The uniqueness of the Indian Himalayas. Height of mountain guala peri himalayas Find the name of all the mountains in the himalayas

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

The entire Himalayan mountain range consists of three distinctive steps:

• The first - the Pre-Himalayas (locally called the Shivalik Range) - is the lowest of all, the mountain peaks of which do 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 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 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 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 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 high mountain zone. The narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas are replete with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid melting of snow begins, until October, when the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down from the mountains in rapid streams, carrying away masses of debris that they deposit when leaving the Himalayan foothills. Monsoon rains often cause severe floods on mountain rivers, during which bridges are washed away, roads are destroyed and landslides occur.

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

Vegetation

On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal zones from tropical forests to the high mountain tundra. 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. 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 issues

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

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

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

Attractions

• Kathmandu: Budanilkantha, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath temple complexes, National Museum 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 at Walt Disney World Resort.
• 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.

1st place: Chomolungma:

(Everest, Dumulangfeng, Sagarmatha)

The highest peak of our planet, reaching a height of 8848 m, is known throughout the world under the names Everest, or Chomolungma. It received its first name in honor of Sir George Everest, who in 1830-1843. was the chief surveyor of British India. The second name is of Tibetan origin and translated means “Divine”. Since the mountain is part national park Nepal Sagarmatha, then in this area it is called the same as this park itself, which means “Mother of the Gods”.

Everest is located in the Himalayas, dividing Nepal and China, the world-famous peak itself falls on the territory of the latter.

Chomolungma has the shape of a triangular pyramid, along which glaciers flow from all sides, interrupting only at an altitude of about 5000 m. The southern slope and ribs of the pyramid are exposed, since snow does not hold on it. At the top of the mountain, sometimes powerful winds rage, reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h, and the temperature at night drops to -60º Celsius.

Climbing to the top of Everest is not easy. The time required for this, including the process of acclimatization and setting up camps, takes about a couple of months. Of all the seasons, spring is the most favorable for climbing the southern and northern slopes. In autumn, climbing the northern slope is impossible. The last 300m of the climb involves negotiating an incredibly steep, smooth rock face covered in powdery snow and is the most difficult section.

The year of the first conquest of Everest by man was 1953, when two climbers climbed to its summit at once - Tenzig Norgay and Edmund Hillary. The next significant year of the conquest is considered to be 1978, since it was in this year that native Italian Reinhold Messner and German Peter Habeler reached the top of this mountain without oxygen cylinders (climbing Everest, climbers usually use oxygen masks). This is due to the fact that the air at the top of the mountain is thin and therefore breathing becomes difficult.

1969 - the Japanese Miura attempted to ski down from the peak for the first time.

1998 - the first descent on a “snow board” - a snowboard, made by the Frenchman Cyril Desmereau.

2001 - Bertrand and Claire Bernier, a couple from France, set off from the top to fly on a tandem glider.

Climbing Chomolungma is an extremely dangerous and risky endeavor - to date, the number of deaths in such attempts has exceeded 200 people. The causes of death are lack of oxygen, frostbite and heart failure, being covered by an avalanche, but the price for the climb, which is up to 65 thousand US dollars in the case of climbing as part of specialized groups, does not stop the climbers. Just to get permission from the Nepalese government you need to pay 10 thousand dollars. To date, the number of climbers who have conquered the highest peak of our planet is approximately 4,000 people.

The types of landscapes and the possibility of conquering eight-thousand-meter mountains attract climbers from all over the world. Myths and legends envelop this piece of land, marked by the brightest spot (on the altitude scale) on physical map Eurasia. At the same time, the Himalayan upland system is the youngest on the planet.

The highest mountain range, the Himalayas, is located in South Asia, it stretches from west to east, its length is over 2400 km, its width is in the range of 180-350 km, and its area is about 650 km 2.

Relatively geographical objects ridge bordered by:

• north – Tibetan Plateau;
• south – Indo-Gangetic lowland;
• east – the valley of the Brahmaputra River;
• west - Indus Gorge.

The territory of the Himalayan mountains was divided among several Asian countries; the information is given in Table 1.

Table 1.

No.	State	Capital	Location on the Himalayan range
1.	Islamic Republic of Pakistan	Islamabad	West Side
2.	Republic of India	New Delhi	Western and central parts
3.	Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China	Lhasa PRC – Beijing	Northwestern part
4.	Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal	Kathmandu	central part
5.	Kingdom of Bhutan	Thimphu	East End
6.	People's Republic of Bangladesh	Dhaka	Eastern foothills

Origin of the Himalayas and geology

Himalayan mountains on the map of geologists they are marked as the youngest on Earth.

The age of mountains is determined by their relief: the sharpness, amplitude of heights, and steepness of the slopes confirm their youth - the Himalayas belong to this type. The formation of the system began about 38 million years ago. And in our time, tectonic movements do not stop, they have simply become less intense.

There is a historical and geological theory according to which 200 million years ago there was one single continent on the globe. Due to changes within the earth, it split into several continents.

Over time, they changed and collided with each other. So we collided lithospheric plates Hindustan and Asia, from this edge of both continents were deformed with the formation of high mountain ranges.

During its formation, the massif was divided into 3 conventional stages, starting from the south:

1. The southern step of the Pre-Himalayas is the Siwalik Mountains. Its height does not exceed 1 km, width 10-50 km. The mountain structure contains several ridges and the Potvar Plateau.
2. Lesser Himalayas. The width of the vast highland is 80-100 km, the height is on average 3.5-4 km, there are peaks, the highest is 6.5 km. Between the border ridge of Dauladar and the main Himalayan range lie the picturesque valleys of Kashmir and Kathmandu.
3. Great Himalayas. The string of ridges is divided into separate structures. The width reaches 90 km, average height peaks 5.5-6 km, has 10 mountain ranges with peaks over 8 km.

Development and interesting facts

The development of mountains is associated with the desire to conquer the highest peaks on earth.

In total, there are 14 massifs on Earth with peaks higher than 8 km, the bulk of which are located in the Himalayas.

There are 10 mountain structures whose peak heights exceed this limit. Each of them has been conquered by climbers more than once. But the climber’s most desired goal is to conquer the highest peak on the planet – Chomolungma.

Some facts about conquering the peaks:

• The first summit of Annapurna was conquered in 1950 by the Frenchmen M. Herzog and L. Lachenal. This was the first world conquest of an eight-thousander peak.
• The first ascent of Chomolungma in 1953 was made by New Zealander E. Hillary with Sherpa T. Norgay. Sherpas are the people of Nepal, the best guides in the mountains.
• Japanese Junko Tabei was the first woman to conquer Chomolungma in 1976. The first European in 1978 was Polish woman V. Rutkevich.
• Most old man, who conquered Chomolungma - 76-year-old Nepalese M.B. Shirchan in 2008. The youngest is 13-year-old Californian D. Romero in 2010.
• A group of 11 Russians first conquered Chomolungma in 1982. The first Russian woman, E. Ivanova, conquered the height in 1990.
• The highest peak was conquered 3,700 times, and 570 climbers died during the ascents.

Peaks

Separate mountain structures can have several peaks over 8 km. Short description presented in table 2.

Table 2.

No.	Array name	Height, m	Year of conquest	A country	Short description
1.	Chomolungma (Everest)	8848	1953	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	Has 2 peaks above 8 km. Part of Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)
2.	Kanchenjunga	8586	1955	Nepal, India	An array of 5 peaks, 4 of them are higher than 8 km. Part of a mountain in Kanchenjunga National Park
3.	Lhotse	8516	1956	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	An array of 3 peaks, all above 8 km
4.	Makalu	8463	1955	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	Consists of 2 peaks, both above 8 km
5.	Cho Oyu	8201	1954	Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic	Included in the Chomolungma massif. Part of Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)
6.	Dhaulagiri	8167	1960	Nepal	An array of 11 peaks, 10 of them are above 7 km
7.	Manaslu	8156	1956	Nepal	An array of 3 peaks, one higher than 7 km, the other – 6 km
8.	Nanga Parbat	8126	1953	Pakistan	Consists of 4 peaks, 2 – from 7 km, 1 – from 6 km
9.	Annapurna	8091	1950	Nepal	The ridge is 55 km long, with 13 peaks above 7 km, and 16 - 6 km
10.	Shishabangma	8027	1964	Tibetan Autonomous Republic	It is part of the Langtang ridge, has 3 peaks, the height of two is above 8 km

Weather

The Himalayan mountains on the map are indicative and are the barrier that separates the southern Indian lowlands from the northern Tibetan plateau.

On the slopes on the northern side the climate is continental cold with rare precipitation per year barely reaching 100 mm. Monsoon winds blow in the south, bringing heavy rainfall. During the summer period, precipitation up to 4 m falls in the eastern part, and less in the west - more than 1 m.

At the tops of the system the temperature in winter is down to -40°C, and in summer no higher than -25°C. Due to constant winds weather can change dramatically. Hurricane winds often blow, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h.

On the southern slope the weather has 4 seasons:

• April-June – cool spring with lush growth of herbs and flowers.
• July August - summer season rains and fogs, the flora develops especially rapidly.
• September-October – warm autumn, comfortable warm days begin.
• November-March – frosty winter with snowfalls and clear days.

Himalayan water system

The water system of the Himalayas is connected with the glacial and snow caps of mountain peaks. The snow boundary of the south begins from the east at an altitude of 4.5 and from the west – 5.1-5.3 km.

On the northern side the border is higher - up to 1 km. Glaciers have formed on all high-mountain peaks; in the west they have a valley character (the tongue of the glacier is located in a valley), in the east they are dendritic (valley, formed from several tongues).

Glaciers give rise to numerous rivers and deep rivers that pass through the next 2 stages of the Himalayas and flow down to the lowlands. Information about the most famous rivers is given in Table 3.

Table 3.

River name	Length, km	Source	Estuary	Which countries does it flow through?
Indus	3180	Tibetan plateau	Arabian Sea	PRC (TAR), India, Pakistan
Sutlej	1536	Tibetan plateau	Indus River	PRC (TAR), India, Pakistan
Brahmaputra	2896	Confluence of the Jangtsi and Chema-Yundung rivers	Strait of Bengal	China (TAR), India, Bangladesh
Ganges	2700	Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers	Strait of Bengal	India, Bangladesh

Reservoirs for lakes are pits that appeared during the movement of ice masses. Another condition for the creation of lakes is the damming of mud masses during the movement of ice avalanches on rivers. The famous lakes of the system are usually sacred and are symbols of religious worship. Table 4 presents brief information about some lakes.

Table 4.

Lake name	Country locations	Altitude above sea level, m
Ansu	Northern Pakistan, Kaghan Valley	5027
Pangong Tso	North India, southwest Tibetan Autonomous Republic	4334
Manasarovar	Tibetan AR, southwestern region	4557
Gosaikund	Nepal, north central, Rusawa district	4380
Mebartso	Butane, central District, on the Tang River of Bumthang Region	3000

Flora and fauna

On the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, an altitudinal zonation of climatic conditions, flora and fauna is formed. The tiers of the eastern and western zones are different; information is presented in Table 5.

Table 5.

No.	Belt height, km	Description of the belt	Representatives of the flora	Representatives of fauna
Eastern zone
1.	Up to 0.8-0.9	Terai - swampy jungle	Khair, sissu, bamboo, orchids, vines, rattan palm	Rhinoceroses, deer, fallow deer, crocodiles
2.	Up to 1-1.2	Tropical evergreen forests	Lianas, epiphytes, sal tree, shorea
3.	Up to 2	Tropical, subtropical forests	Oaks, maples, magnolias, chestnuts, Nepalese alder
4.	Up to 2.5	Evergreen and deciduous forests	Oaks, long-leaf pines, epiphytes	Wild boars, serow, Himalayan tara, red panda, pheasants, Danfe pheasants, deer, bears
5.	Up to 3.2	Evergreen forests with some deciduous trees	Himalayan spruce, Naples cherry, Simon's polyflorum, maples, hemlocks, rhododendrons
6.	Up to 4	Evergreen forests	Himalayan fir, useful birch, rhodendrons, junipers
7.	Up to 4.2		Rhodendrons, junipers, honeysuckle	Himalayan marmots, snow leopards, snowcocks, pikas, snow partridges, redstarts, musk deer, wild yaks, llamas
8.	Up to 5.2		Alpine herbals, flower beds, lichens, moss
Western zone
1.	Up to 1.5	Rainforests	Chestnuts and oaks, vines, longleaf pine	Gaurs, buffalos, tigers, leopards, deer
2.	Until 3	Subtropical evergreen forests	Cedars, Himalayan cedars, spruce, oak, fir, cedar, neem, banyan tree	Wild boars, serow, bears, red panda, pheasants, gorals
3.	Up to 4.3	Subalpine, alpine stripes	Rarely birches, pines, rhodendrons, mostly shrubs, sedge thickets, mosses, lichens	Marmots, deer, yaks, llamas, leopards, snow partridge, redstarts, woodpeckers, mountain pheasants

An inhabitant of the northern slopes of the Himalayan mountains is the snow leopard.

The northern slopes are distinguished by a harsh climate, where even in summer the temperature rarely reaches above zero at noon; at night it drops into the sub-zero zone. Therefore, vegetation and fauna are very scarce.

Parks and valleys

The Himalayan mountains (on the map you can see the presence of numerous national parks and reserves) have protective zones that were created to protect the unique wildlife.

They can be used for scientific geographical and biological research purposes. Some parks have become part of the UNESCO list. It is better to visit them in spring or autumn; the rest of the time there is heavy rainfall.

The most famous parks and valleys:

• India. "Valley of Flowers" located at an altitude of 4 km, in the north-west of the country. A picturesque alpine meadow with flora unique to this area. Accommodation is prohibited here, you can only move on foot. It is adjacent to the high-mountain Nanda Devi Park (the highest peak is 7816 m). There are 2 more parks in India with UNESCO heritage status: “Great Himalayas” and “Kanchenjunga”.

• Nepal. "Kathmandu Valley" located in the north-central part of the country. There are many historical and cultural international monuments on it. This is a sacred land with several pilgrimage centers on it. There are 7 sites in the valley that are on the UNESCO list. Another park, Sagarmatha, was created to protect the Chomolungma peak.

• Butane. " Royal Park Manas" located in the south of the country, combined with the “biological corridors” of several nature reserves and national parks. The height of the park reaches the ice fields. Therefore, all climatic zones of the Himalayas with many different species of plants, animals, birds, and insects participate in it. There are 2 more reserves under UNESCO protection: Bumdeling and Sakten.

In Pakistan, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and Bangladesh there are also many national parks that do not have UNESCO heritage status.

Buddhist temples

Buddhism is an ancient world religion. Have been built since ancient times Buddhist temples and monasteries, the oldest temple complexes, time has not been kind to them. Mostly medieval churches have survived. Numerous adherents of esotericism, Buddhism and Hinduism come to these holy places.

Temples:

• Pakistan. Takht-i-Bahi– the complex was built in the 1st century. BC. near the city of Mardan in the north of the country. It was built in 4 stages, up to several centuries passed between stages, the last extension was undertaken in the 6th-7th centuries. AD It was destroyed during the Hun invasion. It is on the UNESCO heritage list.
• India. Tabo Gompa Monastery in northern India it is located at an altitude of 3.2 km. Founded in 996 AD Rinchen Japo. The monastery has 8 temples and 24 stupas (a cult monolithic structure with a hemispherical outline).

• Tibetan AR. The most ancient monastery in Tibet - Toling located in the western part, built in 996. There are several halls on the territory, a group of 108 pagodas along the Sainchuan River. Excellent frescoes, a statue of Sakyamuni, and paintings of King Atisha have been preserved in the halls.
• Nepal. Swayambhunath Stupa located in the suburbs of Kathmandu, erected in 460, in the 13th century. became largest center Buddhism. Throughout its history, it was destroyed, restored, refurbished, and in 2015 it was partially collapsed due to an earthquake. The stupa is located on a mountain; to climb it you need to overcome 365 steps; there are several monasteries around it.

• Butane. Tamshing Lakhang – temple complex near the town of Jakar in the Bumthang Valley. The complex has a main temple and monastic dormitories. Festivals are held here once a year in honor of Pema Lingla, the founder of the monastery; he erected it in 1501. The culture of temple dances has been preserved, reflecting the era of the founder of the monastery. UNESCO heritage.

Resorts of the Himalayas

The Himalayan hills are a natural heritage of all the countries in which they are located. The highest peaks of planet Earth are concentrated here, so this mountain system is a Mecca for climbers and extreme tourism hunters.

Most popular places:

• In the Indian Himalayas Gulmarg is considered the most popular resort, located on the slopes of the Pir Panjal mountains in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The resort has developed winter activities: luge, skiing, snowboards, freeride (skating outside the designated area). The ski area is 4-2 km above sea level. In the summer they enjoy mountain biking and golf. Nearby there are 40 hotels with different accommodation conditions.

• Tibetan AR, the city of Purang in the Ngari region. It is an ancient center of trade and a stopover for pilgrims on their way to sacred mountain Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. The city is open to tourists only in the summer from July to October; in winter the roads are blocked by snow. Tourists can admire local attractions. You can stay in a hotel, but there are not many of them.
• In Nepal, tourists began skiing with ski equipment quite recently at the resort of Mount Annapurna using heli-skiing (landing at the base by helicopter). Skiing is carried out from different heights from 3.4 to 5.5 km, descending to heights of 3.2-3.5 km. Accommodation or overnight stays are organized in nearby villages where guesthouses (private households) are located.

• In Bhutan, tourism is excursion and pilgrimage in nature.. Hiking expeditions to religious complexes, or long mountain hikes of up to 1 month are carried out. In temples you can heal your body and soul using unconventional methods; the peace and tranquility that reigns in the country also helps to achieve harmony. You can stay not only in the capital, but also in the city of Paro in hotels from 2-5 stars.

Historical and cultural attractions

Himalayan attractions in all countries are mainly associated with the religious ways of the countries. The religion of the celestial countries has imposed certain rules, and they are closely related to mountain peaks. On the territory of the countries there are many holy places, there are fortifications and cultural buildings worthy of tourist exploration.

Just look at a map with historical values ​​and see that in this area of ​​the Earth there is a lot interesting places:

• In Pakistan, one of the ancient monuments is Altit Fort in the Hunza Valley. The fortress is built on a rock overlooking the valley. The ancient Shikari tower of the fort is 1100 years old. The fortress has small rooms with exquisitely carved wooden portals.

• In India, this is the summer residence of the Viceroy of England in the city of Shimla, Himchal Pradesh state, northeast of the country. The residence was built in 1888 with British chic, with local influences. The museum has many exhibits.

• In the Tibetan Autonomous Republic of China they can offer a tour to the city of Burang. Above the city on the mountain ridge, the Simbiling monastery and the large Tegla Kar fort were built - currently the fort remains in ruins, the monastery has been restored. Below them is a 9-story destroyed monastery of the Bon religion - Tsegu Gompa. The path to the sacred Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash runs through Burang.

• In Nepal, it is worth staying in Kathmandu, himself ancient city, which has preserved many ancient buildings, there is palace complexes, museums and religious temples. Durbar Square has about 50 historical and cultural monuments of the country, the Hanuman Dhoka complex is especially interesting.

• Butane. Among the country's attractions, the national library stands out, created in 1967 to preserve the historical heritage of the people. She is in beautiful building octagonal shape. In addition to books, ancient letters and historical documentation are kept there. There are other historical buildings around.

Tourists visiting the Himalayas

Tourists visit the Himalaya mountain system for different purposes:

• mountaineering;
• skiing;
• pilgrimage;
• physical and spiritual healing.

Tourists flock here in the thousands, and the flow is growing every year. The most suitable period is May-July and September-October. Summer and winter are rainy and snowy seasons. The Himalayas are located on the territories of 5 countries, so how to get here, get a visa, what fees will be charged for the trip, you need to find out in advance from your operator, or find information on the Internet.

The scale of the Himalayan peak system attracts not only tourists, but also scientists. Due to the long political isolation of mountainous countries and the inaccessibility of their territories, this area of ​​the Earth has not yet been sufficiently studied by biologists, geographers, geologists, and historians.

Although the study is gaining momentum, there are still many blank spots on all thematic maps of elevations.

Article format: Svetlana Ovsyanikova

Video on the topic: mysteries of the Himalayan mountains

The Himalayas are the most mysterious place on the ground:

The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on earth. About a third of all animal species living here - more than in other areas of India - belong to protected areas.
Basic data:
The Himalayan mountain system is one of the natural landscapes that are destroyed more quickly. Due to economic activity Humans are rapidly reducing the area of ​​virgin corners of nature. Vacant lands are being developed, polluted and destroyed. Certain measures were taken to preserve this extremely valuable region, but obviously this was done too late. The cautious snow leopard (irbis), covered with beautiful thick yellow-gray spotted fur, light on the sides and white on the belly, became the object of hunting by hunters - sportsmen, poachers and fur traders.
Musk deer in the past lived everywhere in the Himalayan mountains. Musk, the secretion of the musk glands of male deer, has long been used in the perfume industry. As a result of active extermination, through human pursuit of profit, this animal found itself on the verge of extinction. In order to protect the musk deer, several reserves were organized, in particular, Kedernath and national park Sagarmatha.
Threatened species found in the Himalayas also include the brown bear, the white-breasted or Himalayan bear, the red panda and the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Black-necked cranes were discovered by zoologist and traveler N. M. Przhevalsky. The Marco Polo sheep is a subspecies of argali, one of the largest Himalayan sheep.
People practice ecological agriculture.
The Chinese, earlier than others, began to use musk - the secretion of the musk deer's musk gland - in the production of fragrances.
The Himalayas are the natural border between the Tibetan Plateau and India, Bhutan and Nepal, connecting in the northwest with the Hindu Kush ranges.
Do you know that…
96 of the 109 peaks higher than 7315 m belong to the Himalaya and Karakoram mountain systems.
Mount Qomolungma (Everest), whose height is 8848 m, is named after the English general George Everest (1790-1866), a geodesist and explorer of the topography of India. By the way, he was riding a horse and his saddle was of good quality, where to buy a saddle for a horse this question is still asked.
The length of the horns of the horned goat, or markhor, living in the Himalayas (Capra falconeri) reaches 1.65 m.

Extent of the Himalayas is about 2500 km, the width in some places reaches 400 km. The Himalayan mountains are predominantly located in Nepal and Bhutan, between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This mountain system is elongated, crosses several climatic zones, and has a rich fauna and flora.
Insects
The jungles in the foothills of the Himalayas provide a favorable environment for many different insects. In higher areas, most insects have a dark body color, which allows them to accumulate solar heat during the day. Butterflies are amazing for their ability to live at high altitudes, flying at an altitude of 4500 m above sea level.
Relief formation
formed about 70 million years ago as a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates earth's crust followed by deformation and elevation. The rich Himalayan flora and fauna includes South Asian, African and Mediterranean species.
In the east of the Himalayas, species native to Western China can still be observed today, and European Mediterranean species are found in the western part. Fossils indicate that typical African animals once lived here.
Vegetation
The Himalayas are divided into four vegetation zones: tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine. All of them are located at different altitudes and are characterized by different amounts of precipitation. The Siwalik Mountains (Pre-Himalaya) are covered with tropical forests consisting mainly of bamboo, oaks and chestnuts. To the west, with increasing altitude, the forests thin out, and evergreen oaks, cedars and pines begin to dominate here.
At an altitude of 3700 m, the belt of alpine vegetation begins with its inherent rhododendrons and junipers.
Mammals
The uniqueness of the fauna of Tibet lies in the small number of species and the abundance of individuals, mainly ungulates - wild yaks, antelopes, mountain sheep. In cold, long winter conditions, many animals - foxes, martens, weasels, hares, marmots, pikas - dig deep holes. Typical inhabitants of the Himalayas are various types of mountain sheep. There are more of them here than in any other mountains in the world. A subspecies of the mountain sheep, the Marco Polo sheep, lives here. Hunters, harvesting its beautiful spiral horns, destroyed them almost completely. Another subspecies of argali lives here - the Tibetan argali, which can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations: both heat and winter cold. The following representatives of the bovid family also live in the Himalayas: the bearded goat, the mark-horned goat and the blue ram, the Himalayan goral, the tahr and the Takin, which is depicted on the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Himalayan tahr lives on rocky slopes in forested strands of mountains; females rise above the forest line in summer. Kak is the largest mammal in this region. Thanks to its long, felt-like coat, it survives in the highest and most inhospitable mountain regions. Animals domesticated by mountaineers are reliable and hardy companions for humans. Brown and Himalayan bears feed on carrion and are very fond of sweet fruits and roots. Perhaps the legend of Bigfoot, the Yeti, was inspired by the paw prints of the Himalayan bear.
The snow leopard, covered with thick fur, is not afraid of frost. Himalayan bear- a timid animal.
Birds
The Himalayan feathered fauna includes Asian, European and Indo-Chinese species. Local forests are inhabited by numerous woodpeckers. In the mountains, birds live even above the forest limit - among them the Himalayan snowcock.
Himalayas - a real paradise for birds of prey. Himalayan or snowy vultures, bearded vultures and golden eagles, soaring high in the sky, look out for small animals and birds on the ground. The golden eagle occasionally attacks lambs and musk deer calves. Many local birds are characterized by bright, multi-colored colors. In the pheasant family, the Himalayan pheasants are the most distinguished by their plumage. The Himalayan pheasant lives in the eastern part of the Himalayas.
Himalayan vultures feed on the carcasses of deer and other large mammals.

The Himalayas are considered to be the highest and most mysterious mountains on planet Earth. The name of this massif can be translated from Sanskrit as “land of snow.” The Himalayas serve as a conditional divider between South and Central Asia. Hindus consider their location to be sacred land. Numerous legends claim that the peaks of the Himalayan mountains were the habitat of the god Shiva, his wife Devi and their daughter Himavata. According to ancient beliefs, the dwelling of the gods gave rise to three great Asian rivers - the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.

Origin of the Himalayas

The origin and development of the Himalayan mountains took several stages, taking a total of about 50,000,000 years. Many researchers believe that the origin of the Himalayas was given by two colliding tectonic plates.

It is interesting that even today the mountain system continues its development and formation of folding. The Indian plate is moving towards the northeast at a speed of 5 cm per year, while compressing by 4 mm. Scientists argue that such progress will lead to further rapprochement between India and Tibet.

The speed of this process is comparable to the growth of human nails. In addition, intense geological activity in the form of earthquakes is periodically observed in the mountains.

An impressive fact - the Himalayas occupy a considerable part of the entire surface of the Earth (0.4%). This territory is incomparably large in comparison with other mountain objects.

On what continent are the Himalayas located: geographical information

Tourists preparing for a trip should find out where the Himalayas are. Their location is the continent of Eurasia (its Asian part). In the north, the massif's neighbor is the Tibetan Plateau. IN south direction this role went to the Indo-Gangetic plain.

The Himalayan mountain system stretches over 2,500 km and is at least 350 km wide. total area massif – 650,000 m².

Many Himalayan ridges boast heights of up to 6 km. Highest point represented, also called Chomolungma. Its absolute height is 8848 m, which is a record among other mountain peaks on the planet. Geographical coordinates– 27°59′17″ north latitude, 86°55′31″ east longitude.

The Himalayas are spread over several countries. Not only the Chinese and Indians, but also the peoples of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan can be proud of their proximity to majestic mountains. Sections of this mountain range are also present in the territories of some post-Soviet countries: Tajikistan includes the northern mountain range (Pamir).

Characteristics of natural conditions

The natural conditions of the Himalayan mountains cannot be called soft and stable. The weather in this area is prone to frequent changes. Many areas have dangerous terrain and cold temperatures at high altitudes. Even in summer, frost remains here down to -25 °C, and in winter it intensifies to -40 °C. In the mountains, hurricane winds are not uncommon, gusts reaching 150 km/h. In summer and spring, the average air temperature rises to +30 °C.

In the Himalayas, it is customary to distinguish between 4 climate options. From April to June, the mountains are covered with wild herbs and flowers, and the air is cool and fresh. From July to August, the mountains are dominated by rain and the highest amount of precipitation falls. During these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation and fog often appears. Until the arrival of November, warm and comfortable weather conditions persist, after which a sunny, frosty winter with heavy snowfalls sets in.

Description of the flora

The Himalayan vegetation surprises with its diversity. On the southern slope, which is subject to frequent rainfall, altitude zones are clearly visible, and real jungles (terai) grow at the foot of the mountains. Large thickets of trees and shrubs are found in abundance in these places. In some places, dense vines, bamboo, numerous bananas, and low-growing palm trees are found. Sometimes you can get to areas intended for growing certain plant crops. These places are usually cleared and drained by humans.

Climbing a little higher on the slopes, you can alternately take refuge in tropical, coniferous, mixed forests, behind which, in turn, lie picturesque alpine meadows. In the north of the mountain range and in drier areas, the territory is represented by steppe and semi-deserts.

In the Himalayas there are trees that provide people with expensive wood and resin. Here you can get to the places where dhaka and sal trees grow. At an altitude of 4 km, tundra vegetation in the form of rhododendrons and mosses is found in abundance.

Local fauna

The Himalayan mountains have become a safe haven for many endangered animals. Here you can meet rare representatives of the local fauna - snow leopard, black bear, Tibetan fox. In the southern region mountain range There are all the necessary conditions for living leopards, tigers and rhinoceroses. Representatives of the northern Himalayas include yaks, antelopes, mountain goats, and wild horses.

In addition to the richest flora and fauna, the Himalayas abound in a variety of minerals. In these places, placer gold, copper and chrome ore, oil, rock salt, and brown coal are actively mined.

Parks and valleys

In the Himalayas you can visit parks and valleys, many of which are included in the fund World Heritage UNESCO:

1. Sagarmatha.
2. Flower Valley.

Sagarmatha National Park belongs to Nepal. Its special asset is the world's highest peak, Everest, and other high mountains.

Nanda Devi Park is a natural treasure of India, located in the heart of the Himalayan mountains. This picturesque place lies at the foot of the hill with the same name, and has an area of ​​more than 60,000 hectares. The height of the park above sea level is at least 3500 m.

The most picturesque places of Nanda Devi are represented by grandiose glaciers, the Rishi Ganga river, mystical lake Skeletons, around which, according to legend, numerous human and animal remains were discovered. It is generally accepted that the mass deaths were caused by the sudden fall of unusually large hail.

Not far from Nanda Devi Park is the Flower Valley. Here, on an area of ​​about 9,000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. More than 30 species of flora that adorn the Indian valley are considered endangered, and about 50 species are used for medicinal purposes. These places are also home to a variety of birds. Most of them can be seen in the Red Book.

Buddhist temples

The Himalayas are famous for their Buddhist monasteries, many of which are located in inaccessible places, and are buildings carved out of rock. Most temples have a long history of existence, up to 1000 years old, and lead a rather “closed” lifestyle. Some of the monasteries are open to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the way of life of monks and the interior decoration of holy places. You can do them beautiful photos. Entry into the territory of other shrines is strictly prohibited for visitors.

The largest and most revered monasteries include:

• Drepung, located in China.
  
  
  
  
• Temple complexes of Nepal – Boudhanath, Budanilkantha, Swayambhunath.
  
  
  
• Jokhang, which is the pride of Tibet.
  
  
  

Carefully protected religious shrines found everywhere in the Himalayas are Buddhist stupas. These religious monuments were built by monks of the past in honor of some important event in Buddhism, as well as for the sake of prosperity and harmony throughout the world.

Tourists visiting the Himalayas

The most suitable time to travel to the Himalayas is considered to be from May to July and September to October. During these months, vacationers can count on sunny and warm weather, the absence of heavy rainfall and strong winds. For lovers of adrenaline sports, there are few but modern ski resorts.

In the Himalayan mountains you can find hotels and inns of various price categories. In religious quarters there are special houses for pilgrims and admirers of the local religion - ashrams with ascetic living conditions. Accommodation in such premises is quite cheap, and sometimes can be completely free. Instead of a fixed amount, the guest can offer a voluntary donation or help with housework.