The Himalayas are great mountain system Asia, forming a barrier between the plateau of Tibet in the north and the plains of the Indian subcontinent in the south. The Himalayas include the most high mountains world, with more than 110 peaks rising to an altitude of 7,300 meters or more above sea level. One of these peaks is Everest. Another name for the mountain in the Tibetan version is Qomolangma, in the Chinese version - Komolangma Feng, in Nepalese - Sagamata. It is the highest mountain in the World, with a height of 8,850 meters.
Geographical location of the Himalayas
Everyone who is interested in these mountains first of all searches on what continent, in what country and where are the Himalayas located. Geographical position The Himalayas extend over 2550 kilometers from North Africa before Pacific coast South-East Asia in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. The Himalayas stretch from west to east between Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan they include parts of Kashmir and Namzhagbarwa Peak, as well as in Tibet autonomous region China.
Between the western and eastern edges are two Himalayan countries - Nepal and Bhutan. The Himalayas are bordered in the northwest by the Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges, and in the north by the high and vast plateau of Tibet. The width of the Himalayas from south to north varies between 200 and 400 km. Their total area is 595,000 square kilometers.
On physical map it can be seen that India, Nepal and Bhutan have sovereignty over most of the Himalayas, Pakistan and China also occupy parts of them. In the disputed Kashmir region, Pakistan has administrative control over approximately 36,000 sq. km in the Ladakh region of Kashmir and claims territory at the eastern end of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. These disputes highlight the border issues facing India and neighboring countries in the land where the Himalayas are located.
Physical Features
The most characteristic features of the Himalayas are their high, steep, jagged peaks, valleys and alpine glaciers. Complex geological structure complemented by river gorges deeply cut by erosion. A number of elevated belts are distinguished by different ecological types of flora, fauna and climate. Viewed from the south, the Himalayas appear on a map as a giant crescent moon with its main axis rising above the snow line, where snowfields, alpine glaciers and avalanches feed the lower valleys.
Most of The Himalayas lie below the snow line. The Himalayan ranges are grouped into four parallel longitudinal mountain belts of varying widths, each of which has different physical and geographical features and its own geological history. They range from south to north as the outer sub-Himalayas (also called the Siwalik Range), the lesser or lower Himalayas, the Greater Himalayan Range (Great Himalayas) and the Tethys or Tibetan Himalayas. Further north in Tibet lie the Trans-Himalaya.
Geological history
It is believed that the Himalayas owe their origin to the movement of the Indo-Australian plate, which is constantly moving north, where it collides with the Eurasian plate. The force of the plate movement is such that it bends the layers of rock and creates faults into which masses of granites and basalts invade. This is how the Tibetan plateau was formed. The Trans-Himalayan ranges became the region's watershed and rose so high that they became a climate barrier. The more rain falls on the southern slopes, the more the southern rivers tend to move north along transverse faults.
The northern shores of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are quickly filled with debris brought from the mountains by the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. About 20 million years ago, the rate of pressure between the two plates increased sharply. As the Indian subcontinental plate continued to subduct, the uppermost layers were thrown back a large horizontal distance to the south, forming boulders.
Wave after wave of boulders rushed south over Indian land at a distance of up to 100 km. Over time, these boulders rolled up, shortening the former trench by 400-800 km. All this time, the falling rivers matched the rate of rise, carrying a huge amount of stones and rocks. Once the Himalayas rose high enough, they became a climate barrier: the extreme mountains in the north lost their rain and became as parched as the Tibetan Plateau.
On the contrary, on wet southern shores the rivers rose with such energy that they forced the ridge line to slowly move north. However, changes in the landscape forced all but the major rivers to change the direction of their lower reaches, because as the northern ridges rose, so did southern edge extensive plateau. Where the Kashmir Valley is located, as well as the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, temporary lakes were formed, which were then filled with sediments.
Population of the Himalayas
The Indian subcontinent is home to four language families - Indo-Aryan, Tibetan-Burman, Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian. They have a long history of infiltration by Iranian groups from the west, Indian peoples from the south, and Asian peoples from the east and north. In the hilly regions of the lesser Himalayas live the Gaddis and Gujaris. They are traditional mountain people, owning large herds of sheep and goats and descending with them from their snowy abode into the outer Himalayas only in winter and returning to the highest pastures only in June.
These pastoral people are in constant migration, living off their herds of sheep, goats and a few cows, for which they seek pasture at various altitudes. To the north of the Great Himalayan Range live the Champa, Ladak, Balti and Darda peoples. The Champas traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life in the upper Indus. The Ladakhis settled on the terraces and stone fans that flank the Indus in the northeastern region of Kashmir.
The Balti settled further along the Indus Valley and converted to Islam.
In Himachal Pradesh, most people are descendants of Tibetan migrants who speak Tibetan-Burmese. In Nepal, Paharis, who speak an Indo-Aryan language, constitute the majority of the population. Peoples such as Newar, Tamang, Gurung, Magar and Sherpa speak Tibeto-Burman. Of all these nationalities inhabiting the Himalayas, the famous long-living mountaineers, the Sherpas, stand out.
Economy of the Himalayas
The economy of the Himalayas depends on the resources available in different parts of this vast region with different ecological zones. The main activity is livestock farming, but forestry, trade and tourism are also important. The Himalayas have abundant economic resources. These include rich arable land, extensive meadows and forests, workable mineral deposits, easy water power and magnificent natural beauty.
In the central Himalayas of Nepal, two-thirds of the arable land is in the foothills and adjacent plains. The land in this country produces most of the world's total rice production. The region also produces large crops of corn, wheat, potatoes and sugar cane. The Kashmir Valley produces fruits such as apples, peaches, pears and cherries, which are in great demand in Indian cities. There are rich vineyards on the shores of Dal Lake in Kashmir, and the grapes are used to make wine and brandy.
Walnut and almond trees grow on the hills surrounding the Kashmir valley. A country like Bhutan also has orchards and exports oranges to India. Tea plantations are located on the hills and plains at the foot of the mountains in the Darjeeling region. There is a spice cardamom plantation in Sikkim. Since 1940, the Himalayas have experienced an explosion of population growth. As a result, deforestation to clear land for planting and construction, supplying firewood and paper moved up the steep and higher slopes of the small Himalayas. Only in Sikkim and Bhutan are large areas still covered with dense forest.
The Himalayas are rich in mineral resources, although exploitation is limited to accessible areas. Sapphires are found on the Zaskar Range, and gold is mined in the bed of the Indus River. Baltistan has copper ore deposits and iron ore is found in the Kashmir valley. In Ladakh there are deposits of borax and sulfur. Coal seams are found in the hills of Jammu. Bauxite is found in Kashmir. Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim have extensive deposits of coal, mica, gypsum, graphite and iron, copper, lead and zinc ores.
Conquerors of the Himalayas
The earliest travels in the Himalayas were made by traders, shepherds and pilgrims. The pilgrims believed that the more difficult the journey, the closer it brought them to enlightenment. For shepherds and traders, trekking at altitudes between 5,500 and 5,800 meters was a way of life. However, for everyone else, the Himalayas presented a huge and terrible barrier.
The Himalayas first appeared on the map in 1590 with the participation of a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor, Antonio Monserrate. In 1773, French geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Harville compiled the first map of the Himalayan range based on systematic research. In 1865, Everest was renamed after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India.
By 1862, it became known that Everest was the tallest mountain in the world. After World War II, India produced several large-scale maps based on aerial photographs. Himalayan mountaineering began in 1880 with Briton W. W. Graham, who claimed to have climbed several peaks. Although his claims were met with skepticism, they sparked interest in the Himalayas among other European climbers.
Attempts to conquer Everest began in 1921 and about a dozen of them were made before it was conquered in May 1953 by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and his Tibetan guide Tenzing Norgay. That same year, an Austro-German team led by Karl Maria Herrligkoffer reached the summit of Nanka Parbat. Over time, climbers began to find easier ways to reach the peaks.
Easier access to the mountains brought increasing numbers of climbers and tourists to the region. Every year hundreds of people attempt to climb Everest. By the beginning of the 21st century, the annual number of tourists had increased so much that in some regions expedition participants began to threaten the ecological balance of the mountains, destroying vegetation and animal world and leaving behind mountains of garbage. In addition, large expeditions increased the likelihood of loss of life. In 2014, more than 40 foreign tourists died in a snowstorm near Annapurna.
From May 22, 2019 until today, a search has been underway for eight conquerors of India’s second highest mountain, Nada Devi. There are fears that they were carried away by an avalanche. These were four British, two Americans, one Australian and an Indian guide who were supposed to climb the eastern ridge at Nada Devi and return to base on May 26th. Her ascent began on May 13 and, after their departure, the team showed no signs of life. Heavy snowfall that lasted a week complicated the search.
Hundreds of climbers from all over the world come every year to climb the peaks of the mountains. Not everyone makes it, some return. Many remain in the mountains forever, frozen in permafrost. Their names are written on the slab and everyone who has gathered to this peak must become familiar with their names. Everyone should know that their name can also be written on this plate. There's still a lot of free space there.
I cannot boast that I have climbed one of the peaks of this great mountain system. But I was able to visit its foot. The feeling is simply indescribable.
The Himalayas are located in five countries at once
I was able to see the Himalayas in India, but in addition to this country, this mountain system “found its home” in Pakistan, Bhutan, China and Nepal. These greatest rivers are fed by Himalayan glaciers:
- Ganges;
- Brahmaputra.
Not only curious tourists, but also professional climbers come here in droves, most of whom want to conquer the peaks of Chomolungma or Everest (they belong to this mountain system). But with ski resorts Everything is bad here, or rather there are very few of them. The most famous one is called Gulmarg.
Just think, the area of this mountain system is 650,000 kilometers. This is larger than any European country.
There are a lot of interesting parks here, some of them are under UNESCO protection. If possible, visit National Park in Nanda Devi. I also had the opportunity to spend one day in the Ladakh region. It was opened to tourists quite recently. Simply amazing people live here who honor Tibetan traditions and wear national clothes.
A little about tours to these places
The so-called high season in the Himalayas lasts from the beginning of May to the end of October. The rest of the time it’s cold here and tourists don’t really want to come here. If we talk about classic tours, which include visiting all the iconic attractions, then the price tag starts from $1,200. Air tickets are not included in this price.
Nepal
This state is called the heart of the Himalayas. It is in this Federal Republic there is a snow-capped peak of Chomolungma. To “climb” to the highest point on the planet, thousands of extreme sports enthusiasts and daredevils flock here every year like moths.
This peak was first conquered more than half a century ago. Of course, not all climbers manage to climb here safely; many people die here every year. But recently, one climber even skied down from here.
general information
The Himalaya mountain system at the junction of Central and South Asia is over 2,900 km long and about 350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km². The average height of the ridges is about 6 km, the maximum 8848 m is Mount Chomolungma (Everest). There are 10 eight-thousanders here - peaks over 8000 m above sea level. In the northwest of the western chain of the Himalayas there is another highest mountain system - the Karakoram.
The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, although the climate allows for the cultivation of only a few types of cereals, potatoes and some other vegetables. The fields are located on sloping terraces.
Name
The name of the mountains comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit. "Himalaya" means "Abode of Snow" or "Kingdom of Snows".
Geography
All mountain range The Himalayas consists of three distinctive steps:
- The first is the Pre-Himalayas ( local name- Shivalik ridge) 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 most high points planets - the Greater 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, accompanied by 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 highest peaks, so Chomolungma can only be climbed in the spring, during the short period of calm before the onset of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope, winds from the northern or western directions blow throughout the year, coming from the continent, which is supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but is always dry. From northwest to southeast, the Himalayas extend approximately between 35 and 28° N, and the summer monsoon almost does not penetrate into the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All this creates large climatic differences within the Himalayas.
The most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the zone of internal tectonic basins and in internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. In some places, annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m, winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m snow occurs throughout the year.
On southern slopes up to an altitude of 2000 m average temperature January is 6...7 °C, July 18...19 °C; up to an altitude of 3000 m, the average temperature of the winter months does not fall below 0 ° C, and only above 4500 m the average July temperature becomes negative. The snow line in the eastern part of the Himalayas passes at an altitude of 4500 m, in the western, less humidified part - 5100-5300 m. On the northern slopes, the height of the nival belt is 700-1000 m higher than on the southern ones.
Natural waters
High altitude and heavy precipitation contribute to the formation of powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snow cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of the glacial tongues have significant absolute altitude. 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 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 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 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 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.
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. Passes are only available in summer time. In winter they are covered with snow and completely impassable.
The inaccessibility of the territory has played a favorable role in preserving the unique mountain landscapes of the Himalayas. Despite the significant agricultural development of low mountains and basins, intensive grazing of livestock on mountain slopes and the ever-increasing influx of climbers from different countries world, the Himalayas remain a refuge for valuable plant and animal species. The real “treasures” are those included in the List of World Cultural and natural heritage National parks India and Nepal - Nan-dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan.
Attractions
- Kathmandu: temple complexes Budanilkantha, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, National Museum 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 Indian Himalayas precisely to familiarize yourself with the Vedic sciences, the ancient postulates of the teachings of Yoga, and the healing of your 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. She captivates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. In particular, the most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. had no doubt about the reality of Shambhala. Gumilev. However, there is still no irrefutable evidence of its existence. Or they are irretrievably lost. For the sake of objectivity, it should be said: many believe that Shambhala is not located in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about her lies proof that we all really need the belief that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of humanity, which is owned by bright and wise forces. Even if this key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet open...
The Himalayas in art, literature and cinema
- Kim is a novel written by Joseph Kipling. It tells the story of a boy who admires British imperialism while surviving the Great Game.
- Shangri-La is a fictional country located in the Himalayas, described in the novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
- Tintin in Tibet is one of the albums of the Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé. Journalist Tintin investigates a plane crash in the Himalayas.
- The film "Vertical Limit" describes the events taking place on Mount Chogori.
- Several levels in Tomb Raider II and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend are located in the Himalayas.
- The film "Black Narcissus" tells the story of an order of nuns who founded a monastery in the Himalayas.
- The Kingdom of the Golden Dragons is a novel by Isabel Allenda. Most of the events take place in the Forbidden Kingdom, a fictional state in the Himalayas.
- Drachenreiter is a book by German writer Cornelia Funke about Brownie and a dragon traveling to the "Edge of Heaven" - a place in the Himalayas where dragons live.
- Expedition Everest is a themed roller coaster in " World Center Walt Disney Holidays.
- Seven Years in Tibet is a film based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Heinrich Harrer, which describes the story of the adventures of an Austrian mountaineer in Tibet during the Second World War.
- G.I. Joe: The Movie is an animated film that tells the story of the Cobra-La civilization, which survived the Ice Age in the Himalayas.
- Far Cry 4 is a first-person shooter story that tells about the fictional region of the Himalayas, dominated by a self-proclaimed king.
Throughout Asia, the Himalayas are the largest mountain range. All the most big mountains, including Everest, are here. This is a certain group
Throughout Asia, the Himalayas are the largest mountain range. All the largest mountains, including Everest, are located here. This is a certain group consisting of a certain number of mountainous regions. They are located in countries such as Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, India and Tibet. The Himalayas contain 9 of the highest mountain peaks in the world and they consist of 30 mountains. The Himalayas stretch over a distance of 2,400 kilometers. In mythology, the Himalayas occupy far from the last place. And it’s impossible to count how many times they are mentioned in the religions of the peoples of all South Asia. Mountaineers from all over the world consider the Himalayas to be their center. This article invites you to familiarize yourself with the most interesting facts about the Himalayas.
The total area of the Himalayas is 153,295,000 square kilometers, and they occupy 0.4 of the entire globe.
The Himalayas include not only the green valleys that all artists strive to capture, but also winter peaks.
It is believed that the Himalayas are the most inaccessible region in the whole world.
Every year people die trying to conquer Everest.
Oddly enough, the Himalayas are the source of three major river systems in the world.
The word “Himalaya” itself has a literal translation, which sounds like “Abode of Snow.”
The higher you go to the peaks of the Himalayas, the colder it gets. This is the climate in this area.
Hindu mythology says that the Himalayas are the abode of the god Shiva.
The Himalayan region has the third highest amount of snow in the world. The first two places fall on Antarctica and the Arctic.
The purest medicinal herbs grow in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Such large rivers as the Mekong, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze and Ing originate in the Himalayas or from the Tibetan Plateau. It is worth noting that the age of these rivers is much greater than the age of the mountains themselves.
About 70 million years ago, the Eurasian and Indo-American plates collided. As a result of this collision, the Himalayan range was formed.
No plants grow on the peaks of the Himalayan mountains. This is due to the fact that the climate there is very harsh: cold, lack of oxygen, and strong winds.
The most high peak was first conquered on May 29, 1953. The first to reach the top were Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary.
Between the ridges of the Himalayas there are several settlements consisting of the local population. It is worth noting that it is very minor.
It's sad, but all the animals that live in the Himalayas are under constant threat. This happens because people are constantly cutting down forests, thereby inexorably reducing their habitat areas.
Translated from the most ancient language of the planet, Sanskrit, the Himalayas mean “stronghold of snow.” To know where the Himalayas are, just look at the map of the Hindustan Peninsula.
The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on our planet; there are 10 peaks with a height of more than 8 km (there are 14 in total in the world) and 96 mountains with a height of 7.3 km (there are 109 in total on Earth!). Unlike the South American Andes, they do not form the longest mountain range(almost 7550 km), but are rightfully considered “the top of the planet.”
It is important to know that the Himalayas are located between the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Tibetan Plateau. This mountain range passes through the territory of several states at once: China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Kingdom of Bhutan, and in the east the mountain range touches the northern borders of Bangladesh. The highest mountain system in the world attracts not only professional climbers, but also many fans of extreme tourism.
It is worth noting that the Himalayas began to be explored not by the indigenous inhabitants, but by Europeans in the 19th century, at the peak of the popularity of mountaineering.
When did the development of the highest mountain range begin?
Since 1849, the Indian colonial government, represented by the Department of Land Management, has carried out enormous work to develop detailed maps region. Thus, a huge amount of work involving theodolite and leveling surveys produced a lot of data, the processing of which was completed only by 1856. Based on the results of the topographical information obtained, it became known that Peak XV, located on the Tibetan-Nepalese border, has a height of 8840 m, which meant the highest mountain on the planet!
The peak was named after the English colonel Sir George Everest, who served as the chief topographer to the Queen of Great Britain in India. After the publication of the results of the survey, climbers around the world have a new task - the highest mountain in the world must be conquered!
Those who don’t even know where the Himalayas are will probably be interested to know that only after World War II did a person climb to the top of Everest. Before this, starting from the 20s of the last century, climbers tried to conquer this peak only from the Tibetan slopes. The reason was the stubbornness of the Nepalese government, which did not allow access to expeditions on its territory. Only after World War II were researchers allowed to work on the southern slopes of the mountain.
New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay conquered Everest (Nepali name - Chomolungma) on May 29, 1953.
Where is the best place to experience the Himalayas?
Having looked at where the Himalayas are on the map and what they look like, you understand that what amazes and attracts is not the peak itself or the fact that the highest mountains are here, but the scale, the grandeur of nature, because this mountain range occupies vast territories. You can see all the beauty of the top of the world, as the Himalayas are also called, only with your own eyes, and not sitting near a computer screen or old topographic maps.
No country in the world can offer such service and convenience in exploring the Himalayas as India. Only through this country can you see the highest mountains on the planet, see strange animals, and experience the healing properties of the mountain climate.
Tourists often go to see Shimla - best resort foothills of the Himalayas (altitude 2 km above sea level). This city was once the summer residence of the British colonial government, which moved here from the summer, hot Delhi. After India gained independence, this city became tourist center countries. It is here that representatives of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhs make pilgrimages. On the banks of this reservoir are several of the most famous Tibetan temples. In addition, along the mountain slopes you can find a lot of beautiful waterfalls. This is where the amazing mountain lake Revalsar is located.
By visiting this area, you can not only admire the mountain scenery, but also climb mountains, go skiing, swimming, and fishing.
When is it nice to be in the Himalayas?
It is worth mentioning the extraordinarily beautiful nature of this mountain range, which simply cannot be accurately described in words - it needs to be seen. So, in the summer months (from April to June) all the slopes are dotted with wild flowers, the air is filled with their smell, mixed with the aromas of pine needles, it is clean and cool.
If you wanted to find a mountainous region with lush greenery and a temperate climate, then you should visit the Himalayas during the monsoon season. From June to August, an amazing picture awaits you: slopes full of greenery in a light fog, sunsets with stunning colors that are difficult to even describe.
During all the autumn months it is very comfortable and pleasant to stay here; from September to November it is warm here, but in winter, with bright, snowy and frosty weather, there are the least number of tourists in the Himalayas. Unless winter sports lovers come to ski or snowboard.
