Where are the Himalayas located in which country? Himalayas: where they are, highest point, description

The Himalayas are undoubtedly the highest mountain structure in the world. It stretches over a distance of 2,400 meters from the northwest towards the southeast. Its western part reaches a width of 400 kilometers, and the eastern part is approximately 150 kilometers wide.

In the article we will look at where the Himalayas are located, in which states the mountain range is located and who lives in this territory.

Kingdom of the Snows

The pictures of the Himalayan peaks are mesmerizing. Many can easily answer the question of where on our planet these giants are located.

The map shows that they are located over a vast territory: starting from the northern hemisphere and ending along the way, they cross South Asia and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Then they gradually develop into other mountain systems.

The unusual location of the mountains lies in the fact that they are located on the territory of 5 countries. The Himalayas can be boasted by the Indians, the Nepalese, the Chinese, the residents of Bhutan, and Pakistan, and the northern side of Bangladesh.

How the Himalayas appeared and developed

This mountain system, from a geological point of view, is quite young. It was assigned to the Himalaya coordinates: 27°59′17″ N latitude and 86°55′31″ E longitude

There are two phenomena that influenced the appearance of mountains:

1. The system was formed mainly from sediments and rocks interacting in earth's crust. At first they folded into peculiar folds, and then rose to a certain height.
2. The formation of the Himalayas was influenced by the merger of two lithospheric plates, which began about 50 million years ago. Because of this, the ancient Tethys ocean disappeared.

Dimensions of the Himalayan peaks

This mountain system includes 10 of the 14 highest mountains on Earth, which have exceeded the 8 km mark. The highest of them is Mount Chomolungma (Everest) - 8,848 meters up. On average everything Himalayan mountains exceed 6 km.

In the table you can see which peaks the mountain system includes, their height and the location of the Himalayas by country.

Three main steps

The Himalaya mountains have formed 3 main levels, each of which is higher than the previous one.

Description of the Himalayan steps, starting with the lowest height:

1. The Siwalik Range is the southernmost, lowest and youngest level. Its length is 1 km 700 meters between the lowlands of the Indus and Brahmaputra, and its width is from 10 to 50 km. The height of the Siwalik hill does not exceed 2 km. This mountain range is located mainly on the soil of Nepal, capturing the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
2. The Lesser Himalayas are the second stage, going in the same direction as the Siwalik, only closer to the north. On average, their height is approximately 2.5 km and only in the west they reach 4 km. These two Himalayan steps have many river valleys that divide the massif into isolated areas.
3. The Greater Himalayas are the third level, which is much further north and higher than the previous two. Some peaks here are much more than 8 km in height. And the depressions in the mountain ridges are more than 4 km. Multiple glacial accumulations are located over an area of ​​more than 33 thousand km 2. They contain fresh water in a volume of about 12 thousand km 3. The largest and most famous glacier is Gangotri - the beginning of the Indian Ganges River.

Himalayan water system

The three largest South Asian rivers - the Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganges - begin their journey in the Himalayas. The western Himalayan rivers are part of the Indus River catchment, while all others are adjacent to the Brahmaputra-Gangetic basin. The easternmost side of the Himalayas belongs to the system Also in this mountain structure there are many naturally occurring reservoirs that do not have connections with other rivers, seas and oceans. For example, lakes Bangong Tso and Yamjoyum Tso (700 and 621 km 2, respectively). And then there is Lake Tilicho, which is located very high in the mountains - at around 1919 m, and is considered one of the highest in the world.

Extensive glaciers are another feature of the mountain system. They cover an area of ​​33 thousand km 2 and store about 7 km 3 of snow. The largest and longest glaciers are Zema, Gangotri and Rongbuk.

Weather

The weather in the mountains is changeable and is affected by geographical position Himalayas, their vast territory.

• On the southern side, under the influence of the monsoon, a lot of precipitation falls in summer - up to 4 meters in the east, up to 1 meter per year in the west, and almost none in winter.
• In the north, on the contrary, there is almost no rain at all; a continental climate, cold and dry, prevails here. High in the mountains there are severe frosts and strong winds. The air temperature is below -40 o C.

Temperature in summer time reaches -25 °C, and in winter - up to -40 °C. In mountainous areas, wind speeds of up to 150 km/h are often encountered. In the Himalayas, the weather changes quite often.

The Himalayan mountain structure also influences the weather of the entire region. The mountains act as protection from the freezing dry gusts of wind that blow from the north, so the climate in India is warmer than in Asian countries, which, by the way, are located in the same latitudes.

The weather in Tibet is very dry because all the monsoon winds that blow from the south and bring a lot of rain cannot cross the high mountains. All moisture-containing air volumes settle in them.

There is an assumption that the Himalayas also took part in the formation of the deserts of Asia, since they prevented the passage of rainfall.

Flora and fauna

Flora directly depends on the height of the Himalayas.

• The base of the Siwalik range is covered with swampy forests and terai (a kind of undergrowth).
• A little higher up, green, dense forests with tall stands begin; there are deciduous and coniferous plants. Further on there are mountain meadows covered with thick grass.
• Forests, which consist of deciduous trees and small shrubs, predominate at altitudes greater than 2 km. And coniferous forests are more than 2 km 600 meters.
• Above 3 km 500 meters the kingdom of bushes begins.
• On the northern slopes the weather is drier, so there is much less vegetation. Mostly mountainous deserts and steppes predominate.

The fauna is very diverse and depends on where the Himalayas are located and their position above sea level.

• The southern tropics are home to wild elephants, antelopes, tigers, rhinoceroses and leopards, and a very large number of monkeys.
• A little higher live the famous Himalayan bears, mountain sheep and goats, and yaks.
• And even higher up, snow leopards are sometimes found.

There are many nature reserves in the Himalayas. For example, national park Sagarmatha.

Population

A significant part of people live in the southern Himalayas, whose height does not reach 5 km. For example, in the Kashirskaya and Kathmandu basins. These areas are quite densely populated, land almost all are cultivated

In the Himalayas, the population is divided into ethnic groups. It so happened that it was difficult to get to these places; people lived for a long time in isolated tribes with little contact with their neighbors. Often in winter, the inhabitants of a certain basin found themselves completely isolated from others, because it was impossible to get to their neighbors due to snow piles in the mountains.

It is known where the Himalayas are located - on the territory of five countries. Residents of the region communicate in two languages: Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman.

Religious views also vary: some extol Buddha, while others worship Hinduism.

The Himalayan Sherpas live high in the mountains of Eastern Nepal, including the Everest region. They often work as assistants on expeditions: they show the way and carry things. They have adapted perfectly to the altitude, so even at the highest points of this mountain system they do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. Apparently, this is inherited at the genetic level.

The inhabitants of the Himalayas are mainly engaged in agricultural work. If the land is relatively flat and there is a sufficient amount of water in reserve, then peasants successfully grow potatoes, rice, peas, oats and barley. Where the climate is warmer, for example in depressions, lemons, oranges, apricots, tea and grapes grow. High in the mountains, residents keep yaks, sheep and goats. Yaks carry cargo, but they are also kept for meat, wool and milk.

Special values ​​of the Himalayas

There are many attractions in the Himalayas: Buddhist and Hindu monasteries, temples, relics. At the foot of the mountains is the city of Rishikesh - sacred place for Hindus. It was in this city that yoga was born; this city is considered the capital of harmony of body and soul.

The city of Hardwar or "Gateway to God" is another sacred place for local residents. It is located on the descent from the mountain of the Ganges River, which flows out onto the plain.

You can walk around national park"Valley of Flowers", which is located on the western side of the Himalayas. This area strewn with beautiful flowers is a UNESCO national heritage site.

Tourist travel

IN mountain system The Himalayas are very popular for sports such as mountain climbing and walking tours along mountain paths.

The most popular tracks include:

1. The famous Annapurna Path passes the slopes of the mountain range of the same name in northern Nepal. The length of the journey is about 211 km. In height it varies from 800 m to 5 km 416 meters. Along the way, tourists can admire the high-mountain Lake Tilicho.
2. You can see the area near Manaslu, which is located around the Mansiri Himal mountains. It partially coincides with the first route.

The travel time of these routes is influenced by the tourist’s preparation, time of year and weather. It is dangerous for an unprepared person to immediately climb to a height, as “mountain sickness” may begin. Besides, it's not safe. You need to be well prepared and purchase special equipment for mountaineering.

Almost every person knows where the Himalayas are and dreams of visiting there. Travel to the mountains attracts tourists from different countries, including from Russia. Remember that it is better to climb in the warm season, preferably in autumn or spring. In the Himalayas it rains in summer, and in winter it is very cold and impassable.

Himalayas: the highest mountains in the world

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The Himalayas consist of approximately 30 mountains, nine of which are the highest peaks on the planet, including Everest. Extreme lovers from all over the planet consider this place as a mountaineering center. We will tell you the most Interesting Facts about the Himalayas.

Geographical location

The Himalayas are located on the territory of five countries:

• India;
• Nepal;
• Bhutan;
• China;
• Pakistan

The mountains have a total area of ​​153,295,000 square meters. km, occupy 0.4% of the entire earth's surface.

The Himalayan mountain range is the most inaccessible region on Earth.

If you do not take into account Antarctica and the Arctic, the Himalayas lead in ice and snow deposits. A great number of glaciers contain enough water for rivers and lakes, which are found here in considerable quantities.

Huge rivers originate in the Himalayas and highlands of Tibet:

• Ganges;
• Yamuna.

The tops of the mountains are unsuitable for human life due to the harsh climate: cold, lack of oxygen, and strong winds. In the valleys between the mountains there are a small number of settlements with few inhabitants.

The local population lives off tourism and accompanying climbers who want to see or conquer mountain peaks.

Local religions and beliefs

The main religions of the Himalayan people are:

• Islam;
• Buddhism;
• Hinduism.

Story about Bigfoot, living somewhere in the mountains, has become the most popular myth in the Himalayas.

According to Hindu mythology, this place is considered the refuge of God Shiva.

The highest mountains of the Himalayas:

1. Chomolungma, altitude 8,848 km.
2. Kanchenjunga, altitude 8,586 km.
3. Lhotse, altitude 8,516 km.
4. Makalu, altitude 8,463 km.
5. Cho Oyu, altitude 8,201 km.
6. Dhaulagiri, altitude 8,167 km.
7. Manaslu, altitude 8,156 km.
8. Nanga Parbat, altitude 8,126 km.
9. Annapurna, altitude 8,091 km.
10. Shishabangma, altitude 8,027 km.

Many people die every year trying to conquer the peaks of the Himalayas. But danger does not stop true extreme sports enthusiasts and travelers who cannot live without risk.

The mountains are fraught with many dangerous surprises, for example, rapidly changing weather conditions with gusty winds, or a lack of oxygen.

Vegetation

Vegetation in the Himalayas varies depending on altitude:

• the valleys are dominated by swampy forests;
• green tropical jungles, coniferous and deciduous forests grow a little higher;
• further on there are alpine meadows;
• at a level of 3,500 m only shrubs grow.

The purest plants for medicine grow exclusively in the foothills.

There are quite a few Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas.

Valley of Flowers is a national park. It is located in the western Himalayas and is listed as a UNESCO heritage site.

Himalayas- this is the highest mountain system of our planet, which stretches in Central and South Asia and is located on the territory of countries such as China, India, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal. In this mountain range There are 109 peaks, their average height reaches more than 7 thousand meters above sea level. However, one of them surpasses them all. So, we will talk about the highest peak of the Himalaya mountain system.

What is it, the highest peak of the Himalayas?

The highest peak of the Himalayas is Mount Qomolungma, or Everest. It rises in the northern part of the Mahalangur Himal range, the highest mountain range of our planet, which can be reached only after arriving in. Its height reaches 8848 m.

Chomolungma is the name of the mountain in Tibetan, which means “Divine Mother of the Earth”. In Nepali, the peak sounds like Sagarmatha, which translates to “Mother of the Gods.” Everest was named after George Everest, a British explorer who led a geodetic survey in the surrounding areas.

The shape of the highest peak of the Himalayas, Chomolungma, is a triangular pyramid, in which the southern slope is steeper. As a result, that part of the mountain is practically not covered with snow.

Conquering the highest peak of the Himalayas

The impenetrable Chomolungma has long attracted the attention of climbers on Earth. However, unfortunately, due to unfavorable conditions, the mortality rate here is still high - there were more than 200 official reports of death on the mountain. At the same time, almost 3,000 people successfully climbed and descended from Everest. The first ascent to the summit took place in 1953 by Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary using oxygen devices.

The most majestic and mysterious mountain range on our planet is the Himalayas. This massif, whose name translates as the abode of snow, conventionally separates Central and South Asia, and the height of its individual peaks reaches more than 8,000 meters. The Himalayas are rightfully considered the highest mountains in the world. Let’s look at the Himalayas on the map and find out why these mountains are so unusual.

Location of the Himalayas mountain system on the world map

“Where are the Himalayas, in which country?” - this question often arises among novice travelers who have heard about the beauty of the most inaccessible mountains on the planet and decided to go there in search of adventure. Looking at the world map, you can see that the Himalayas are located in the northern hemisphere between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh are the countries whose territories cover the Himalayas. The most visited country in the Himalayas is India. There are many attractions and resorts here. The massif is 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. There are 83 peaks in the mountain system, the highest of which is Everest, the height of the mountain is 8848 m.

The Himalayan mountains on the map consist of three main stages:

• Siwalik Range. This is the most South part mountain range. The ridge is located in Nepal and affects several states of India. Here the height of the Himalayan mountains does not exceed 2 km.
• Small Himalayas. This ridge runs parallel to the Siwalik Range. The average altitude here is 2.5 km.
• Great Himalayas. This is the highest and oldest part of the mountain range. The height of the ridge exceeds 8 km, and it is here that the most high peaks planets.

Highest Peaks

The mountain range contains 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world. Here are the highest ones:

• Chomolungma – 8848 m.
• Kanchenjunga – 8586 m.
• Lhotse – 8516 m.
• Makalu – 8463 m.
• Cho Oyu – 8201 m.

Most of them are located on the territory of Tibet, and this is where mountain conquerors from all over the planet flock, because climbing the highest peaks is the life’s work of a real climber.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the Himalayas changes with changes in altitude. Natural features The Himalayas at different levels surprise with the change of landscapes, animals and flora. In the foothills of the small Himalayas, terai or swampy jungles predominate, above them they are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous, and finally, alpine meadows appear. The northern slopes are dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. Animal world The Himalayas are as diverse as their vegetation. Here you can still find wild tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and monkeys, and when you rise higher, the risk of encountering a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard increases.

In the mountains that captivate Nepal, there is a unique nature reserve, where endangered species of animals still exist. The zone is under the protection of UNESCO. Mount Everest is located within this reserve.

Rivers and lakes

It is in the Himalayas that the three largest rivers in South Asia originate. These include, Brahmaputra and Indus. Moreover, there are many beautiful and clean lakes in the mountain range. The highest mountain is Lake Tilicho, located at an altitude of 4919 m.

The special pride of the Himalayas is, of course, the glaciers. By quantity of reserves fresh water mountain range only the Arctic and Antarctic were bypassed. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri formation, which reaches a length of 26 km.

When is it nice to be in the Himalayas?

According to travelers, it is always good in the Himalayas. Each season gives the slopes of this ridge unique landscapes, the beauty of which is simply impossible to describe in words. In spring, the slopes are strewn with beautiful flowers, the aroma of which spreads for many kilometers; in summer, during the rainy season, lush greenery breaks through the light fog and gives freshness and coolness; autumn is a riot of colors; and in winter, when snow falls, there is no cleaner and whiter place in the world.

The main tourist season is in the autumn months, but even in winter there are many skiing enthusiasts, because in the Himalayas there are many ski resorts of global significance.

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

Where is it located and how to get there

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

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

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