Himalayas - mountain system, considered the highest in the world.

“Only mountains can be better than mountains.” Ever since school, everyone knows that the most high mountains in the world, and also the most picturesque and mysterious are the Himalayas.

The mythical Shambhala, the mysterious and formidable snowman - this is only a small part of the myths and legends, hidden from us by the eternal white ice of the mountain peaks.

Geographical location and characteristics

The vast area of ​​Central Asia is home to the highest mountain system on the planet - the Himalayas, which translated from Sanskrit means “abode of snow.” They are located on the territory of the following states:

  • Chinese People's Republic(Tibet region);
  • Nepal;
  • India;
  • Pakistan;
  • Bangladesh (small part of it).

The mountain range, stretching almost 2,400 km in length, was formed approximately 50-70 million years ago as a result of the movement and collision of the Eurasian and Indo-American tectonic plates. But, despite being so ancient in earthly years, by geological standards these mountains are still young. The process of growth of the Himalayas continues to this day, for example, the highest point on the planet - Mount Chomolungma (Everest) is growing by about 6 cm per year.

Sharp as peaks Mountain peaks The Himalayas rise on the Indo-Gangetic valley and consist of three steps:

The Great Himalayas are the highest part of the mountain range, rising 4 km or more above sea level. By the way, in the Himalayas there are 10 of the 14 “eight-thousanders” - mountain peaks whose height exceeds 8 km, as well as the highest point in the world - Mount Chomolungma, as it is called local residents Everest, named after the surveyor George Everest, who determined the exact height of the peak in the mid-19th century. It was as much as 8848 m.

A little lower, at an altitude of 2-4 km above sea level, there are fertile valleys, for example, Kathmandu and Kashmir, alternating with mountain ranges. These are the so-called Lesser Himalayas. Pre-Himalayas, second name - Siwalik. These are the youngest and lowest elevations in the mountain system, their height does not exceed 2 km.

The area of ​​the ice sheet, located mainly on the slopes of high mountains, is 33 thousand square kilometers. The largest glacier is Gangotri (26 km long), it gives rise to the Ganges, the sacred river of the Hindus. There are also many picturesque alpine lakes in the Himalayas, for example, Lake Tilicho is located at an altitude of 4919 meters!

Himalayas on the map

Rivers

The largest rivers on the planet such as the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra originate from the Himalayas and carry their stormy waters.

Climate

Monsoons carrying warm air from Indian Ocean, supply the southern slopes of the mountains with life-giving moisture most of the year. The same cannot be said about the northern slopes of the Himalayas. The warm southern air is unable to overcome the mountain heights, so there is an arid continental climate.

The air temperature in the mountains reaches -40 degrees Celsius in winter, and wind speeds sometimes reach as much as 150 km/h. The Himalayas rank third on the planet for the amount of snow and ice after the Arctic and Antarctic.

Flora and fauna of the Himalayas

Diversity flora The Himalayas are directly proportional to altitude. At the southern foot of the mountains there are real jungles, which here are called “terai”, a little higher they are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous, and finally alpine meadows.

meadows in the Himalayas photo

On the drier and more deserted northern slopes, semi-deserts, steppes and mixed forests replace each other. Very valuable tree species grow in the Himalayas, for example, dhak, sal tree. The boundaries of the ice sheet are approximately 6 km on the north side and 4.5 km on the south. Above 4 km, tundra-type vegetation is already found - mosses, dwarf shrubs, rhododendrons.

In Nepal there is national park"Sigarmatha" which is the object cultural heritage UNESCO. Here is the highest peak in the world, everyone famous mountain Everest, and two eight-thousander peaks, as well as endemic species (rare and endangered species of animals and plants) such as the snow leopard (irbis), Tibetan fox, Himalayan black bear and others.

Himalayan sheep photo

On the southern side, rhinoceroses, tigers, and leopards live and feel very comfortable. The north is home to bears, antelopes, yaks, wild horses and mountain goats.

Population

It is worth saying a little about the population of this mountainous region, because it is quite diverse. Already 8000 BC these mountains were inhabited by tribes. Ancient Aryans lived in the south, Persian and Turkic peoples lived in the west, and Tibetan tribes lived in the east. They lived in isolated valleys, where they created their own state formations and closed ethnic groups.

In the 19th century, the Himalayas were a possession of the British Empire, and in 1947, they became a zone of military conflict due to the division of India and Pakistan. The population is still engaged in subsistence farming. Cereals are grown on the damp southern slopes, and transhumance is practiced in drier and less fertile areas.

Development and interesting facts

Among all the eight-thousanders, Chomolungma has always been of particular interest. Local tribes did not climb its peaks for a long time, considering the mountain sacred. Everest was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa (Sherpas are a people living in Eastern Nepal) Tenzing Norgay.

The first Soviet expedition took place in 1982. Since 1953, Everest has been conquered more than 3,700 times, however, there are other, sadder statistics - about 570 people died during the ascent. Besides Everest, the most dangerous "eight-thousander" is considered mountain range Annapurna, the death rate among climbers since the first ascent is a whopping 41%! True, according to statistics for 1990-2008, Kanchenjunga (8586 meters above sea level) was considered the most dangerous peak, the mortality rate over these years was 22%.

flora of the Himalayas photo

The Himalayas are becoming more and more “inhabited” areas of the planet every year. The flow of tourists increases from season to season, which entails the development of infrastructure and the entire tourism system as a whole. Not long ago, the authorities of China and Nepal agreed to develop transport links between their countries through the construction of a railway tunnel. It is expected to pass under the highest peak on the planet - Everest! Preparatory work on this project is already underway.

In 2011, a dinner party was held in the Himalayas at an altitude of 6805 meters! Seven climbers climbed to a record height, taking with them a table, chairs, equipment and food. Lunch still took place, despite the cold and strong wind. Initially, the climbing group wanted to have lunch at an altitude of 7045 meters, but hurricane winds did not allow this.

Himalayas. View from space

Himalayas - "abode of snow", Hindi.

Geography

Himalayas - the 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.

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

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

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

Rice. 50. Comparative profile of the Alps and Himalayas

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

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

Peculiarities geological structure- the predominance of Precambrian rocks similar to the complexes of the Indian Platform, the very limited distribution of marine sedimentary strata and the presence of continental sediments close to Gondwanan - give reason to consider the Himalayas as a mountain system that arose on the site of the edge of the Indian Platform, which underwent tectonic activation in Neogene-Quaternary times 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 stretching over long distances, but break up into separate massifs, separated from one another by deep transverse river valleys. This is due to the fact that the valleys of the largest rivers - the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra - were formed before the start of the general grandiose uplift of the mountains. The uplift was accompanied by the incision of rivers and the formation of epigenetic valleys of the Himalayas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Climatic conditions. The Himalayas are the largest climate division in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes predominates, to the south - tropical air masses. The summer equatorial monsoon penetrates all the way to the southern slope of the Himalayas. The winds reach such strength there that they make it difficult to climb the 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 the southern slopes up to an altitude of 2000 m, the average temperature in January is 6...7 °C, in July 18...19 °C; up to an altitude of 3000 m, 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 water. High altitude and heavy precipitation contribute to the formation of powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snow cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of the glacial tongues have a significant absolute height. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reach no more than 5 km in length. But the further east you go and the more precipitation there is, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. The most powerful glaciation is on Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga, and the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main trunk. The Zemu glacier on Kanchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. The Rongbuk glacier, 19 km long, slides down from Qomolungma and ends at an altitude of 5000 m. The Gangotri glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas reaches 26 km; one of the sources of the Ganges originates from it.

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

The Himalayan rivers are fed by rain, glaciers and snow, so the main maximum flow occurs in the summer. In the eastern part, the role of monsoon rains in nutrition is great, in the west - snow and ice of the high mountain zone. The narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas are replete with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid melting of snow begins, until October, when the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down from the mountains in rapid streams, carrying away masses of debris that they deposit when leaving the Himalayan foothills. Monsoon rains often cause severe 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. The diverse and rich fauna of the southern slopes has a distinct tropical character. Many large mammals, reptiles, and insects are common in the forests of the lower slopes and in the terai. Elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalos, wild boars, and antelopes are still found there. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Particularly characteristic are macaques and thin-bodied animals. Of the predators, the most dangerous to the population are tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers). Among the birds, peacocks, pheasants, parrots, and wild chickens stand out for their beauty and brightness of plumage.

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

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

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 World Cultural and Natural Heritage List National parks India and Nepal - Nan-dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan.

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 Mount Chomolungma (Everest) is 8848 m. Alpine folding. South the foothills are made of sandstone, the bedrock slopes and the axial zone are made of gneisses, granites and other igneous rocks. The mountains consist of three stages: the highest - the Greater Mountains, which are characterized by alpine-type ridges, altitudinal contrasts and glaciation (more than 33 thousand km2). North 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 defined: from swampy jungles at the foot to evergreen tropical forests, deciduous and coniferous forests, shrubs, and meadows. To the north The slope is drier, so mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate there. Above 5000 m there is eternal snow. Mountaineering is developed in Nepal.

Concise geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008.

Himalayas

(Himalayas, from Nepalese Himal - " snow mountain"), the highest mountain system on earth, in Asia, between Tibetan plateau to the N. and Indo-Gangetic plain in the south (China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan). They stretch in a huge arc approx. 2500 km, width up to 350 km. Avg. ridge height approx. 6000 m, highest point - Mt. Chomolungma (8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. They consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively flat north. slopes. North The border is the wide valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers.
The mountains were formed during the Alpine era of mountain building. South the foothills are composed primarily of sandstones and conglomerates, bedrock slopes and the axial zone - gneisses, shales, granites and other crystalline rocks. The mountains rise above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps. The lower part is formed by mountains Siwalik (Pre-Himalayas), middle – Lesser Himalayas (chronicle Pir Panjal , Jaoladhar, etc.). The highest mountain range is partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.) Greater Himalayas , which from W. to E. are divided into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Assam. The Greater Mountains are characterized by sharp alpine relief features and extensive modern territory. glaciation of the total area 33200 km². The largest glacier is Gangotri (32 km; approx. 300 km²) in Kumaon G.
The mountains represent a distinct climate division: to the south of them a humid subequatorial climate prevails, to the north there is a climate of cold high-mountain deserts. Altitudinal zonation is well expressed. At the south In the foothills there are swampy jungles (terai), which as you rise are replaced by evergreen forests (palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo intertwined with vines). Above 1200 m in the west and 1500 m in the east, evergreen forests (oak and magnolia) dominate; above 2200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch, maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, silver spruce) forests dominate; Coniferous forests (fir, larch, juniper) with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron rise up to 3600 m. Top. the border of alpine meadows reaches 5000 m and only here it gives way to the nival-glacial belt. Dry sowing the slopes are covered by mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts. Animals include Himalayan bears, wild goats, wild sheep, yaks; a lot of rodents. Up to a height of 2500 m, the slopes are cultivated, terrace farming is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, and rice on irrigated lands). In Greece, especially in Nepal, mountaineering is widely developed and well organized.

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

Himalayas

the highest mountain system on earth, 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”. They form a huge arc long. OK. 2500 km, latitude up to 350 km. Wed. high ridges 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 flat north. slopes. North The boundary is a giant longitudinal depression occupied by the upper reaches of the river. Ganges and Brahmaputra flowing in opposite directions.
The Himalayas were formed during the Alpine mountain building era. South the foothills are composed predominantly of sandstones and conglomerates, the bedrock slopes and 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 Siwalik(Pre-Himalayas), Lesser Himalayas(Pir Panjal, 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 divided into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Assam. The Greater Himalayas are characterized by sharp alpine landforms and extensive modern glaciation of a total area. 33,200 km². The largest glacier is Gangotri (approx. 300 km²) in the Kumaon Himalayas.


Altitudinal zonation is well expressed. At the south foothills are widespread swampy jungles (Terai), which are replaced by evergreens as they rise tropical forests(palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo, and all this is intertwined with vines). Above 1200 m in the west and 1500 m in the east, evergreen forests of oak and magnolia dominate; above 2200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch and maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, silver spruce) forests dominate; at high 2700–3600 m are dominated by coniferous forests of fir, larch, juniper with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron. The upper limit of alpine meadows reaches high. 5000 m and only here it gives way to the nival-glacial belt. On the northern, drier slopes, where the influence of the monsoon weakens, mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate. Animals include the Himalayan bear, wild goats, wild sheep, and yak; a lot of rodents. Up to high 2500 m slopes are cultivated, terrace farming is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, rice on irrigated lands). Mountaineering is widely developed and well organized in the Himalayas, especially in Nepal.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .


Synonyms:

See what "HIMALAYAS" is in other dictionaries:

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

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

    Noun, number of synonyms: 2 mountain system (62) mountains (52) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

    Himalayas- HIMALAYAS, mountains in the Center. Asia, the greatest on the globe. Zap. their extremity is at 36° north. lat., together with the Hindu Kush, Kara Korum and Kuen Lun, the greatest mountain on earth. node (see map to the station of British India). From here G.... ... Military encyclopedia

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

    Himalayas- Snowy peaks of the Himalayas. HIMALAYAS, the highest mountain system on earth, 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. Height up to 8848 m (mountain... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

The Himalayas are a world whose name, translated from Sanskrit, literally means “the place where snow lives.” Located in South Asia, this mountain range divides the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is home to most of the closest points to the sky on planet Earth, including Everest, the highest point (the Himalayas are not called the “roof of the world” for nothing). It is also known under another name - Chomolungma.

Mountain ecology

Himalayan mountains are distinguished by a wide variety of landscape forms. The Himalayas lie on the territory of five countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Pakistan. Three large and powerful rivers - the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra - originate in the mountains. The flora and fauna of the Himalayas is directly dependent on climate, rainfall, mountain height and soil conditions.

The area around the base of the mountains is characterized by a tropical climate, while the tops are covered with perpetual ice and snow. Annual precipitation increases from west to east. Unique natural heritage and the height of the Himalayan mountains are subject to modification due to various climatic processes.

Geological features

The Himalayas are mountains consisting primarily of sedimentary and mixed rocks. A distinctive feature of mountain slopes is their steepness and peaks in the form of a peak or ridge, covered eternal ice and snow and occupy an area of ​​about 33 thousand km². The Himalayas, whose height in some places reaches almost nine kilometers, are relatively young compared to other, more ancient mountain systems on Earth.

As it did 70 million years ago, the Indian plate is still moving and moving up to 67 millimeters per year, and over the next 10 million years it will move 1.5 km in an Asian direction. What also makes the peaks active from a geological point of view is that the height of the Himalayan mountains is increasing, gradually rising by approximately 5 mm per year. Such seemingly insignificant processes over time have a powerful influence in geological terms; in addition, the area is unstable from a seismic point of view, and earthquakes sometimes occur.

Himalayan river system

The Himalayas have the third largest deposits of ice and snow in the world after Antarctica and the Arctic. There are approximately 15 thousand glaciers in the mountains, which contain about 12 thousand cubic kilometers of fresh water. The highest areas are covered with snow all year round. The Indus, which has its origins in Tibet, is the largest and deepest river, into which many smaller ones flow. It flows in a southwesterly direction through India, Pakistan and flows into the Arabian Sea.

The Himalayas, whose height reaches almost 9 kilometers at its highest point, are characterized by great river diversity. Main water sources The Ganges-Brahmaputra basin are the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Yamuna rivers. The Brahmaputra joins the Ganges in Bangladesh and together they flow into the Bay of Bengal.

Mountain lakes

The highest Himalayan lake, Gurudongmar in Sikkim (India), is at an altitude of about 5 kilometers. In the vicinity of the Himalayas there are a huge number of picturesque lakes, most of which are located at an altitude of less than 5 kilometers above sea level. Some lakes are considered sacred in India. Nepal's Lake Tilicho, in the vicinity of the Annapurna mountain landscape, is one of the highest on the planet.

The great Himalayan mountain ranges contain hundreds of beautiful lakes in India and neighboring Tibet and Nepal. The Himalayan lakes add special appeal to the magnificent mountain landscapes; many of them are steeped in ancient legends and interesting stories.

Impact on climate

The Himalayas have a great influence on climate formation. They prevent the flow of cold dry winds in south direction, which allows a warm climate to reign in South Asia. A natural barrier is formed for the monsoons (causing heavy rainfall), preventing their movement in a northerly direction. The mountain range plays a certain role in the formation of the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts.

The main part of the Himalayan mountains is influenced by subequatorial factors. In the summer and spring season it is quite hot here: the average air temperature reaches 35 °C. At this time of year, the monsoons bring with them large amounts of precipitation from the Indian Ocean, which then falls on the southern mountain slopes.

People and culture of the Himalayas

Because of climatic features The Himalayas (mountains in Asia) are a fairly sparsely populated region. Most people live in the lowlands. Some of them make a living as guides for tourists and escorts for climbers who come to conquer some mountain peaks. The mountains have been a natural barrier for many thousands of years. They stopped the assimilation of the interior of Asia with the Indian peoples.

Some tribes are based in the Himalayan mountain range, namely in Northeast India, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, parts of West Bengal and others. Arunachal Pradesh itself is home to more than 80 tribes. The Himalayan mountains are one of the largest places in the world with a large number of endangered animal species as hunting is a very popular activity in the vicinity of the Himalayas. The main religions are Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. A famous Himalayan myth is the story of Bigfoot, who lives somewhere in the mountains.

Height of the Himalayan mountains

The Himalayas rise almost 9 kilometers above sea level. They extend over a distance of about 2.4 thousand kilometers from the Indus Valley in the west to the Brahmaputra Valley in the east. Some mountain peaks are considered sacred among local population, and many Hindus and Buddhists make pilgrimages to these places.

On average, the height of the Himalayan mountains in meters together with glaciers reaches 3.2 thousand. Mountain climbing, which gained popularity at the end of the 19th century, has become the main activity of extreme tourists. In 1953, New Zealander and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer Everest (the highest point).

Everest: mountain height (Himalayas)

Everest, also known as Chomolungma, is highest point planets. What is the height of the mountain? Known for its inaccessible peaks, the Himalayas attract thousands of travelers, but their main destination is the 8,848-kilometer-high Qomolangma. This place is simply a paradise for tourists who cannot imagine their life without risk and extreme sports.

The height of the Himalayan mountains attracts a large number of climbers from all over the globe. As a rule, significant technical difficulties with climbing certain routes does not arise, but Everest is fraught with many other dangerous factors, such as fear of heights, sudden change weather conditions, lack of oxygen and very strong gusty winds.

Scientists have accurately determined the height of every mountain system on Earth. This was made possible through the use of NASA's satellite observation system. Having measured the height of each mountain, we came to the conclusion that 10 of the 14 highest on the planet are in the Himalayas. Each of these mountains belongs to a special list of “eight-thousanders”. Conquering all these peaks is considered the peak of a mountaineer's skill.

Natural features of the Himalayas at different levels

The Himalayan swampy jungles located at the foot of the mountains are called "Terai" and are characterized by a wide variety of vegetation. Here you can find 5-meter thickets of grass, palm trees with coconuts, ferns and bamboo thickets. At an altitude of 400 meters to 1.5 kilometers there is a strip of rainforest. In addition to numerous species of trees, magnolias, citrus fruits and camphor laurel grow here.

At a higher level (up to 2.5 km), the mountain space is filled with evergreen subtropical and deciduous forests; here you can find mimosa, maple, bird cherry, chestnut, oak, wild cherry, and alpine mosses. Coniferous forests extend up to a height of 4 km. At this height, there are fewer and fewer trees, they are replaced by field vegetation in the form of grass and shrubs.

Starting 4.5 km above sea level, the Himalayas are a zone of eternal glaciers and snow cover. Animal world also varied. In different parts of the mountainous surroundings you can encounter bears, elephants, antelopes, rhinoceroses, monkeys, goats and many other mammals. There are many snakes and reptiles here, which pose a great danger to people.

The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on Earth. To date, the peak of Chomolungma (Everest) has been conquered about 1200 times. Among them, a 60-year-old man and a thirteen-year-old teenager managed to climb to the very peak, and in 1998 the first person with disabilities reached the peak.