Himalayas - 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 Himalayan mountains, formed the bottom of the ancient Tethys praocean. The peaks began to gradually rise above the water as a result of the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Asian mainland. The growth process of the Himalayas took many millions of years, and not a single mountain system in the world can compare with them in terms of the number of peaks - "seven-thousanders" and "eight-thousanders".

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 took place in several stages, according to which the regions of the Shivalik Mountains (Anti-Himalayas), the Lesser Himalayas and the Greater Himalayas are distinguished. The Great Himalayas were the first to break through the water surface, the hypothetical age of which 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” mountains of Shivalik saw the sowing.

It is interesting that people climbed the Himalayas in ancient times. First of all, because these mountains have long been endowed with magical properties. According to ancient Buddhist and Hindu legends, many mythological creatures lived here. In classical Hinduism, it is generally accepted that Shiva and his wife once lived in the Himalayas. Shiva is the god of creative destruction, one of the three most revered gods in Hinduism. If Shiva is a kind of reformer, 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 appeared in the rugged Himalayas, connecting China and India. Some of these routes still play an important role in the trade of these two countries (of course, these days we are not talking about multi-day foot crossings, but about road transport). In the 30s of the XX century. the idea was to make transport connection more convenient for what you need to pave railway through the Himalayas, but the project was never implemented.
Nevertheless, 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 could not determine the height of the main peaks, nor make accurate topographic maps. But the ordeal only fueled the interest and enthusiasm of European scientists and researchers.
In the middle of the 19th century, attempts began to conquer the highest peak in the world - (Chomolungma). But the great mountain, towering 8848 meters above the earth, could give victory only to the strongest. After countless unsuccessful expeditions, on May 29, 1953, a man finally managed to reach the summit of Everest: the first to overcome the most difficult route was lucky to be the 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, in the holy Himalayan places there are temples to the glory of the deities, with whose deeds this or that place is associated. So, 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 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 level of humidity is extremely high and the average rainfall can reach 5500 mm per year. Here, like layers of a pie, zones of swampy jungle (the so-called terai), tropical thickets, stripes of evergreen and coniferous plants replace each other.
Many sites in the Himalayan mountains are under state protection. One of the most important and at the same time the most difficult to pass is the Sagarmatha National Park. Everest is located on its territory. In the western region of the Himalayas, the possessions of the Nanda Devi reserve stretch, which since 2005 has included the Valley of Flowers, which enchants with a natural palette of colors and shades. It is kept by vast meadows full of delicate alpine flowers. Among this magnificence, far from human eyes, rare species of predators live, 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 high-class Indian mountain climatic resorts (Shimla, Darjeeling, Shillong). Here, in an atmosphere of complete peace and detachment from the hustle and bustle, you can not only enjoy breathtaking mountain views and air, but also play golf or ride a skiing(Although most Himalayan trails are "expert" trails, there are also trails for beginners on the western slopes.)
Not only lovers of outdoor recreation and exotics come to the Himalayas, but also seekers of real, unprogrammed adventures. Since the first ever successful ascent of Everest's slopes became known to the world, thousands of climbers of all ages and skill levels have come to the Himalayas every year to test their strength and skills here. 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, the journey to the top of Chomolungma can be a difficult test: in some areas, the temperature drops to -60ºС, and the speed of the icy wind can reach 200 m/s. Those who ventured on such a difficult transition have to endure the vagaries of mountain weather and hardships for more than one week: the guests of Chomolungma have every chance to spend about two months in the mountains.

general information

The highest mountain system in the world. It is 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).
Major rivers: Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges.

Major airport: international Airport Kathmandu.

Numbers

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

Area: about 650,000 km2.

Average height: 6000 m.

The most high point: Mount Everest (Chomolungma), 8848 m.

Economy

Agriculture: tea and rice plantations, cultivation of corn, cereals; animal husbandry.

Services: 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 rainfall: 1000-5500 mm.

Attractions

Kathmandu

The temple complexes of Budanilkanth, 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 ascents, a native of Nepal, Min Bahadur Shirchan, who at that time was 76 years old, overcame the path to the top. There were times when very young travelers took part in the expeditions. The last record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who climbed in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him, the fifteen-year-old Sherpa Tembu Tsheri was considered the youngest guest of Chomolungma).

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

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

The Himalayas are replete with a huge number of rocky, almost vertical slopes that are very difficult to climb, you have to use all sorts of technical devices in the form of hammered hooks, ropes, special ladders and other climbing equipment. Often, rocky ledges alternate with deep cracks, and so much snow settles on the slopes of the mountains that it eventually compresses and turns into glaciers that close these cracks, which makes passing through these places deadly. It is not uncommon for snow and ice to converge, which, rushing down, turn into huge avalanches that demolish everything in their path and can crush climbers in seconds.

The air temperature in the Himalayas, when climbing to a height, decreases by about 6 degrees for every 1000 meters. So if at the foot of the summer the temperature is +25, then at an altitude of 5000 meters it will be about -5.

At altitude, the movement of air masses is usually intensified, often turning into a hurricane wind, which makes movement very difficult, and sometimes makes it impossible, especially on narrow crests of mountain ranges.

Starting from 5000 meters, the atmosphere contains about half the oxygen at sea level that the human body is accustomed to. The lack of oxygen has a detrimental effect on the human body, sharply reduces its physical capabilities and leads to the development of the so-called mountain sickness - shortness of breath, dizziness, chills and interruptions in the work of the heart. Therefore, usually at this altitude, the human body needs time to acclimatize.

At an altitude of 6000 meters the atmosphere is so rarefied and poor in oxygen that complete acclimatization is no longer possible. No matter how much physical stress a person experiences, he slowly begins to suffocate. Climbing to a height of 7000 meters is already deadly for many, at such a height consciousness begins to get confused and it even becomes difficult to think. The height of 8000 meters is called the "death zone". Here even the strongest climbers can survive for only a few days at best. Therefore, all high-altitude ascents are carried out using breathing oxygen apparatus.

But the representatives of the Nepalese tribe of Sherpas, who permanently live in the Himalayas, feel quite comfortable at the height, and therefore, as soon as the Europeans began to “explore” the mountain peaks of the Himalayas, the men of this tribe began to work on expeditions as guides and porters, receiving payment for this. Over time, this became their main profession. By the way, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, paired with Edmund Hillary, were the first to climb the Himalayas - Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

But all these sometimes deadly dangers did not stop mountaineering enthusiasts. It took more than one decade for all these peaks to be conquered. Here is a brief chorology of climbing the highest mountains of our planet.

June 3, 1950 - Annapurna

French climbers Maurice Herzog, Louis Lachenal climbed the Annapurna peak, whose height is 8091 meters. Anapurna is considered the seventh highest mountain in the world. Located in Nepal, in the Himalayas, east of the Gandaki River, which flows through the deepest gorge in the world. The gorge separates Annapurna and another eight-thousander Dhaulagiri.

Climbing Anapurna is considered one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Moreover, this is the only conquest of the eight-thousander that was made the first time, and besides, without oxygen apparatus. However, their feat came at a high price. Since they were shod only in leather boots, Erzog froze all his toes and because of the onset of gangrene, the expedition doctor was forced to amputate them. For all the time, only 191 people successfully climbed Annapurna, which is less than any other eight-thousanders. Climbing Annapurna is considered the most dangerous, with a fatality rate of 32 percent, like no other eight-thousander.

1953, May 29 - Everest "Chomolungma"

Members of the English expedition, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Norgay Tenzing, were the first to conquer Everest, a peak with a height of 8848 m. In Tibetan, this mountain is called Chomolungma, which means “Goddess Mother of the Snows.” Her Nepalese name is Sagarmatha, meaning "Mother of the Universe". This is the highest mountain in the world. on the border between Nepal and China.

Everest is a triangular pyramid with three sides and ridges that extend northeast, southeast, and northwest. The southeast ridge is more gentle and is the most widely used climbing route. It was this route to the summit through the Khumbu Glacier, the Valley of Silence, from the foot of Lhotse through the South Col, that Hillary and Tenzing made their first ascent. And for the first time, the British tried to climb Everest back in 1921. They then could not go from the south side, due to the ban of the Nepalese authorities, and tried to rise from the north, from the side of Tibet. To do this, they had to go around the entire mountain range of Chomolungma, passing more than 400 kilometers to get to the top from China. But the time for the detour was lost and the monsoons that began did not make it possible to carry out the ascent. After them, the second attempt on the same route was made in 1924 by British climbers George Lee Mallory and Andrew Irvine, which was also unsuccessful, ending in the death of both at an altitude of 8500 meters.

Despite its reputation for being extremely dangerous mountain The commercialized climbing of Everest has made it a very popular pastime for tourists over the past few decades. According to the latest data, 5656 successful ascents were made to Everest, at the same time, 223 people died. Mortality was about 4 percent.

July 3, 1953 - Nanga Parbat

The peak is located in northern Pakistan in the western part of the Himalayas. This is the ninth highest eight-thousander, 8126 meters. This peak has such steep slopes that even snow does not hold on its top. Nangaparbat means "Naked Mountain" in Urdu. The first to climb the peak was the Austrian climber Hermann Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian Himalayan expedition. He made the ascent alone, without an oxygen apparatus. The time of ascent to the summit was 17 hours, and with the descent 41 hours. It was the first successful ascent in 20 years of attempts, before that 31 climbers had already died there.

According to the latest data, a total of 335 successful ascents have been made on Nanga Parbat. 68 climbers died. The lethality is about 20 percent, which makes it the third most dangerous eight-thousander.

July 31, 1954 - Chogori, K2, Dapsang

The first to summit K2, the second highest peak in the world, was the Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. Although attempts to conquer K2 began in 1902.

Chogori Peak or Dapsang in another way - 8611 meters high, is located on the Baltoro Muztag ridge in the Karakorum mountain range, on the border of Pakistan and China. This mountain received an unusual name K2 in the 19th century, when a British expedition measured the heights of the Himalayas and Karakoram peaks. Each newly measured peak was given a serial number. K2 was the second mountain they stumbled upon and the name has stuck with it ever since. The locals call this Lamba Pahar, which means "High Mountain". Despite the fact that K2 is lower than Everest, climbing it proved to be more difficult. For all the time on K2 there were only 306 successful ascents. 81 people died while trying to climb. Mortality is about 29 percent. K2 is not rarely called a killer mountain

October 19, 1954 - Cho Oyu

The first to climb the peak were members of the Austrian expedition: Herbert Tichy, Josef Yohler and Sherpa Pazang Dawa Lama. The peak of Cho Oyu is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal, in the Mahalangur Himal mountain range, mountain range Chomolungma, about 20 km west of Mount Everest.

Cho-Oyu, in Tibetan means "Goddess of Turquoise". It has a height of 8201 meters, it is the sixth highest eight-thousander. A few kilometers west of Cho Oyu is the Nangpa-La pass, 5716 m high. This pass is the passage from Nepal to Tibet, laid by the Sherpas as the only trading trail. Because of this pass, many climbers consider Cho Oyu the easiest eight-thousander. This is partly true, because all ascents are made from the side of Tibet. And from the side of Nepal south wall so difficult that only a few managed to conquer.

A total of 3,138 people have successfully climbed Cho Oyu, more than any other peak except Everest. Mortality 1%, less than any other. It is considered the safest eight-thousander.

May 15, 1955 - Makalu

For the first time, the Frenchmen Jean Kuzi and Lionel Terre ascended the summit of Makalu. Climbing Makalu was the only one in the history of conquering eight-thousanders, when all nine members of the expedition, including the senior group of Sherpa guides, reached the summit. This happened not because Makalu is such an easy mountain, but because the weather turned out to be extremely successful and nothing prevented the climbers from achieving this triumph.

At 8485 meters, Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world, located just 20 kilometers southeast of Everest. Makalu means "Big Black" in Tibetan. Such unusual name given to this mountain because its slopes are very steep and the snow simply does not hold on them, so it remains bare for most of the year.

Defeating Makalu proved difficult enough. In 1954, an American team led by Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Everest, tried to do this, but they did not succeed. And only the French, after a lot of preparatory work and well-coordinated work of the team, managed to accomplish this. In total, 361 people successfully climbed Makalu, while 31 people died while trying to climb. The lethality of ascents to Makalu is about 9 percent.

May 25, 1955 - Kanchenjunga

British climbers George Band and Joe Brown were the first to successfully climb Kangchenjunga. Before climbing, local residents warned climbers that a Sikkimese god lives on the top of this mountain and should not be disturbed. They refused to accompany the expedition and the British climbed on their own. But either due to superstition, or for some other reason, having risen to the top, they did not reach the very top for several feet, considering that the peak was conquered.

Kanchenjunga is located on the border of Nepal and India, about 120 kilometers south of Everest. The name "Kanchenjunga" in Tibetan means "Treasury of the five great snows." Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was considered the most high mountain in the world. But after Everest and other eight-thousanders were measured, it turned out that it is the third highest peak in the world, its height is 8586 meters.

Another legend that exists in Nepal says that Kanchenjunga is a woman mountain. And women can not go to her on pain of death. Of course, climbers are not superstitious people, but nevertheless, only one female climber, Englishwoman Ginette Harrison, has climbed to its top for all the time. No matter what, but a year and a half later, Ginette Harrison died while climbing Dhaulagiri. For all the time, 283 climbers have successfully climbed Kanchenjunga. Of those who tried to rise, 40 people died. The lethality of climbing is about 15 percent.

May 9, 1956 - Manaslu

Mountain height of 8163 meters, the eighth highest eight-thousander. There have been several attempts to climb this peak. For the first time in 1952, when the Swiss and French teams entered the championship of Everest in addition to the British, the Japanese decided to conquer Manaslu Peak, located in Nepal, about 35 kilometers east of Annapurna. They scouted all the approaches and mapped out the route. The following year, 1953, they began to climb. But the blizzard that broke out broke all their plans and they were forced to retreat.

When they returned in 1954, the local Nepalese took up arms against them, referring to the fact that the Japanese had defiled the gods and provoked their anger, because after the departure of the previous expedition, misfortunes befell their village: there was an epidemic, crop failure, the temple collapsed and three priests died. Armed with sticks and stones, they drove the Japanese away from the mountain. In 1955, a special delegation arrived from Japan to settle the matter with the locals. And only in the next year 1956, having paid 7,000 rupees for damages and 4,000 rupees for the construction of a new temple and arranging a big holiday for the village population, the Japanese received permission to climb. Thanks to fine weather, Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and Sirdar Sherpa Gyaltsen Norbu climbed the peak on May 9. Manaslu remains one of the most dangerous eight-thousanders. In total, there were 661 successful ascents of Manaslu, sixty-five climbers died during the ascent. Climbing mortality is about 10 percent.

May 18, 1956 - Lhotse

Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss, members of the Swiss team, became the first people to climb the 8,516-metre-high Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world.

Lhotse Peak is located on the border of Nepal and China, a few kilometers south of Everest. These two peaks are connected by a vertical ridge, the so-called South Col, the height of which is over 8000 meters throughout. Usually climbing is carried out along the western, more gentle slope. But in 1990, the Soviet Union team climbed the south side, previously considered completely inaccessible, as it is a 3300-meter almost vertical wall. In total, 461 successful ascents were made on Lhotse. For all the time, 13 climbers died there, the mortality rate is about 3 percent.

July 8, 1956 - Gasherbrum II

Peak with a height of 8034 meters, the thirteenth highest mountain in the world. Gasherbrum II was first climbed by Austrian climbers Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart. They summited on the south side along the southwest ridge. Before climbing the peak itself, rising to a height of 7500 meters, they set up a temporary camp for the night, and then went on the assault early in the morning. It was a completely new, untested approach to climbing, which subsequently began to be used by climbers in many countries.

Gasherbrum II is the second of the four peaks of Gasherbrum in the Karakorum on the border between Pakistan and China, about 10 kilometers southeast of K2. The Baltoro Muztag ridge, which includes Gasherbrum II, is known for the longest Karakoram glacier, more than 62 kilometers long. This was the reason for the fact that many climbers descended almost from the very top of Gasherbrum II on skis, snowboards and even with a parachute. Gasherbrum II is considered one of the safest and lightest eight-thousanders. Gasherbrum II has been successfully climbed by 930 climbers and only 21 people have died in unsuccessful attempts to climb. Climbing mortality is about 2 percent.

June 9, 1957 - Broad Peak

Mountain height of 8051 meters, the twelfth highest eight-thousander. The first time the Germans tried to climb Broad Peak was in 1954, but due to low temperatures and stormy winds, their efforts were unsuccessful. Austrian climbers Fritz Wintersteller, Markus Schmuck and Kurt Dimberger were the first to climb the peak. The ascent was carried out on the southwestern side. The expedition did not use the services of porters and all the property was lifted by the participants themselves, which was quite a challenge.

Broad Peak or "Jangiyang" is located on the border between China and Pakistan, a few kilometers southeast of K2. This area is still little studied and geographers hope that over time it can gain sufficient popularity. For all the time there were 404 successful ascents on Broad Peak. They were unsuccessful for 21 climbers who died while trying to climb. Climbing mortality is about 5 percent.

July 5, 1958 - Gasherbrum I "Hidden Peak"

The mountain is 8080 meters high. The peak belongs to the Gasherbrum-Karakorum mountain range. Attempts to climb Hidden Peak began a long time ago. In 1934, members of the international expedition were only able to climb to a height of 6300 meters. In 1936, French climbers overcame the line of 6900 meters. And only two years later, the Americans Andrew Kaufman and Pete Schoening climb to the top of Hidden Peak.

Gasherbrum I or Hidden Peak, the eleventh highest eight-thousander in the world, one of the seven peaks of the Gasherbrum massif is located in Kashmir in the Pakistan-controlled Northern Region on the border with China. Gasherbrum is translated from the local language as “Polished Wall”, and it fully corresponds to this name. Because of its steep, almost polished, rocky slopes, climbing it has been rejected by many. A total of 334 people have successfully climbed the peak, while 29 climbers have died attempting the ascent. Climbing mortality is about 9 percent.

May 13, 1960 - Dhaulagiri I

"White Mountain" - 8167 meters high, the seventh highest of the eight-thousanders. Members of the European national team were the first to reach the summit: Dimberger, Shelbert, Diener, Forer and Nyima and Navang Sherpas. For the first time, an aircraft was used to deliver expedition members and equipment. On " white mountain"Paid attention back in 1950 by the French, members of the 1950 expedition. But then it seemed to them not accessible and they switched to Annapurna.

Dhaulagiri I is located in Nepal, 13 kilometers from Annapurna, and the Argentines tried to climb to its peak back in 1954. But due to a strong blizzard, only 170 meters did not reach the summit. Although Dhaulagiri is only the sixth tallest by the standards of the Himalayas, it is quite a tough nut to crack. So in 1969, the Americans, while trying to climb, left seven of their comrades on the southeast ridge. In total, 448 people successfully climbed the summit of Dhaulagiri I, but 69 climbers died during unsuccessful attempts. Climbing fatality is about 16 percent.

May 2, 1964 - Shishabangma

Peak with a height of 8027 meters. The first to conquer Shishabangma were eight Chinese climbers: Xu Jing, Zhang Zhunyan, Wang Fuzhou, Zhen San, Zheng Tianliang, Wu Zongyue, Sodnam Dozhi, Migmar Trashi, Dozhi, Yongten. For a long time, climbing this peak was prohibited by the Chinese authorities. And only after the Chinese themselves climbed to its top, it became possible for foreign climbers to participate in ascents.

The Shishabangma mountain range, in Chinese "Geosenzhanfeng", in Indian "Gosaintan" is located in China in the Tibet Autonomous Region, a few kilometers from the Nepalese border. It consists of three peaks, two of which are higher than 8 kilometers. Shishabangma Main 8027 meters and Shishabangma Central 8008 meters. In the program "All 14 eight-thousanders of the world" there is an ascent to the main peak. In total there were 302 successful ascents of Shishabanga. Twenty-five people died trying to climb to the top. Climbing mortality is about 8 percent.

As can be seen from the chronology of ascents to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, it took more than 40 years to conquer them. Moreover, according to the analysis of the Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering, the most dangerous of all are: Annapurna, K2, and Nanga Parbat. On the ascents of these three peaks, the Himalayas took the life of every fourth person who encroached not on their impregnability.

And yet, despite all these mortal dangers, there are people who have conquered all the eight-thousanders. The first of these was Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer, a German by nationality from South Tyrol. And although already during the first ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1970, his brother Gunther died, and he himself lost seven toes; in the second ascent of Manaslu in 1972, his partner in a bunch died, this did not stop him. From 1970 to 1986 he climbed all 14 highest peaks of the Zamli one by one. Moreover, he climbed Everest twice, In 1978, together with Peter Habeler along the classic route through the South Col, and in 1980 alone along the northern route, moreover, during the monsoon season. Both ascents without the use of oxygen apparatus.

In total, there are already 32 people in the world who have conquered all 14 eight-thousanders, and these are certainly not the last people who are waiting for the Himalayas.

Himalayas: the highest mountains in the world

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

Geographic location

The Himalayas are located on the territory of five states:

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

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

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

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

Huge rivers originate in the Himalayas and highlands of Tibet:

• Ganges;
• Yamuna.

The tops of the mountains are unsuitable for human life due to the harsh climate: cold, lack of oxygen, and strong winds. In the valleys between the mountains there is a small number of settlements, with few inhabitants.

The local population lives off tourism and accompanying climbers who wish to see or conquer the mountain peaks.

Local religions and beliefs

The main religions of the Himalayan inhabitants are:

• Islam;
• Buddhism;
• Hinduism.

Story about Bigfoot living somewhere in the mountains has become the most popular myth in the Himalayas.

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

The highest mountains of the Himalayas:

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

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

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

Vegetation

Vegetation in the Himalayas varies with altitude:

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

The purest plants for medicine grow exclusively in the foothills.

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

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

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

In the article we will consider where the Himalayas are located, on the territory of which states the mountain range is located and who lives in this territory.

Kingdom of snow

The pictures of the Himalayan peaks are breathtaking. Many will easily give an answer to the question of where on our planet these giants are located.

The map shows that they are located on a vast territory: starting from the northern hemisphere and ending, they cross South Asia and the Indo-Gangetic plain along the way. 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. Indians, Nepalese, Chinese, and residents of Bhutan, and Pakistan, and the northern side of Bangladesh can boast of the Himalayas.

How the Himalayas appeared and developed

This system of mountains, from the point of view of geology, is quite young. It has been assigned to Himalaya coordinates: 27°59′17″ North and 86°55′31″ East

There are two phenomena that influenced the appearance of mountains:

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

Dimensions of the Himalayan peaks

This mountain system includes 10 of the 14 highest mountains on Earth, which exceeded the mark of 8 km. The highest of them is Mount Chomolungma (Everest) - 8,848 meters up. On average, all the 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 formed 3 main levels, each of which is higher than the previous one.

Description of the Himalayan steps, starting with the smallest in height:

1. The Sivalik Range is the southernmost, lowest and youngest level. Its length is 1 km 700 meters between the lowlands of the Indus and the Brahmaputra, and its width is from 10 to 50 km. The height of the Sivalik hill does not exceed 2 km. This mountain range is located mainly on the land of Nepal, capturing the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
2. The Lesser Himalayas is the second step, going in the same direction as Sivalik, only closer to the north. On average, their height is about 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 Great Himalayas is 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 on an area of ​​​​more than 33 thousand km 2. They contain fresh water in the amount of about 12 thousand km 3. The largest and most famous glacier - Gangotri - the beginning of the Indian river Ganges.

Himalayan water system

The three largest South Asian rivers - the Indus, the Brahmaputra and the Ganges - begin their journey in the Himalayas. The western Himalayan rivers are included in the catchment of the Indus River, and all others are adjacent to the Brahmaputra-Gangetic basin. The easternmost side of the Himalayas belongs to the system. Also in this mountainous 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 around 1919 m, and is considered one of the highest mountains 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 are the Zema, Gangotri and Rongbuk glaciers.

Weather

The weather in the mountains is changeable, it is affected by geographical position Himalayas, their vast territory.

• On the south side, under the monsoon influence, a lot of precipitation falls in the summer - up to 4 meters in the east, up to 1 meter per year in the west, and almost never in winter.
• In the north, on the contrary, there is almost no rain at all; a continental climate prevails here, cold and dry. High in the mountains, severe frosts and increased winds occur. The air temperature is below -40 o C.

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

The Himalayan mountain structure also affects the weather of the entire region. The mountains act as a protection against 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.

In Tibet, the weather is very dry, because all the monsoon winds blowing from the south and bringing a lot of rain cannot cross the high mountains. All moisture-containing volumes of air settle in them.

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

Flora and fauna

Flora directly depends on the height of the Himalayas.

• The base of the Sivalik Range is covered with swampy forests and terai (a kind of growth).
• A little higher green dense forests with a high tree stand begin, there are deciduous and coniferous plants. Further there are mountain meadows covered with thick grass.
• Forests, which consist of deciduous trees and small shrubs, dominate above 2 km. And coniferous forests - more than 2 km 600 meters.
• Above 3 km 500 meters the kingdom of bushes begins.
• On the slopes from the north, 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.

• Live in the southern tropics wild elephants, antelopes, tigers, rhinos and leopards, a very large number of monkeys.
• A little higher live the famous Himalayan bears, mountain sheep and goats, yaks.
• And even higher sometimes there are snow leopards.

There are many nature reserves in the Himalayas. For example, national park Sagarmatha.

Population

A significant part of the people lives in the southern Himalayas, the height of which 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 is difficult to get into these places, people for a long time lived in isolated tribes with little contact with neighboring ones. Often in winter, the inhabitants of a hollow turned out to be completely isolated from others, because it was impossible to get to their neighbors because of the snow blockages in the mountains.

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

Religious views also differ: some praise the Buddha, while others bow to Hinduism.

The inhabitants of the Himalayas - Sherpas - live high in the mountains of Eastern Nepal, including the region of Everest. They often earn extra money as assistants on expeditions: they show the way and carry things. They have perfectly adapted to the height, so even at the highest points of this mountain system they do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. Apparently, it betrays them at the genetic level.

The inhabitants of the Himalayas are mainly engaged in agricultural work. If the plots of land are relatively flat and there is sufficient water in reserve, then farmers successfully grow potatoes, rice, peas, oats and barley. Where the climate is warmer, such as in the basins, lemons, oranges, apricots, tea and grapes grow. High in the mountains, the inhabitants keep yaks, sheep and goats. Yaks carry goods, 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 city of Hardwar or "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 into the plain.

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

tourist travel

In the Himalayas, sports such as climbing and hiking along mountain paths are very popular.

The most popular tracks include:

1. A well-known path near Annapurna passes the slopes of the Annapurna mountain range in northern Nepal. The length of the journey is about 211 km. In height, it varies from 800 m to 5 km 416 meters. On the way, tourists can admire the high-altitude 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 preparation of the tourist, the time of year and the weather affect the time of passing these paths. It is dangerous for an unprepared person to immediately climb to a height, as "mountain sickness" may begin. Besides, it's unsafe. You need to prepare well, purchase special equipment for mountaineering.

Almost every person knows where the Himalayas are and wants to go there. Traveling to the mountains attracts tourists from different countries, including from Russia. Remember that climbing is best done in the warm season, best of all in autumn or spring. In the summer it rains in the Himalayas, and in the winter it is very cold and impassable.

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

Where are the Himalayas

About 70 million years ago, two giant tectonic plates collided - the Indo-American and the Eurasian. A powerful push marked the beginning of 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 continent of Eurasia, in the Asian part. They border in the north with the Tibetan Plateau, in the south - with the Indo-Gangetic plain. The length of the system is more than 2400 km, the width reaches 350 km. Adjacent to the southern part of the Himalayas are the so-called Pre-Himalayas - the smaller Sivalik Mountains. This mountain system contains many of the highest peaks in the world. The average height of the mountain ranges of the Himalayas is 6000 meters. The highest is the famous Mount Everest (otherwise - Chomolungma, 8848 meters). And this, as we probably remember, is the highest point on our planet.

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

We already have the first data, namely, where the Himalayas are located. More specifically, about countries with a mountainous landscape on their territory, further.

Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas

Since the borders of the countries are divided almost regardless of the relief features, the mountain ranges of the Himalayas 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 plot of a beautiful natural formation.

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

The Himalayas have already revealed the first secrets to us: where are they, a country (even several), which has mountainous areas on its territory. More about climatic conditions in 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 shrubs and grasslands. The northern slopes are not so rich and varied. Their surfaces are semi-deserts and mountain steppes. The ridges of the Himalayan ranges are of the Alpine type - sharp, steep. Huge glaciers lie on them in an unmeasured amount.

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 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 highest amount of precipitation on the planet. This happens because the mountains delay precipitation moving with air masses from indian ocean, and they fall out at their foot. 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. And what about the inhabitants of the mountain system?

Inhabitants of the mountain system

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

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

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

In addition to knowing where the Himalayas are, several other features of this corner of the planet will also be of interest. That this is the most impregnable, the highest (by average) mountain system in the world, we know about the Himalayas. 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 never melts here. By 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 areas of the mountains, Hindus are sure that they are the haven of their god Shiva.

Mount Everest (Chomolungma) is the highest in the world (above sea level). She is associated with triumph. Extreme people from all over the world are literally trying to climb 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). To conquer them all is the dream of professional climbers.

On this, our article about where the Himalayas are located and what this mountain system is, comes to an end.

Conclusion

"The abode of the snows", the Himalayas are mountains to which the prefix "most" is firmly attached. The highest, most impregnable... And people tend 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 harsh. However, brave travelers should try to become friends with the "under heaven". Yes, indeed "under heaven", because the sky is so close here!

Since 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 imagines where, in fact, the Himalayas are located? In recent years, mountain tourism has become very popular, and if you are fond of it, then this miracle of nature - the Himalayas, is definitely worth a visit!

And these mountains are located on the territory of five states: India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Total length the largest mountain system on our planet is 2400 kilometers, and its width is 350 kilometers. In terms of height, many peaks of the Himalayas are champions. Here are the ten highest peaks on the planet, with a height of more than eight thousand meters.

- Everest or Chomolungma with a height of 8848 meters above sea level. highest mountain in the Himalayas, it was submitted to man only in 1953. All climbs that were before were unsuccessful, because the slopes of the mountain are very steep and dangerous. Strong winds blow at the top, which, combined with very low night temperatures, are difficult tests 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 haven for monks who preach Buddhism and Hinduism. Their monasteries in in large numbers located in the Himalayas in India and Nepal. Pilgrims, followers of these religions and just tourists flock here from all over the world. Thanks to this, the Himalayas in these regions are very visited.

But ski tourism in the Himalayas is not popular, since there are no suitable gentle slopes for skiing, which 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 can only be done by a hardy and strong spirit. And if you have these forces in reserve, then you should definitely go to India or Nepal. Here you can visit the most beautiful temples and monasteries spread on the 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 the huge amount of the unknown that these gigantic peaks conceal.

Where are the Himalayas located?

The Himalayan mountain range passes through the territory of five states - this India, China, Pakistan, Nepal and 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 main number of "eight-thousanders" is located - mountain peaks, the height of which exceeds the mark of 8 kilometers. Of the 14 such 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 inaccessible mountains of the planet are the Himalayas. The name comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit, and literally means "Snow House". They are located on the continent in a giant loop, serving as a kind of border between Central and South Asia. The length of mountain ranges from west to east is slightly less than 3 thousand km, and the total area of ​​the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square meters. km.

The entire mountain range of the Himalayas consists of three peculiar steps:

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

Mount Chomolungma, she is Everest

The highest point in the world, located on the border of Nepal and China - Mount Chomolungma. However, it has several names and some variation in the assessment of its height. The names of this mountain top in local dialects they have always been associated with the divinity of its origin: Chomolungma in Tibetan, literally - “Divine”, in Nepal she is called the “Mother of the Gods” - Sagarmatha. There is another beautiful Tibetan name - "Mother - the queen of snow-white snows" - Chomo-Kankar. For Europeans, these names were too complicated, and in 1856 they called the mountain an Anglicized name. Everest, in honor of Sir George Everest, head of the British Colonial Geodetic Survey.

Official today Everest height - 8848 meters, taking into account the ice cap, and 8844 meters - the top of hard rock. But these indicators have changed several times in one direction or another. So, the first measurement, carried out in the middle of the 19th century, showed 29,000 feet (8839 meters). However, the scientific surveyors did not like the fact that the number was too round, 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. So two more values ​​\u200b\u200bappeared - 8850 and even 8872 meters. However, these values ​​have not been 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 life goal. Chomolungma did not submit immediately - since the beginning of the last century, many attempts have been made to climb the "roof of the world". The first to achieve this goal was in 1953 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 already conquered about 3,700 times..

Unfortunately, they set the Himalayas and 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 getting the "Crown of the Earth" is the cherished dream of each of them. The total number of "crowned" winners to date is 30 people, including 3 women.

Ski resorts in India

The northern mountainous regions of India are a completely unique world, with its own philosophy and spirituality, ancient shrines and historical monuments, colorful population and diversity of 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 “visited” India, so it practically meets European standards. The season here starts at the end of December and ends at the end of March.. Here they give out the appropriate equipment, so beginners should be comfortable enough, if, of course, they are not afraid of steep descents.

Narkanda

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

Solang

A fairly well-known place in ski circles extreme recreation. It is famous for its well-developed infrastructure, both sports and tourism. All those who have visited these places always leave excellent reviews about the level of training of the coaching and service personnel of the resort.

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 for the fact that in the immediate vicinity of it there is a huge natural Himalayan Nature National Park, where all 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 rapidly flowering 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 region of the Himalayas will provide these opportunities.

First of all, in these places, as already mentioned, there was a summer residence of the English viceroy in India - the Viceroy. That is why the small village shimla turned into a city the state capital of Himchal Pradesh. The famous museum located in Royal Palace, replete with exhibits showing the cultural diversity of the region. Shimla is famous for its bazaar with woolen products traditional for these places, national Indian clothes, handmade jewelry made according to ancient technology. As a rule, no one is left indifferent to a horse riding tour of the surrounding picturesque mountains.

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

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

Dharamsala for Buddhists, 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.

To visit the Indian Himalayas, and not to visit the 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 genuine works by this great author.

Capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir city ​​of Shinagan- another center of tourist pilgrimage. According to some theories, it was here that Jesus Christ found his last 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 acquiring products from the famous Kashmir wool as a keepsake.

Spiritual and health tourism

Spiritual principles and cult 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 Ayurvedic canons Panchakarma.

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

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

Captivating video timelapse of the unshakable Himalayas

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

The 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 - the highest peak in the world). 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 landscapes of the monsoon tropics of South Asia.

Relief. The Himalayas are characterized by a clear strike of orographic elements from the northwest to the southeast. They include several parallel mountain ranges, rising from south to north with three giant steps, dissected by river gorges into separate arrays and blocks. The first step (above the Indo-Gangetic plain) is formed by the Sivalik ridge (Anti-Himalayas), height up to 3647 m (Mount Chaur). Width(up to 120 km) it reaches in the western and central parts, to the east of 88 ° east longitude narrows to 5-10 km. It is strongly dissected by deeply incised river valleys. The second stage - the Small (Low) Himalayas - is separated from Sivalik by a tectonic fault, along which there is a number of intermountain basins (duns), occupied in the past 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 more gentle. In the west rises the Pir-Panjal range (up to 6632 m), in the central part - the Dhaoladhar (up to 5067 m) and Mahabharat (up to 2891 m) ranges with sharp ridges and deep valleys. By a chain of intermountain depressions and ancient glacial basins (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.), the Small Himalayas are separated from the highest level - the Great (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 (kars, troughs, exaration forms, terminal moraines). The Great Himalayas begin in the northwest of the Nanga Parbat massif, where they are widest (over 300 km). High uplands (over 5000 m) and the Zaskar mountain range (up to 7756 m) are also located here. To the 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 domed 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 gorge of the Indus River in the northwest to the valley of the Sutlej River), Kumaon (between the valleys of the Sutlej and Kali rivers), Nepal (in Nepal), Sikkim (within the Indian state of Sikkim) and Assamese (west of Bhutan).

Sivalik Ridge.

Geological structure and minerals. In tectonic terms, 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 divide 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 great thickness (up to 17 km), accumulated on the gently sloping continental shelf of the Indian subcontinent (on the southern margin of the Tethys paleoocean). In the north, the Tethyan Himalayas are bounded by the Indus-Tsangpo tectonic basin, 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 sank northward under the southern margin of Eurasia with the formation of the Trans-Himalayan volcanic-plutonic belt (see the article Gandishishan ). In the suture zone, ophiolites come to the surface (their covers are established in the Tethyan Himalayas), metamorphic formations, sedimentary and igneous complexes. In the south, the Tethyan Himalayas are separated by a fault gently inclined to the north from the Central Crystalline Zone of the High Himalayas. This zone is composed of repeatedly metamorphosed, mainly Precambrian complexes - micaceous schists, quartzites, gneisses, migmatites, which are intruded by Miocene leucogranites. The last metamorphic event in the zone meets the conditions of a very high temperatures and relatively low pressures. The metamorphic formations of the Central Crystalline Zone are thrust (along the Main Central Thrust) and partially overlie the Low Himalaya complexes, forming many isolated tectonic remnants. The zone of the Low Himalayas 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 cover-thrust structure. In the south, the zone of the Low Himalayas is thrust (along the Main Frontier Thrust) on the zone of the Cis-Himalayas (or the Outer Himalayas), which in tectonic terms is a foredeep that arose in modern times in front of the front of the growing Himalayan orogen and filled with Miocene sandy-argillaceous and Pliocene coarse clastic molasses with a total thickness of up to 7 km. The folded molasse complexes of the Cis-Himalayas are separated by a system of gentle faults of the Frontal Himalayan thrust from the undeformed and not involved in the uplift molasses of the Indo-Gangetic depression.

The formation of the Himalayas as a cover-folded mountain structure is associated with a collision (collision) of the Hindustan block with Eurasia, which began about 55 million years ago (at the end of the Paleocene). The 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 Frontier Thrust; at the end of the Pliocene - the Main Frontal Thrust. The recent uplift of the Himalayas is accompanied by intense seismicity concentrated mainly along thrust zones.

A few deposits of ores of copper and gold are known; chromites, precious stones (sapphire, etc.) associated with metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Low and High Himalayas. Deposits of oil and natural combustible gas have been discovered in the Cis-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 hinterland receives about 400-750 mm of precipitation per year. Everywhere on the southern slope up to a height of 3000 m, the average annual temperatures are positive, above 4500 m - the area of ​​negative summer temperatures. The climate of the western part of the Himalayas is characterized by sharp fluctuations in temperature, strong winds. Average temperatures in July are about 18 °С, in January from -10 to -18 °С. The influence of the monsoon manifests itself in July - August south of the Pir-Panjal ridge. Winter precipitation is associated with cyclones bringing rain and snow. The main passes are cleared of snow at the end of May. The climate of the eastern part is hotter, with a pronounced monsoonal humidification 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 annually occur above 2200-2500 m, in the valleys there are thick fogs. Above 5000 m precipitation falls in the form of snow all year round. The climate of the northern slopes of the Himalayas is cold alpine desert. Daily temperature amplitudes 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 passes 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 of large glaciers. The area of ​​modern glaciation of 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 Nepalese Himalayas, in the Chomolungma region, there are about 600 glaciers, including the Western Rongbuk and Khumbu 22 km long, in the Sikkim Himalayas, in the area of ​​the Kanchenjunga massif, there are Zemu glaciers (31 km) and Kanchenjunga (24 km). Most of the glaciers are retreating from average speed 10-15 m per year. The glaciers of the valleys 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 avalanches of hanging glaciers. On the steep slopes - hanging and cirque glaciers. The northern slopes are characterized by gigantic curtains of corrugated ice that cover many of the peaks to their summits. Tongues of some glaciers are covered with a moraine cover for a considerable extent.

Rivers and lakes. Despite the high altitude, the Himalayas are not a watershed of the rivers of the Indian Ocean basins and the endorheic region of Central Asia. Due to the presence of through antecedent gorges, the sources of the Indus, Sutlej, Karnali, Arun rivers are located in the Karakoram and on the Tibetan Plateau. On the slopes of the Himalayas originate major rivers South Asia - Ganges and Brahmaputra. 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 - rain, with a maximum flow of water in summer. The valleys are narrow and deep. The rivers have huge hydropower resources, which are practically not used. Large hydroelectric power stations and reservoirs have been created on the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Lakes (tectonic and glacial) are located mainly in the western part of the Himalayas below 5000 m (Vular, Tso-Morari, etc.); large alpine lakes - Bangong, Mapam Yumtso. When glacial lakes break through, glacial mudflows can occur.

Soils, flora and fauna. The landscapes of the Himalayas are very diverse, especially on the southern slopes. The maximum number of altitudinal belts is characteristic of the most humid slopes of the eastern part of the Himalayas. The foothills of the mountains are bordered by a strip of terai - swampy tree-shrub thickets (jungle) on meadow-marsh tropical soils. Above the slope, moist evergreen tropical forests grow on mountain red soils. Dipterocarp, palm, pandanus, tree ferns intertwined with vines (up to 400 species) predominate. At an altitude of 1200-1500 m, mountain evergreen subtropical forests of oaks, laurels, magnolias, tea trees (castanopsis, phebe) dominate. Above 2000-2200 m, they are replaced by 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). From a height of 3000 m begins a belt of mountain coniferous forests of pine, fir, hemlock, yew, juniper. At an altitude of 3700-3900 m, it is replaced by 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 limit of which runs at an altitude of about 5000 m, individual plants (Arenaria, edelweiss) rise to a height of 6100 m. In the central part of the Himalayas, in the spectrum of altitudinal zones, there is no belt of humid evergreen tropical forests, and up to a height of 600-1000 m, deciduous forests from lard with the participation of terminalia, albition, etc. dominate.

In the more arid 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 acacia, pomegranate, and oleander on mountain brown soils. Above (up to 1200-1500 m), monsoon deciduous forests grow with dominance of fat on mountain red soils, which are replaced by mountain subtropical mixed forests of holm oak and mountain pines with evergreen undergrowth. From a height of 2000-2500 m, mountain mixed subboreal forests of long-coniferous pine (chir), fir, Himalayan cedar (deodar) with the participation of oaks and maples dominate on low-humus brown forest soils. In the belt of 3000-3500 m, mountain coniferous forests of fir with an admixture of birch dominate on podzolized brown soils. Above 3500 m - subalpine birch crooked forest, thickets of juniper and rhododendrons, giving way to a belt of alpine meadows and shrubs on mountain meadow soils. The upper boundary of the distribution of vascular plants is 6300 m. The northern slope is characterized by desert-steppe landscapes with polster and xerophytic grasses on thin, stony mountain-desert soils. Woody vegetation (willows, poplars) is found in river valleys.

About 300 species of mammals live in the Himalayas, 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 includes about 1000 species (15 species are endemic). The fauna of the Terai and low mountains of the Himalayas belongs to the Indo-Malay faunistic region. Large mammals live here - elephants, rhinos, gaurs, wild boars, several species of deer (muntzhak, sambar), predators - tigers and leopards, red wolf; birds - peacocks, pheasants, parrots. In the eastern part of the Himalayas, there is a binturong (viverrid family). The fauna of the middle and high mountains belongs to the Chinese-Himalayan subregion of the Holarctic region. Wild yak, musk deer, red deer (hangul), mountain sheep (argali, blue sheep), markhor goat, goral, takin, black Himalayan bear live in the forest and alpine belts. Clouded leopard and snow leopard (irbis) are endangered. Of the birds, the Himalayan snowcock, the Himalayan crested pheasant, and tragopans are common.

The most famous protected areas of the Himalayas are National parks Corbett, Greater Himalayas, Namdapha, Kanchenjunga (India); to the list world heritage includes Manas Reserve, Nandadevi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (India), Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Parks (Nepal). In the Himalayas, mainly in Nepal, mountaineering is widely developed. Climatic resorts - Shimla, Macypi, Darjeeling and others (India).

The main occupation of the population is agriculture. On the northern slope of the Greater Himalayas (near Lake Tangra-Yumtso) are the upper boundaries of agriculture in the world. Overgrazing on alpine meadows and in the forests led to the activation of 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. Features of the distribution of mudflow phenomena in the Himalayas // Ibid. 1984. No. 6; Kononov Yu. V. The country of subtropics and snow-capped mountains. M., 1985; Bedi R. Animal world India. M., 1987; Dolgushin L. D., Osinova G. B. Glaciers. M., 1989; Golubchikov Yu. N. Geography of mountainous 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; Ark. V. Tevelev ( geological structure and minerals).

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

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

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

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

The peculiarity of the geographical position of the Himalayas is that they are located on the territory of five countries: India, Nepal, China (Tibetan autonomous region), Bhutan and Pakistan. The foothills also cross the northern outskirts of Bangladesh. The name of the mountain system can be translated from Sanskrit as "abode of snows".

Height of the Himalayas

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

The highest peaks of the Himalayas

Geographic description: 3 main steps

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

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

Rivers and lakes of the Himalayas

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

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

Climate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Origin and geology

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

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

Flora and fauna

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

Himalayan Landscape (Jan / flickr.com)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Population

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

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

Like many other mountainous regions, the Himalayas are characterized by great ethnic and linguistic diversity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sights of the Himalayas

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

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

In the foothills of the Himalayas, the Indian city of Rishikesh is located, which is sacred to Hindus, and is also widely known as the yoga capital of the world.

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

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

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

Tourism

Mountaineering and hiking in the mountains are popular in the Himalayas. Of the hiking routes, the most famous track around Annapurna, passing along the slopes of the mountain range of the same name, in the north of the central part of Nepal.

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

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

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

Another popular route is the Manaslu trek, which runs around the Mansiri-Himal mountain range and overlaps with the Annapurna route.

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

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