The Himalayas are the youngest and the highest mountain range in the world. This stunning mountain range located in South Asia is incredible and majestic. The name Himalayas comes from the Sanskrit word “Himā-laya”. “Hima” means snow, whereas “a-laya” means “dwelling”. Hence, Himalayas means a resting place of snow.
Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. K2 (8,611 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,462 m), Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,156 m), Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m), etc are some of the magnificent mountains located in Himalayas mountain range.
Moreover, the Himalayas has a vast Tibetan plateau to the North and the green plains to the South. However, the highlight of this spectacular mountain range is Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. The Himalayas stretch to different countries that range from Nepal, Tibet (China), India, Pakistan, and Bhutan.
How were the Himalayan mountains formed?
The Himalayas were duly formed after a collision of two continents to form a supercontinent called, “Pangea”. This event took place 40 to 50 million years ago. The Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates collided to create the tallest mountains in the world in Southern Asia.
Moreover, the actual floating started approximately 220 million years ago and continues until today. The Indian landmass went beneath the Asian one, and the Asian landmass moved up. The coastline of India was denser and more firmly attached to the seabed. Thus, Asia’s softer soil got pushed up and resulted in the formation of the Himalayas.
Impact of Himalayas in culture and lifestyle
The Himalayan range is of great religious and cultural importance. It has been extensively mentioned in literature, and mythologies. The Himalayas directly impacts the lifestyles and culture of the people living in South Asia. Hundreds of pilgrims, mountaineers, and explorers come to the Himalayas for a unique adventure.
Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary were the first ascenders of the tallest mountain peak of Mount Everest. After the successful ascent of Mt. Everest, various mountains were duly opened for climbing and exploration activities. There are many hidden zones in the Himalayas that are yet to be fully explored. Trekking the Himalayas is one of the most popular adventures in the world.
What are the major rivers that flow from the Himalayas?
Many majestic rivers originate from the Himalayas. The Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus, Mekong, Yangtze, Yellow Rivers, Yarlung, and Nujiang are some of the essential Himalayan rivers of the region. These pristine rivers are older than the Himalayan mountain peaks itself.
Moreover, the majestic Hindu Kush in the Karakoram is the western end of the Himalayas. Similarly, the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh is the eastern end point. Stretching over more than 2400 kilometres, the Himalayas has an average width of 200 km.
Furthermore, there are 14 mountain peaks above the elevation of 8,000 meters in the Himalayan mountain range. The alpine forests of the Himalayan region comprises Rhododendron, Oak, Deodar, Birch, Pine, and Fir trees. Besides that, there are many glaciers, glacial lakes, and ice falls originating from the Himalayas.
Weather and Climate of the Himalayas
The Himalayas have extremely freezing temperatures all around the year. The climate stays below freezing temperatures all around the year. The Himalayan region above the altitude of 4880m remains covered in snow at all times with heavy snowfall in the winters.
Winters are especially cold and many people living in the Himalayan region migrate to the lower hills and plains in the winters. Hence, the spring and the autumn season are the ideal time for trekking and climbing in the Himalayas.
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