Solarshakti / flickr.com View of the snow-capped Himalayas (Saurabh Kumar_ / flickr.com) The 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) The Great Himalayas (Christopher Michel / flickr.com) Christopher Michel / flickr.com Christopher Michel / flickr.com Sunset on Everest (旅者河童 / flickr.com) The 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) Bridge over the Ganges (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) Himalayan wildlife (Chris Walker / flickr.com) Annapurna (Mike Behnken / flickr.com) ) On the India-Tibet border 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 continent these mountains stretch.

If you look at geographical map, then 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 location 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 edge of Bangladesh. The name of the mountain system can be translated from Sanskrit as “abode of snow.”

Height of the Himalayas

The Himalayas contain 9 of the 10 highest peaks on our planet, including the highest point in the world - Chomolungma, which reaches an altitude of 8848 m above sea level. Her geographical coordinates: 27°59′17″ north latitude 86°55′31″ east longitude. The average height of the entire mountain system exceeds 6000 meters.

Highest peaks of the Himalayas

Geographical description: 3 main stages

The Himalayas form three main stages: the Siwalik Range, the Lesser Himalayas and the Greater Himalayas, each higher than the previous one.

  1. Siwalik Range– the southernmost, lowest and geologically youngest step. It stretches for approximately 1,700 km from the Indus Valley to the Brahmaputra Valley with a width ranging from 10 to 50 km. The height of the ridge does not exceed 2000 m. Siwalik 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, they run north of the Siwalik ridge, parallel to it. The average height of the ridge is about 2500 m, and in the western part it reaches 4000 m. The Siwalik Range 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 their total fresh water reserves 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, Ganges and Brahmaputra - begin in the Himalayas. The rivers of the western tip 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 elevation of 4919 m, which makes it one of the highest in the world.

Climate

The climate in the Himalayas is quite varied. The southern slopes are strongly influenced by the monsoons. The amount of precipitation here increases from west to east from less than 1000 mm to more than 4000 mm.

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

The northern slopes, on the contrary, are in the rain shadow. The climate here is arid 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 act as a barrier to cold, dry winds blowing from the north, making the climate of the Indian subcontinent much warmer than neighboring regions of Asia at the same latitudes. In addition, the Himalayas are a barrier to the monsoons, which blow from the south and bring huge amounts of rainfall.

High mountains prevent these moist air masses from flowing further north, making Tibet's climate very dry.

It is believed that the Himalayas played a significant role in the formation of the deserts of Central Asia, such as the Taklamakan 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, folded 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. This collision closed the ancient Tethys Ocean and formed an orogenic belt.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the Himalayas is subject to altitudinal zonation. At the foot of the Siwalik range, the vegetation consists of swampy forests and thickets, locally known as “terai”.

Himalayan Landscape (Jan / flickr.com)

Higher up 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, shrubby vegetation predominates.

On the northern slopes, where the climate is much drier, 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 vegetation, depends mainly on the altitude above sea level. Animal world tropical forests southern slopes are typical for the tropics. Elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, leopards, and antelopes are still found here in the wild; monkeys are numerous.

Higher up you can find Himalayan bears, mountain goats and sheep, yaks, etc. In the highlands you can also find such a rare animal as the snow leopard.

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

Population

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

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

Like many other mountain regions, the Himalayas have great ethnic and linguistic diversity.

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

Contacts even with neighboring areas 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 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 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 engaged in agriculture. If there is 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 grown - citrus fruits, apricots, grapes, tea, etc. In the highlands, 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

The Himalayas are home to a wide variety of attractions. This region has a huge amount 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 is the Indian city of Rishikesh, which is sacred to Hindus and is also widely known as world capital yoga

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

Among 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 lives up to its name: it is a continuous carpet of flowers, completely different from ordinary alpine meadows. Together with the Nanda Devi National Park, it is a UNESCO heritage site.

Tourism

Mountaineering and mountaineering are popular in the Himalayas. hiking over the mountains. Of the hiking routes, the best known is the Annapurna Circuit, which runs along the slopes of the mountain range of the same name in north-central 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 trek with a hike to Lake Tilicho, located at an absolute elevation of 4919 m.

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

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

Conquering the Himalayan peaks is quite difficult and dangerous. It requires good preparation, equipment and requires mountaineering experience.

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

Where is it located and how to get there

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

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

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

Himalayas. View from space

Himalayas - "abode of snow", Hindi.

Geography

Himalayas - highest mountain system globe, is located in Asia (India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan), between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (in the south). The Himalayas extend from 73°E in the northwest to 95°E in the southeast. The total length is more than 2400 km, the maximum width is 350 km. The average height is about 6000 m. Height is up to 8848 m (Mount Everest), 11 peaks are more than 8 thousand meters.

The Himalayas are divided into three stages from south to north.

  • Southern, lower stage (Pre-Himalayas). The Siwalik Mountains consist of the Dundva, Chowriaghati (average height 900 m), Solya Singi, Potwar Plateau, Kala Chitta and Margala ranges. The width of the step ranges from 10 to 50 km, the height does not exceed 1000 m.

Kathmandu Valley

  • Small Himalayas, second stage. A vast highland 80 - 100 km wide, average height - 3500 - 4000 m. Maximum height - 6500 m.

Includes part of the Kashmir Himalayas - Pir Panjal (Haramush - 5142 m).

Between the outlying ridge of the second stage, called Dauladar "White Mountains"(average altitude - 3000 m) and the Main Himalayas at an altitude of 1350 - 1650 m lie the valleys of Srinagar (Kashmir Valley) and Kathmandu.

  • Third stage - Greater Himalayas. This step is strongly dissected and forms a large chain of ridges. The maximum width is 90 km, height is 8848 m. The average height of the passes reaches 4500 m, some exceed 6000 m. The Greater Himalayas are divided into Assam, Nepal, Kumaon and Punjab Himalayas.

- Main Himalayan range. The average height is 5500 - 6000 m. Here, in the area between the Sutlej and Arun rivers, there are eight of the ten Himalayan eight-thousanders.

Beyond the Arun River Gorge Main Ridge decreases slightly - Jonsang Peak (7459 m), a branched spur with the Kanchenjunga massif departs from it to the south, the four peaks of which exceed a height of 8000 m ( maximum height- 8585 m).

In the section between the Indus and the Sutlej, the Main Range is divided into the Western Himalayas and the Northern Range.

- Northern ridge. In the northwestern part it is called Deosai, and in the southeastern part it is called Zanskar (“white copper”) (the highest point is Kamet Peak, 7756 m). To the north is the Indus Valley, beyond which to the north is the Karakoram mountain system.

general information

The Himalaya mountain system at the junction of Central and South Asia is over 2,900 km long and about 350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km². The average height of the ridges is about 6 km, the maximum 8848 m is Mount Chomolungma (Everest). There are 10 eight-thousanders here - peaks over 8000 m above sea level. In the northwest of the western chain of the Himalayas there is another highest mountain system - the Karakoram.

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, although the climate allows for the cultivation of only a few types of cereals, potatoes and some other vegetables. The fields are located on sloping terraces.

Name

The name of the mountains comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit. "Himalaya" means "Abode of Snow" or "Kingdom of Snows".

Geography

All mountain range The Himalayas consists of three distinctive steps:

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

Records of the Himalayas

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

Unfortunately, the Himalayas also set sad records - 572 climbers died trying to conquer their eight-kilometer heights. But the number of brave athletes does not decrease, because “taking” all 14 “eight-thousanders” and receiving the “Crown of the Earth” is the cherished dream of each of them. The total number of “crowned” winners to date is 30 people, including 3 women.

Minerals

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

Climatic conditions

The Himalayas are the largest climate division in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes predominates, to the south - tropical air masses. The summer equatorial monsoon penetrates all the way to the southern slope of the Himalayas. The winds reach such strength there that they make it difficult to climb the most high peaks, therefore, you can climb Chomolungma only in the spring, during a short period of calm before the onset of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope, winds from the northern or western directions blow throughout the year, coming from the continent, which is supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but is always dry. From northwest to southeast, the Himalayas extend approximately between 35 and 28° N, and the summer monsoon almost does not penetrate into the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All this creates large climatic differences within the Himalayas.

The most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the zone of internal tectonic basins and in internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. In some places, annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m, winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m snow occurs throughout the year.

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

Natural waters

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

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

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

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

Vegetation

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

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

At altitudes above 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to mix with the heat-loving forms of the tropical forest: pines, evergreen oaks, magnolias, maples, chestnuts. At an altitude of 2000 m, subtropical forests give way to temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only occasionally are representatives of subtropical flora, for example, magnificently flowering magnolias found. The upper border of the forest is dominated by conifers, including silver fir, larch, and juniper. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. There are many mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. The subalpine belt replacing forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of shrubs, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and sparse as it moves to the alpine belt.

The high-altitude meadow vegetation of the Himalayas is unusually rich in species, including primroses, anemones, poppies and other brightly flowering perennial herbs. The upper limit of the alpine belt in the east reaches an altitude of about 5000 m, but individual plants are found much higher. When climbing Chomolungma, plants were discovered at an altitude of 6218 m.

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

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

Animal world

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

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

Population and environmental issues

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

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

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

Attractions

  • Kathmandu: temple complexes Budanilkantha, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, National Museum of Nepal;
  • Lhasa: Potala Palace, Barkor Square, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery;
  • Thimphu: Bhutan Textile Museum, Thimphu Chorten, Tashicho Dzong;
  • Temple complexes of the Himalayas (including Sri Kedarnath Mandir, Yamunotri);
  • Buddhist stupas (memorial or reliquary structures);
  • Sagarmatha National Park (Everest);
  • National parks Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers.

Spiritual and health tourism

Spiritual principles and the cult of a healthy body are so closely intertwined in various directions of Indian philosophical schools that it is impossible to draw any visible division between them. Every year, thousands of tourists come to the Indian Himalayas precisely to get acquainted with the Vedic sciences, the ancient postulates of the teachings of Yoga, and to improve the health of their body according to the Ayurvedic canons of Panchakarma.

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

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

  • About five or six centuries ago, a people called the Sherpas moved to the Himalayas. They know how to provide themselves with everything necessary for life in the highlands, but, in addition, they are practically a monopoly in the profession of guides. Because they are truly the best; the most knowledgeable and the most resilient.
  • Among the conquerors of Everest there are also “originals”. On May 25, 2008, the oldest climber in the history of climbing, a native of Nepal, Min Bahadur Shirchan, who was 76 years old at that time, overcame the path to the summit. There have been cases when very young travelers took part in expeditions. The latest record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who climbed in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him, fifteen-year-old Tembu Tsheri Sherpa was considered the youngest guest of Chomolungma).
  • The development of tourism does not benefit the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the garbage left by people. Moreover, in the future there may be severe pollution of the rivers that originate here. The main problem is that these rivers provide millions of people with drinking water.
  • Shambhala is a mythical country in Tibet, about which many ancient texts tell. Buddha's followers believe in its existence unconditionally. It captivates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. In particular, the most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. had no doubt about the reality of Shambhala. Gumilev. However, there is still no irrefutable evidence of its existence. Or they are irretrievably lost. For the sake of objectivity, it should be said: many believe that Shambhala is not located in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about her lies proof that we all really need the belief that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of humanity, which is owned by bright and wise forces. Even if this key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet open...

The Himalayas in art, literature and cinema

  • Kim is a novel written by Joseph Kipling. It tells the story of a boy who admires British imperialism while surviving the Great Game.
  • Shangri-La is a fictional country located in the Himalayas, described in the novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
  • Tintin in Tibet is one of the albums of the Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé. Journalist Tintin investigates a plane crash in the Himalayas.
  • The film "Vertical Limit" describes the events taking place on Mount Chogori.
  • Several levels in Tomb Raider II and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend are located in the Himalayas.
  • The film "Black Narcissus" tells the story of an order of nuns who founded a monastery in the Himalayas.
  • The Kingdom of the Golden Dragons is a novel by Isabel Allenda. Most of the events take place in the Forbidden Kingdom, a fictional state in the Himalayas.
  • Drachenreiter is a book by German writer Cornelia Funke about Brownie and a dragon traveling to the "Edge of Heaven" - a place in the Himalayas where dragons live.
  • Expedition Everest is a themed roller coaster in " World Center Walt Disney Holidays.
  • Seven Years in Tibet is a film based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Heinrich Harrer, which describes the story of the adventures of an Austrian mountaineer in Tibet during the Second World War.
  • G.I. Joe: The Movie is an animated film that tells the story of the Cobra-La civilization, which survived the Ice Age in the Himalayas.
  • Far Cry 4 is a first-person shooter story that tells about the fictional region of the Himalayas, dominated by a self-proclaimed king.

The Himalayas are the great mountain system of Asia, forming a barrier between the plateau of Tibet in the north and the plains of the Indian subcontinent in the south. The Himalayas include the world's highest mountains, with more than 110 peaks rising to 7,300 meters or more above sea level. One of these peaks is Everest. Another name for the mountain in the Tibetan version is Qomolangma, in the Chinese version - Komolangma Feng, in Nepalese - Sagamata. It is the highest mountain in the World, with a height of 8,850 meters.

Geographical location of the Himalayas

Everyone who is interested in these mountains first of all searches on what continent, in what country and where are the Himalayas located. Geographical position The Himalayas extend 2,550 kilometers from North Africa to the Pacific coast South-East Asia in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. The Himalayas stretch from west to east between Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan they include parts of Kashmir and Namzhagbarwa Peak, as well as in Tibet autonomous region China.

Between the western and eastern edges are two Himalayan countries - Nepal and Bhutan. The Himalayas are bordered in the northwest by the Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges, and in the north by the high and vast plateau of Tibet. The width of the Himalayas from south to north varies between 200 and 400 km. Their total area is 595,000 square kilometers.

On the physical map, it can be seen that India, Nepal and Bhutan have sovereignty over most of the Himalayas, with Pakistan and China also occupying parts of them. In the disputed Kashmir region, Pakistan has administrative control over approximately 36,000 sq. km in the Ladakh region of Kashmir and claims territory at the eastern end of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. These disputes highlight the border issues facing India and neighboring countries in the land where the Himalayas are located.

Physical Features

The most characteristic features of the Himalayas are their high, steep, jagged peaks, valleys and alpine glaciers. Complex geological structure complemented by river gorges deeply cut by erosion. A number of elevated belts are distinguished by different ecological types of flora, fauna and climate. Viewed from the south, the Himalayas appear on a map as a giant crescent moon with its main axis rising above the snow line, where snowfields, alpine glaciers and avalanches feed the lower valleys.

Most of the Himalayas lie below the snow line. The Himalayan ranges are grouped into four parallel longitudinal mountain belts of varying widths, each of which has different physical and geographical features and its own geological history. They range from south to north as the outer sub-Himalayas (also called the Siwalik Range), the lesser or lower Himalayas, the Greater Himalayan Range (Great Himalayas) and the Tethys or Tibetan Himalayas. Further north in Tibet lie the Trans-Himalaya.

Geological history

It is believed that the Himalayas owe their origin to the movement of the Indo-Australian plate, which is constantly moving north, where it collides with the Eurasian plate. The force of the plate movement is such that it bends the layers of rock and creates faults into which masses of granites and basalts invade. This is how the Tibetan plateau was formed. The Trans-Himalayan ranges became the region's watershed and rose so high that they became a climate barrier. The more rain falls on the southern slopes, the more they strive southern rivers not north along transverse faults.

The northern shores of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are quickly filled with debris brought from the mountains by the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. About 20 million years ago, the rate of pressure between the two plates increased sharply. As the Indian subcontinental plate continued to subduct, the uppermost layers were thrown back a large horizontal distance to the south, forming boulders.

Wave after wave of boulders rushed south over Indian land at a distance of up to 100 km. Over time, these boulders rolled up, shortening the former trench by 400-800 km. All this time, the falling rivers matched the rate of rise, carrying a huge amount of stones and rocks. Once the Himalayas rose high enough, they became a climate barrier: the extreme mountains in the north lost their rain and became as parched as the Tibetan Plateau.

On the contrary, on wet southern shores the rivers rose with such energy that they forced the ridge line to slowly move north. However, changes in the landscape forced all but the major rivers to change the direction of their lower reaches, because as the northern ridges rose, so did southern edge extensive plateau. Where the Kashmir Valley is located, as well as the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, temporary lakes were formed, which were then filled with sediments.

Population of the Himalayas

The Indian subcontinent is home to four language families - Indo-Aryan, Tibetan-Burman, Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian. They have a long history of infiltration by Iranian groups from the west, Indian peoples from the south, and Asian peoples from the east and north. In the hilly regions of the lesser Himalayas live the Gaddis and Gujaris. They are traditional mountain people, owning large herds of sheep and goats and descending with them from their snowy abode into the outer Himalayas only in winter and returning to the highest pastures only in June.

These pastoral people are in constant migration, living off their herds of sheep, goats and a few cows, for which they seek pasture at various altitudes. To the north of the Great Himalayan Range live the Champa, Ladak, Balti and Darda peoples. The Champas traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life in the upper Indus. The Ladakhis settled on the terraces and stone fans that flank the Indus in the northeastern region of Kashmir.

The Balti settled further along the Indus Valley and converted to Islam.
In Himachal Pradesh, most people are descendants of Tibetan migrants who speak Tibetan-Burmese. In Nepal, Paharis, who speak an Indo-Aryan language, constitute the majority of the population. Peoples such as the Newar, Tamang, Gurung, Magar and Sherpa speak Tibeto-Burman. Of all these nationalities inhabiting the Himalayas, the famous long-living mountaineers, the Sherpas, stand out.

Economy of the Himalayas

The economy of the Himalayas depends on the resources available in different parts of this vast region with different ecological zones. The main activity is livestock farming, but forestry, trade and tourism are also important. The Himalayas have abundant economic resources. These include rich arable land, extensive meadows and forests, workable mineral deposits, easy water power and magnificent natural beauty.

In the central Himalayas of Nepal, two-thirds of the arable land is in the foothills and adjacent plains. The land in this country produces most of the world's total rice production. The region also produces large crops of corn, wheat, potatoes and sugar cane. The Kashmir Valley produces fruits such as apples, peaches, pears and cherries, which are in great demand in Indian cities. There are rich vineyards on the shores of Dal Lake in Kashmir, and the grapes are used to make wine and brandy.

Walnut and almond trees grow on the hills surrounding the Kashmir valley. A country like Bhutan also has orchards and exports oranges to India. Tea plantations are located on the hills and plains at the foot of the mountains in the Darjeeling region. There is a spice cardamom plantation in Sikkim. Since 1940, the Himalayas have experienced an explosion of population growth. As a result, deforestation to clear land for planting and construction, supplying firewood and paper moved up the steep and higher slopes of the small Himalayas. Only in Sikkim and Bhutan are large areas still covered with dense forest.

The Himalayas are rich in mineral resources, although exploitation is limited to accessible areas. Sapphires are found on the Zaskar Range, and gold is mined in the bed of the Indus River. Baltistan has copper ore deposits and iron ore is found in the Kashmir valley. In Ladakh there are deposits of borax and sulfur. Coal seams are found in the hills of Jammu. Bauxite is found in Kashmir. Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim have extensive deposits of coal, mica, gypsum, graphite and iron, copper, lead and zinc ores.

Conquerors of the Himalayas

The earliest travels in the Himalayas were made by traders, shepherds and pilgrims. The pilgrims believed that the more difficult the journey, the closer it brought them to enlightenment. For shepherds and traders, trekking at altitudes between 5,500 and 5,800 meters was a way of life. However, for everyone else, the Himalayas presented a huge and terrible barrier.

The Himalayas first appeared on the map in 1590 with the participation of a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor, Antonio Monserrate. In 1773, French geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Harville compiled the first map of the Himalayan range based on systematic research. In 1865, Everest was renamed after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India.

By 1862, it became known that Everest was the tallest mountain in the world. After World War II, India produced several large-scale maps based on aerial photographs. Himalayan mountaineering began in 1880 with Briton W. W. Graham, who claimed to have climbed several peaks. Although his claims were met with skepticism, they sparked interest in the Himalayas among other European climbers.

Attempts to conquer Everest began in 1921 and about a dozen of them were made before it was conquered in May 1953 by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and his Tibetan guide Tenzing Norgay. That same year, an Austro-German team led by Karl Maria Herrligkoffer reached the summit of Nanka Parbat. Over time, climbers began to find easier ways to reach the peaks.

Easier access to the mountains brought increasing numbers of climbers and tourists to the region. Every year hundreds of people attempt to climb Everest. By the beginning of the 21st century, the annual number of tourists had increased so much that in some regions expedition participants began to threaten the ecological balance of the mountains, destroying flora and fauna and leaving behind mountains of garbage. In addition, large expeditions increased the likelihood of loss of life. In 2014 more than 40 foreign tourists died in a snowstorm near Annapurna.

From May 22, 2019 until today, a search has been underway for eight conquerors of India’s second highest mountain, Nada Devi. There are fears that they were carried away by an avalanche. These were four British, two Americans, one Australian and an Indian guide who were supposed to climb the eastern ridge at Nada Devi and return to base on May 26th. Her ascent began on May 13 and, after their departure, the team showed no signs of life. Heavy snowfall that lasted a week complicated the search.

Hundreds of climbers from all over the world come every year to climb the peaks of the mountains. Not everyone makes it, some return. Many remain in the mountains forever, frozen in permafrost. Their names are written on the slab and everyone who has gathered to this peak must become familiar with their names. Everyone should know that their name can also be written on this plate. There's still a lot of free space there.