divided into 2 zones. The mountain folds of the southern part are under the constant influence of monsoons. Because of this, it falls out here a large number of precipitation in the form of rain or snow. The air temperature on the southern slopes ranges from -15 degrees in winter to +10 in summer. As altitude increases, temperatures drop sharply.

The northern part of the Himalayas has a continental climate characterized by dry and cold weather. The air temperature in these areas rarely exceeds 0 degrees. Adding to the harsh conditions are hurricane-force winds that cause irreparable harm to wildlife and local residents.

The average height of the Himalayas above sea level is about 6 thousand meters. Because of this, most of the mountains are covered with glaciers, the area of ​​which is 33 thousand square meters. km.

Among the most extensive glaciers are:

• Zema;
• Gangotri;
• Rongbuk.

As the temperature rises, these and other similar formations begin to melt. The resulting water flows from the peaks and enters the very big rivers continent (Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and others).

The Himalayas are considered one of the youngest mountains on Earth. Their age is only 38 million years. In this indicator, they are inferior even to the Alps, which were formed several million years earlier. Because of this, the Himalayas have relatively few mineral resources. Only copper, gold, gas and oil are mined here.

Flora and fauna

Researchers wildlife who often visit the Himalayan mountains have discovered many interesting features and facts. This is explained by the predominant layered distribution of vegetation in the Himalayas. It is characterized by the presence of swampy jungle at the foot and evergreen tropical forest on the slopes. Closer to the peaks you can find coniferous and deciduous trees. Among the most interesting representatives floras are distinguished:

• dhak tree;
• sal trees;
• tree ferns;
• various types of palm trees;
• magnolias;
• rare varieties of maples;
• chestnuts;
• Himalayan cedars and pines.

Due to complex climatic conditions Quite a few animals live in the Himalayan mountains. Most of them are concentrated on the southern slope and at its foot. This place has more favorable temperature conditions, so there is an opportunity to see several species of wild animals. The most common are:

• Himalayan bear;
• wild horses;
• snow leopard;
• Mountain goat;
• several species of antelope;
• poisonous reptiles;
• pikas, hamsters and other rodents;
• birds (snowcocks, eagles, vultures).

Main attractions

The Himalayan mountains are visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Travelers come to these places to see the amazing mountain ranges, as well as get to know the culture of the local people. To spend unforgettable vacation, you should definitely explore the most interesting sights of the Himalayas.

Highest peaks

The Himalayas have become popular among tourists due to their highest peaks. Among them there are 14 peaks, the height of which exceeds 8 thousand meters. This is not the case in any other mountain system, so climbers from all over the planet come here.

Highest peaks:

1. Chomolungma (8848 m). Another name for the most famous point of the Himalayas is Everest. This mountain peak is located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. autonomous region. It is part of the Sagarmatha National Park and is its main attraction. This place is considered the capital of mountaineering. The most famous and experienced climbers come here, but not every one of them conquers the famous peak.
2. Chogori (8611 m). This mountain is only a few hundred meters lower than Everest. Despite this, climbers often forget about it and give preference to Chomolungma. Chogori is located on the border of Kashmir (a disputed territory) and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, so climbers often have difficulty entering these regions. It was possible to conquer the peak only in the summer. All attempts during the cold season ended in serious health problems or death.
3. Kanchenjunga (8586 m). This one is located mountain range on the border of Nepal and the state of Sikkim (India). It includes 5 high peaks, most of which reach a height of 8 thousand meters. Kanchenjunga is the main natural object the national park of the same name, which is visited annually by several tens of thousands of tourists. Climbing one of the peaks is considered very dangerous and in every fifth case leads to the death of the climber.
4. Lhotse (8516 m). This mountain is located just a few kilometers from Everest. One part of it is located in Nepal, and the other in Tibet. The peak is considered one of the most difficult to climb, therefore it is the absolute leader (among eight-thousanders) in terms of the number of unsuccessful attempts.

Famous natural sites

The Himalayan mountains are popular among tourists. Every traveler has the opportunity to go on an excursion to numerous national parks and to look natural attractions:

1. Lake Prashar. The famous alpine reservoir is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh (India). It got its name in honor of an ancient sage who, after meditation, could perform miracles. There is a small floating island in the center of the lake, and an old temple on the shore. The reservoir is considered holy, so only a few people have access to it. A tourist can take a photograph of the object and wash himself with water specially brought by the clergy.
2. Pangong Tso Lake. This is one of the largest and most beautiful salt water bodies of the Asian continent. Around it there are dense forests in which you can find several species of rare plants, as well as see many animals (kiangas, marmots, seagulls, bar-headed geese, Brahman ducks). Famous Indian films are often filmed here, so every traveler has the opportunity to meet popular Bollywood actors.
3. Indus River One of the main waterways of Asia originates in the Himalayas. The river delta is considered the largest in the world. Every tourist has the opportunity to go fishing, admire the beautiful landscape, and also meet representatives of the local fauna. The river is home to a rare species of dolphins, which is listed in the Red Book. Due to climate change and the lack of large amounts of precipitation, the river is gradually becoming shallower, causing irreparable harm to the entire ecosystem.
4. The Kullu Valley (Himachal-Pralesh state, India) is located at an altitude of 1280 m above sea level, so it has all the conditions for a comfortable life for mammals and reptiles. The Beas River flows through the valley, on the banks of which there are several settlements. Local residents are engaged in agriculture, growing fruits and vegetables. The tourist's attention can be attracted by numerous ancient temples and other architectural structures.
5. Valley of Flowers National Park. This protected area is located in one of the highest regions of the western Himalayas. In a small valley, which is quite difficult to reach, hundreds of species of flowers grow. Some of them cannot be found in any other corner of the world. Since 1988 national park included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

Architectural monuments

The first people appeared in the Himalayas several thousand years ago. They began to build temples and architectural objects that attract the attention of travelers:

1. Peace Pagoda. This building was built several centuries ago on the top of one of the hills located high in the Himalayas. The religious building serves as a place for prayer and meditation for followers of Buddhism. Leads to the object beautiful staircase, lifting people to quite high heights. Tourists have the opportunity to see the city of Lech from a bird's eye view and admire the surrounding forests.
2. Pemayangze Monastery was built in the 17th century and was intended only for monks of the highest rank. Anyone can visit this building. Despite the not very attractive facade, the interior decoration is striking in luxury. Here you can see unique contour frescoes, columns, as well as figurines of gods and demons.
3. Ghum Monastery was built at the foot of the Himalayas, on the border of India and Nepal. Travelers will love the appearance of the building, which is a multi-colored three-tier structure. Inside there is a statue of Buddha sitting on the ground. This monastery is home to several people who perform their sacred duties every day.
4. The holy city of Manikaran is located in the Parvati Valley, located at an altitude of about 1.7 thousand meters above sea level. The main attraction of the museum under open air is a Sikh temple Gurudwara. Any foreigner can enter it, but to do this they will need to take off their shoes and cover their heads.
5. Dr. Graham's House is a large educational complex that was built in the early years of the 20th century. At that time, its owner was John Graham, who taught children writing, religion and love of nature for free. The main feature of this institution was that boys and girls were not divided into groups, but were given the opportunity to study together. In the 21st century, the complex became a museum. Having visited it, you can see the classrooms in which children studied, recreation rooms, as well as a church for worship.

The Himalayas are a special mountain system that attracts the attention of tourists and lovers extreme species sports Here you have the opportunity to get an adrenaline rush, test your strength, and meet one-on-one with wild nature.

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. Unique natural heritage and the 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 mountain slopes is their steepness and peaks in the form of a peak or ridge, covered eternal ice and snow and occupy 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 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. Main water sources 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 provide big 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 rainfall Indian Ocean, which then fall 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 earn their 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 mountain range The Himalayas, namely in North-East 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 has gained popularity in late XIX 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 highest point planets. 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.

For more high level(up to 2.5 km) the mountainous 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. Animal world also varied. 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.