The Himalayas are the largest mountain range in the world. Where are the Himalayas located: geographical location, description, height

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 beautiful 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 a 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 (Tibet 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 contain 9 of the 10 highest peaks on our planet, including the highest point in the world - Chomolungma, whose height reaches 8848 m above sea level. Its geographic coordinates are 27°59′17″ north latitude 86°55′31″ east longitude. The average height of the entire mountain system exceeds 6000 meters.

The highest peaks of the Himalayas

Geographic description: 3 main stages

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 the 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, 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.

Translated into Russian, the word "Himalayas" means "the kingdom of snows." This highest mountain system of the world rises on the border between Central and South Asia and separates the Tibetan Plateau from the lowlands of the Indus and the Ganges (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 the ancient Tethys, where there was a convergence of the marginal zones of Eurasia and the Hindustan block, separated from Gondwana.

Relief. The Himalayas are the most important geomorphological, climatic and floristic frontier. 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. The Himalayas border the Hindu Kush in the northwest and the Sino-Tibetan Mountains in the southeast. The total length of the mountain system is more than 2400 km, the width is 200-350 km. The Himalayas are part of China, India, Nepal, Pakistan.

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

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

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

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

Features of the geological structure - the predominance of Precambrian rocks similar to the complexes of the Indian Platform, a 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 outskirts 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 Tethys.

The Himalayas do not form ridges stretched 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, Sutleja, Brahmaputra - were laid down 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 deposits, collected in folds in the middle of the Quaternary. They are collectively known as the Sivalik Mountains; their height on the territory of Nepal is about 1000 m. In some places they are pressed close to the ridges of the Himalayas proper, in others they are separated by a strip of wide tectonic valleys - duns. The Sivalik Mountains drop steeply to the north and south.

The next highest step in 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 band is characterized by intense folding, faults and volcanism. The height of the ridges reaches an average of 3500-4500 m, and individual peaks rise to 6000 m. In the northwest, the Pir-Panjal ridge stretches over 6000 m high, further to the southeast it is replaced by the Small Himalayas proper, which merge with the Big Himalayas (Main Himalayas). Himalayan range) high-mountainous powerful massif Dhaulagiri (8221 m). Further to the east, the entire system of the Himalayas narrows, the zone of the Lesser Himalayas presses against the Main Range, forming the medium-altitude Mahabharat Mountains, and even to the east, the high and heavily dissected Duara Mountains.

Between the Lesser and Greater Himalayas stretches a strip of tectonic basins, which in the recent past were occupied by lakes and processed by glaciers. The most famous in the west is the Kashmir Basin at an altitude of 1600 m, with the main city of Kashmir, Srinagar. The existence of a lake, which used to fill the basin, is evidenced by terraces well expressed on the slopes. Several residual lakes have been preserved 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; most of the population of this mountainous country is concentrated in it.

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 Nanga Parbat massif (8126 m), then there is a series of peaks exceeding 6000 and 7000 m, then eight thousandth giants covered with snow and ice rise: 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 stand out. Gorgeous and majestic, only slightly inferior to it, Kanchenjunga (8598 m).

The northern slope of the Greater Himalayas is flatter and more accessible than the southern one. Along it stretches the Ladakh Range up to 7728 m high. Many rivers originate on its slopes, then crossing the Main Range. To the north of Ladakh, behind the wide longitudinal valleys of the Indus and the Brahmaputra, the outlying ranges of the Tibetan Plateau (Trans-Himalayas) rise.

Useful fossils. The Himalayas are rich in minerals. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, alluvial gold, arsenic and chromium ores. Oil, combustible gases, brown coal, potash and rock salts occur in the foothills and intermountain basins.

climatic terms. The Himalayas are the largest climate divide in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes prevails, to the south - tropical air masses. Up to the southern slope of the Himalayas, the summer equatorial monsoon penetrates. The winds there are so strong that it is difficult to climb the highest peaks. Therefore, you can climb Chomolungma only in spring, during a short period of calm before the start of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope throughout the year, the winds of the northern or western rhumbs blow, coming from the continent supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but always dry. From the northwest to the southeast, the Himalayas stretch 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 great climatic differences within the Himalayas. Most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the band 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 a height of 2000 m, the average temperature in January is 6 ... 7 ° C, in July 18 ... 19 ° C; up to a height of 3000 m, the average temperature of the winter months does not fall below 0 ° C, and only above 4500 m does the average July temperature become negative. The snow limit in the eastern part of the Himalayas passes at an altitude of 4500 m, in the western, less humid, - 5100-5300 m. On the northern slopes, the height of the nival belt is 700-1000 m higher than on the southern ones.

Natural water. High altitude and abundant rainfall 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 farther to the east and more precipitation, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. On Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga, the most powerful glaciation, the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main shaft. The Zemu glacier on Kangchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. from it originates one of the sources of the Ganges.

Especially many rivers flow down from the southern slope of the mountains. They start in the glaciers of the Greater Himalayas and, crossing the Lesser Himalayas and the foothill zone, come out onto the plain. Some large rivers originate from the northern slope and, heading towards the Indo-Gangetic plain, cut through the Himalayas with deep through valleys. This is the Indus, its tributary Sutlej and Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).

The Himalayan rivers are fed by rain, ice and snow, so the main flow maximum occurs in 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 abound with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid snowmelt begins, and until October, when the action of the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down from the mountains in violent streams, carrying away the masses of detrital material that they deposit as they leave the Himalayan foothills. Often monsoon rains 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 could be compared with the Alpine ones in size and beauty. Some lakes, for example in the Kashmir Basin, occupy only a part of those tectonic depressions that were previously filled entirely. The Pir-Panjal ridge is known for numerous glacial lakes formed in ancient cirque funnels or in river valleys as a result of their damming by moraine.

Vegetation. On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal belts from tropical forests to high mountain tundra 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 kind of marshy strip with black silty soils, called terai. Terai are characterized by jungles - dense tree and shrub thickets, in places almost impassable due to vines and consisting of soapwood, mimosas, bananas, stunted palms, 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 wet slopes of the mountains and along the river valleys, up to a height of 1000-1200 m, evergreen tropical forests grow from tall palms, laurels, tree ferns and gigantic bamboos, with many lianas (including rattan palm) and epiphytes. The drier areas are dominated by less dense forests of sal tree, which lose their leaves during the dry period, with rich undergrowth and grass cover.

At altitudes of more than 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 are replaced by temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only occasionally representatives of subtropical flora, such as magnificently flowering magnolias, come across. At the upper border of the forest, conifers dominate, including silver fir, larch, and juniper. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. Lots of mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. The subalpine belt that replaces forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of shrubs, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and more sparse when moving to the alpine zone. The alpine 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 a height of about 5000 m, but individual plants are found much higher. When climbing Chomolungma, plants were found at an altitude of 6218 m.

In the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas, due to less humidity, there is no such richness and diversity of vegetation, the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is absolutely no strip of terai there, the lower parts of the slopes of the mountains are covered with sparse xerophytic forests and thickets of shrubs, higher there are some subtropical Mediterranean species such as evergreen holm oak and golden olive, even higher dominated by coniferous forests of pines and magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara). The shrub undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but the alpine meadow vegetation is more diverse.

The landscapes of the northern ranges of the Himalayas, facing towards 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 the 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 pronounced tropical character. In the forests of the lower parts of the slopes and in the Terai, many large mammals, reptiles, and insects are common. There are still elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wild boars, antelopes. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Macaques and thin-bodied are especially characteristic. Of the predators, the most dangerous for the population are tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers). Among birds, peacocks, pheasants, parrots, wild chickens stand out for their beauty and brightness of plumage.

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

Population and environmental issues. Most of the population is concentrated in the middle belt 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, and tea bushes, citrus fruits, and vines are grown on terraced slopes. Alpine pastures are used for grazing sheep, yaks and other livestock.

Due to the high height of the passes in the Himalayas, communication between the countries of the northern and southern slopes is significantly complicated. Dirt roads or caravan trails pass through some passes, there are very few highways in the Himalayas. The passes are only accessible during the summer. In winter, they are covered with snow and completely impassable.

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

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

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

Information about the Himalayas

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

Geographic location

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

Other geographic features include:

• 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 - the Cretaceous period;
• the age of the Himalayas is approximately 38 million years;
• coordinates on the map - 28 degrees north latitude and 83 degrees east longitude;
• countries in whose territory the Himalayas are located - the People's Republic of China, Nepal, India, the Kingdom of Bhutan, Pakistan, the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Himalayan mountains are located between the Indo-Gangetic plain in the south of Eurasia and the Tibetan Plateau in the north of the mainland. Because of this, they are a natural divider between southern and central Asia.

Climatic conditions and minerals

According to climatic conditions, the Himalayan mountains can be divided into 2 belts. Mountain folding of the southern part is under the constant influence of monsoons. Because of this, a large amount of precipitation falls in the form of rain or snow. The air temperature on the southern slopes ranges from -15 degrees in winter to +10 - in summer. With increasing altitude, temperatures drop sharply.

In the northern part of the Himalayas, a continental climate prevails, which is 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 damage 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 ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is 33 thousand square meters. km.

Among the most extended glaciers are:

• Zema;
• Gangotri;
• Rongbuk.

As the temperature rises, these and other similar formations begin to melt. The water that was formed as a result flows down from the peaks and enters the largest rivers of the continent (Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and others).

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

Flora and fauna

Wildlife explorers who frequent the Himalayan mountains have discovered many interesting features and facts. This is due to the fact that the tiered distribution of vegetation prevails 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 of the flora are:

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

Due to difficult 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 types of antelope;
• poisonous reptiles;
• pikas, hamsters and other rodents;
• birds (ulars, eagles, vultures).

Main attractions

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

highest peaks

The Himalayas have become popular with tourists due to their highest peaks. Among them there are 14 peaks at once, the height of which exceeds 8 thousand meters. This is not 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 in the Himalayas is Everest. This mountain peak is located on the border of Nepal and the 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 below 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 getting into the territory of these regions. It was possible to conquer the summit only in summer. All attempts during the cold season ended in serious health problems or death.
3. Kanchenjunga (8586 m). This mountain range is located on the border of Nepal and the state of Sikkiim (India). It includes 5 high peaks, most of which reach a height of 8 thousand meters. Kanchenjunga is the main natural site of 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 on the territory of 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.

Notable natural features

Himalayan mountains are popular among tourists. Every traveler has the opportunity to go on a tour of numerous national parks and see 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 the 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 picture of the object and wash himself with water specially brought by the clergy.
2. Lake Pangong Tso. This is one of the largest and most beautiful salt reservoirs of the Asian continent. There are dense forests around it, where you can find several species of rare plants, as well as see many animals (kiangs, marmots, gulls, mountain geese, Brahmin 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 water arteries 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 scenery, and meet representatives of the local fauna. A rare species of dolphins lives in the river, which is listed in the Red Book. Due to climate change and the lack of a large amount of rainfall, the river is gradually shallowing, which causes irreparable harm to the entire ecosystem.
4. The Kullu Valley (Himachal Pralesh, 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 river Beas flows through the valley, on the banks of which there are several settlements. Local residents are engaged in agriculture, growing fruits and vegetables. Numerous ancient temples and other architectural structures can attract the attention of tourists.
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 anywhere else in the world. Since 1988, the national park has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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 top of one of the hills located high in the Himalayas. The religious building serves as a place for prayers and meditations of the followers of Buddhism. A beautiful staircase leads to the object, raising people to a rather high height. Tourists have the opportunity to see the city of Leh 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 figures of gods and demons.
3. Gkhum Monastery was built at the foot of the Himalayas, on the border of India and Nepal. Travelers will love the exterior of the building, which is a colorful three-tier structure. Inside there is a statue of Buddha sitting on the ground. This monastery is inhabited by several people who perform their sacred duties daily.
4. The sacred 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 open-air museum is the Gurudwara Sikh temple. Any foreigner can enter it, but for this you will need to take off your shoes and cover your head.
5. Dr. Graham House is a large educational complex that was built in the early years of the 20th century. In those days, its owner was John Graham, who taught children free of charge in writing, religion and love of nature. 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 classes in which the children were engaged, recreation rooms, as well as a church for worship.

The Himalayas are a special mountain system that attracts the attention of tourists and lovers of extreme sports. Here there is an opportunity to get an adrenaline rush, test your strength, meet one on one with wildlife.

The Himalayan mountains are the largest mountain formations on the entire globe. They are located in Asia and are the property of five different states. It is worth noting that this mountain formation is located on the mainland called Eurasiaquot ;. According to one of the sources on the Internet, the highest point of the Himalayas is Mount Everest, reaching a height of more than 8800 meters.

The Himalayas are a large mountain range in southern Asia that forms a barrier between the Tibetan plateau in the north and the alluvial plains of the Hindustan Peninsula in the south.

They are part of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Tibet and Bhutan. The mountains are the highest in the world, reaching almost 9000 meters above sea level, more than 110 peaks rise to a height of 7300 meters or more above sea level. One of these peaks, Everest (Tibetan: Chomolungma; Chinese: Chomolungma Feng; Nepalese: Sagarmatha) is the highest in the world, at 8,850 meters. The Himalayas separate the Indian subcontinent from the interior of Asia. The word Himalaya means house of snow.

The Himalayas are the largest mountain system on Earth. The Himalayas are located at the junction of Central and South Asia. The length of this system is 2900 km long and 350 km wide. These mountains are located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The question is very true and necessary, now they give such an ugly education in schools that it is just right to be enlightened on the Big Question. The Himalayas are located in southern Asia and partly in Central Asia. These mountains are ROOF OF THE WORLD " because there is the highest peak is Mount Everest. Its height is 8848 meters.



If we talk about the mainland where the Himalayas are located, then this mainland is called Eurasia. To be more precise, these mountains are located in Asia, on the territory of five countries. The length of the Himalayan mountains is more than 2900 km and has an area of ​​about 650 thousand square kilometers.

The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on Earth. It is located on the mainland of Eurasia, between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The highest point of the Himalayas is Mount Everest (Chomolungma) - 8848 m above sea level.

Name Himalaya means Abode of snowsquot ;. The length of the mountain system reaches 2900 km, the width is about 350 km.

The Himalayas are located on the lands of such powers as China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Coordinates: 2949?00? With. sh. 8323?31? in. d.?



The Himalayas is a whole mountain system, the length of which is about three thousand kilometers. The Himalayas are located in Eurasia, they cover many powers, including China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. The highest mountain in this mountain system is Mount Everest.

The Himalayas, the abode of snows in Sanskrit, are located on the mainland of Eurasia. The highest mountain system on Earth. The Himalayas separate the Tibetan Plateau in the north from the Indo-Gangetic Plain in the south. In the Himalayas are the territories of China, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, India, Sikkim and Ladakh.

The length of the mountain range is about 3 thousand kilometers, the width is about 350 kilometers. In the west, it passes into the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountain systems.

On the territory of the Himalayas is the highest mountain on the planet - 8848 meters - Chomolungma (Everest), which in Nepalese means Goddess Mother of the Snows.

Fossils of fish are found in the mountains, which suggests that once the mountains were the bottom of the ancient ocean.



Himalayas is the highest mountain system on planet Earth. The Himalayas are located on the continent of Eurasia, on the border of Central and South Asia. Countries on whose territory the Himalayas are spread: China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

HIMALAYAS

the highest mountain system in the world, in Asia between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic lowland. The highest point of the city of Chomolungma (Everest) - 8848 m. Alpine folding. South the foothills are composed of sandstone, the bedrock slopes and the axial zone are composed of gneisses, granites and other igneous rocks. Mountains consist of three levels: the highest is the Big Mountains, which are characterized by alpine-type ridges, high-altitude contrasts, and glaciation (more than 33,000 km2). Sev. the slopes facing the high Tibetan Plateau have a lower relative height. G. are under the influence of the summer monsoon, in the east. parts receive up to 4000 mm of precipitation per year. The altitudinal zonation is well expressed: from the swampy jungle at the foot to the evergreen tropical forests, deciduous and coniferous forests, shrubs, meadows. On the sowing the slope is dry, so mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate there. Above 5000 m - eternal snow. Mountaineering is developed in Nepal.

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008 .

Himalayas

(Himalayas, from the Nepalese himal - "snow mountain"), the highest mountain system of the globe, in Asia, between Tibetan Plateau on S. and Indo-Gangetic plain to the south (China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan). They stretch in a huge arc approx. 2500 km, width up to 350 km. Avg. comb height approx. 6000 m, highest point - Mt. Chomolungma (8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. G. consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively gentle sowing. slopes. Sev. the broad valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers serve as the boundary.
Mountains were formed in the Alpine era of mountain building. South foothills are folded preim. sandstones and conglomerates, bedrock slopes and axial zone - gneisses, shales, granites and other crystalline rocks. G. rise above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps. Mountains form the lower Sivalik (Pre-Himalayas), middle - Small Himalayas (hr. Pir Panjal , Jaoladhar, etc.). Partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.) the highest mountain range Greater Himalayas , which are subdivided from west to east into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim, and Assam. The Bolshye G. are characterized by sharp alpine features of the relief, extensive modern. glaciation of the total area. 33200 km². The largest glacier Gangotri (32 km; approx. 300 km²) in Kumaon
Mountains represent a pronounced climate division: to the south of them, a humid subequatorial climate prevails, and to the north, a climate of cold high-mountain deserts. The altitudinal zonality is well expressed. At the south swampy jungles (terai) are widespread in the foothills, as they rise, they are replaced by evergreen forests (palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo intertwined with lianas). Above 1,200 m in the west and 1,500 m in the east, evergreen forests (oak and magnolia) dominate; above 2,200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch, and maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, and silver spruce) forests dominate; up to 3600 m coniferous forests (fir, larch, juniper) rise with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron. Top. the border of alpine meadows reaches 5000 m and only here is replaced by a nival-glacial belt. Dry sowing. slopes cover mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts. Of the animals live Himalayan bears, wild goats, wild sheep, yaks; a lot of rodents. Up to a height of 2500 m, the slopes are cultivated, terraced agriculture is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, rice on irrigated lands). Mountaineering is widely developed and well organized in Georgia, especially in Nepal.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Himalayas

the highest mountain system of the globe, in Asia, between the Tibetan plateau in the north and the Indo-Gangetic plain in the south; in China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. The name comes from the Nepalese "himal" - "snow mountain". Form a huge arc dl. OK. 2500 km, lat. up to 350 km. Wed high combs approx. 6000 m, highest point - Mt. Chomolungma(8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. The Himalayas consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively gentle sowing. slopes. Sev. the boundary is a giant longitudinal depression, occupied by the upper course of the river. Ganges and Brahmaputra flowing in opposite directions.
The Himalayas were formed during the Alpine era of mountain building. South the foothills are composed mainly of sandstones and conglomerates, the bedrock slopes and the axial zone are composed of gneisses, crystalline schists, granites, and other crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The mountain system rises above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps, forming mountains. Sivalik(Fore-Himalayas), Small Himalayas(Pir-Panjal Ridge, Jaoladhar, etc.) and partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir Valley, Kathmandu, etc.) Greater Himalayas, which, along the strike from west to east, are subdivided into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim, and Assam. The Great Himalayas are characterized by sharp alpine landforms, extensive modern glaciation of a total area. 33,200 km². The largest glacier is Gangotri (about 300 km²) in the Kumaon Himalayas.

The altitudinal zonality is well expressed. At the south swampy jungles (terai) are widespread in the foothills, as they rise, they are replaced by evergreen tropical forests (palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo, and all this is intertwined with lianas). Above 1,200 m to the west and 1,500 m to the east, evergreen forests of oak and magnolia dominate; at the height 2700-3600 m dominated by coniferous forests of fir, larch, juniper with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron. The upper limit of the alpine meadows reaches the heights. 5000 m and only here is replaced by a nival-glacial belt. On the northern, drier slopes, where the influence of the monsoon weakens, mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate. Of the animals, the Himalayan bear, wild goats, wild sheep, yak live; a lot of rodents. Up to high 2500 m slopes are cultivated, terraced agriculture is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, rice on irrigated lands). In the Himalayas, especially in Nepal, mountaineering is widely developed and well organized.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

Synonyms:

See what "HIMALAYS" is in other dictionaries:

Himalayas- Himalayas. View from space Himalayas abode of snows, Hindi. Contents 1 Geography 2 Geology 3 Climate 4 Literature 5 Links Geography of the Himalayas ... Tourist Encyclopedia

The highest mountain system in the world, between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (in the south). The length of St. 2400 km, width up to 350 km. Among the high ridges ca. 6000 m, maximum height up to 8848 m, Chomolungma (Everest) highest ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Exist., number of synonyms: 2 mountain system (62) mountains (52) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

Himalayas- HIMALAYAS, mountains in the Center. Asia, the greatest on the globe. Zap. their extremity is, under 36 ° north. lat., together with the Hindu Kush, Kara Korum and Kuen Lun, the greatest forge on earth. junction (see map to British India station). Hence G. ... ... Military Encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Himalayas (meanings). Himalayas ... Wikipedia

Himalayas- Snowy peaks of the Himalayas. HIMALAYAS, the highest mountain system of the globe, in Asia (India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan), between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo Gangetic Plain (in the south). Length over 2400 km. Altitude up to 8848 m (mountain ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary