The Himalayan mountains stretch for about 2,500 km across several Asian countries. It is home to nine of the ten highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest. The word “Himalayas” in Sanskrit means “abode of snow”. Many major rivers of Asia originate here. The Himalayas are the third largest deposits of ice and snow. In addition, it is home to a large number of plants, birds and animals.
Description of the Himalayas
Probably the most popular reason people travel to Tibet and Nepal has to do with the desire to see the tallest and most impressive mountain range in the world. No trip to these countries is complete without visiting the Himalayas, especially Mount Everest.
For centuries, a unique culture has developed here that unites nature and people into one whole. This region is the birthplace of Buddha. It is full of sacred natural sites such as secret valleys and alpine lakes.
The Himalayas, home to various natural areas, face many challenges, and governments are forced to provide for their people and protect their natural heritage. Protected areas are becoming isolated hotspots, and a multitude of poachers are destroying rare wildlife, filling the illegal market. The effects of global climate change are melting glaciers at a rate faster than ever recorded in human history, endangering a vital source of fresh water for billions of people in Asia.
Geomorphotectonic characteristics
The Himalayan Mountains are a crescent-shaped mountain range stretching from the southern Indus Valley beyond Nanga Parbat in the west to Namjagbarwa in the east. Its width varies from 350 km in the west to 150 km in the east. The majestic mountain range stands like a wall that bounds the entire northern edge of the Indian subcontinent.
Geomorphologically, the most unique feature is their height. The Himalayas are famous for having 10 out of 14 peaks above 8000 meters.
An important geomorphotectonic characteristic is the sharp bend of the Himalayas and associated mountain ranges, which in the west are connected to the Suleiman and Kirtara ranges. A similar sharp bend is observed at the eastern end, where the mountain range joins the northeastern Indo-Myanmar ridge, represented by the Naga and Arakan Yoma mountains. These two sharp bends on either side are known as the "syntactic bends" of the Himalayan Range. The highest peaks are located in different parts of the mountains, but most of them are concentrated in the central part.
Geophysical characteristics
They are as unique as the geomorphotectonic features of the mountain range. The most distinctive feature is the thickness of the earth's crust, which increases from about 35 to 40 km in the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains to 65-80 km above the Greater Himalayas. The thickness of the continental crust underlying the mountains is reflected in the pattern of negative gravity anomalies between\u003e -150 and\u003e -350 mGal along the entire length of the mountain belt.
Himalayan geomorphology reflects various aspects of structural and geomorphological features that arose in response to the action of orogenic forces (related to the final stage of development of tectonically mobile zones of the earth's crust), which occurred during a relatively recent history of erosion. The mountain range is divided axially into several units, each of which has a distinct lithotectonic and geomorphological character and evolutionary history.
Division into zones
They are divided axially into the next five units. Each of them has distinctive lithotectonic characteristics and evolutionary history:
- Sub-Himalayas, where a belt of late Tertiary molasse deposits is located 10-50 km wide, which form the Sivalik group. This belt also includes the older Murri formations and their equivalent, Dharamshalas.
- Small Himalayas, where there is a belt 60-80 km wide, which consists mainly of low-grade metamorphic rocks of the Proterozoic period. It is overlain by layers of granite and metamorphic rocks.
- The Greater Himalayas, where there is a belt of mostly Precambrian metamorphic rocks. And younger (Cenozoic), 10-15 km thick. This is also the area of \u200b\u200bthe greatest uplift.
- Trans-Himalayas: belt of predominantly shelf (usually fossil) deposits of the Late Proterozoic and Cretaceous, bounded by the Ind Tsangpo suture zone (ITSZ), a relatively narrow belt of ophiolites and associated deposits. This is the junction of the Indian continental block with the Tibetan block. To the north of the ITSZ lies a 40-100 million year old granitoids belt known as trans-Himalayan batholith granites.
Peaks
Mount Shisha Pangma is the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the tallest mountain, which is located entirely in the Himalayas of Tibet. Shisha Pangma is easy to get to. A good view of the top opens from the Tong La pass along the Friendship Highway. The Tong La Pass rises to an altitude of 5150 meters, and on a clear day, there is a magnificent view of the mountains.
Cho Oyu is the sixth highest peak on the planet and rises to 8201 meters. It is located along the Tibet-Nepal border. Beautiful views of Cho Oyu can be enjoyed from Gokyo, a small village in the Nepalese Himalayas that can only be reached via one of the most beautiful trekking routes. It starts and ends in Lukla and takes about 12 days.
The city of Old Tingri in Tibet also offers a beautiful view of this giant peak. From Old Tingri in 3 hours you can reach the base camp, from where expeditions to the mountain begin. Of the 14 peaks on the planet that rise above 8000 meters, Cho Oyu is considered the least difficult to climb. For the first time this peak was conquered in October 1954.
Makalu is one of the most beautiful of the 14 eight-thousanders. It is located 19 km from Mount Everest along the Tibet-Nepal border at an altitude of 8485 meters. He was first conquered in 1955.
There are also other famous peaks. These are Karakoru, Kailash, Kanchenjungu, Nanga Parbat, Annapurnu and Manasklu.
The largest mountain in the world
Everest is the highest point of the Himalayas ( 8848 meters). This is the highest peak on the planet. It can be viewed from both Nepal and Tibet. The Himalayas look stunning on both sides. The small Kala Patthar mountain in Nepal offers stunning views of Everest. To get to Kala Patthara, you need to hit the road from the small village of Lukla. From Lukla, it takes about 7 or 8 days to walk to Gorak Shep, which is the closest to the Kala Pattar base camp on Everest on the Nepal side. From Gorak Shepa, the steep climb will take from 90 minutes to 2 hours to Kala Patthar, which is 5545 meters high. Everest itself cannot be seen from the base camp on the Nepal side, although there are great views from nearby Kala Patthara.
The Nepalese and Sherpas call this mountain Sagarmatha, and the Tibetans call it Chomolungma (Chomolungma). Since the 1920s, many of the world's best climbers have attempted to climb Mount Everest, and on May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) and Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) had their first successful ascent.
Geography and ecology
They stretch across the northeastern part of India. The question of which country the Himalayas are located in cannot be answered unequivocally: they pass through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. They stretch for about 2,400 km. The Himalayan Range consists of three parallel ridges, often referred to as the Greater, Lesser and Outer Himalayas.
The two peaks, Everest and 2K (Chogori, designated as the second peak of the Karakorum) tend to dominate the perception of the region. The Himalayas are rich in biodiversity. The climate ranges from tropical at the foot of the mountains to perennial snows and glaciers at the highest altitudes.
Nature
Several natural areas can be found here. These are discussed below.
- Mountain meadows and shrubs: they can be found at an altitude of three to five thousand meters. These areas usually experience cold winters and mild summers, which encourages plant growth. Rhododendrons rise above the shrubbery, while the alpine meadows directly above them offer a variety of flora during the warmer months. The snow leopard, the Himalayan tar, and the musk deer live here.
- Temperate coniferous forests: In the northeast, temperate subalpine coniferous forests are found at elevations from two and a half to 4200 meters. Located in an inner valley, these forests are protected from the harsh monsoon conditions by the surrounding mountain ranges. Mainly pine, hemlock, spruce and fir grow here. The fauna is represented by red pandas, takins and musk deer.
- Moderate deciduous and mixed forests. At medium heights, from two to three thousand meters, in the eastern region there are deciduous and coniferous forests. These forests receive almost 200 cm of annual rainfall, mainly during the monsoon season. Besides oaks and maples, orchids, lichens and ferns grow here. During the cold season, more than 500 bird species can be found, which stop here during the migration period. It is also home to golden monkeys - langurs.
- Tropical and subtropical deciduous forests. They are located at an altitude of the Himalayas from 500 to 1000 meters along a narrow strip of the Main Himalayan Range. Due to the varied topography, soil types and rainfall levels, a large number of plants grow here. Subtropical dry evergreens, northern dry mixed deciduous forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, subtropical broadleaf forests, northern tropical semi-evergreen forests, and northern tropical moist evergreen forests can be found here. The wildlife includes many critically endangered species, including tigers and Asian elephants. Over 340 different bird species can be found in this region.
Rivers and glaciers
The Indus, Yangtze, Ganges and Brahmaputra originate in the Himalayas. All of them are the main river systems in Asia. The main ones in the Himalayas are the Ganges, Indus, Yarlung, Yangtze, Mekong and Nujiang.
The Himalayas are the third largest ice and snow deposit in the world after Antarctica and the Arctic. There are about 15,000 glaciers throughout the territory. The length of the Himalayan Siahen is 72 km. It is the largest glacier outside the poles. Other famous glaciers located in the Himalayas are Baltoro, Biafo, Nubru and Hispur.
What can be added to the description of the mountains? Pay attention to some interesting facts.
- The Himalayan mountains were created by the movement of tectonic plates that pushed India into Tibet.
- Due to the large number of tectonic movements still occurring here, there are a lot of earthquakes and tremors in the mountains.
- This is one of the youngest mountain ranges on the planet.
- Mountains have an impact on air and water circulation systems and, accordingly, on the weather conditions in the region.
- They cover approximately 75% of the territory of Nepal.
- Serving as a natural barrier for tens of thousands of years, they hindered early interaction between the people of India and the people of China and Mongolia.
- Everest was named after Colonel Sir George Everest, a British surveyor who lived in India in the early to mid-nineteenth century.
- The Nepalese name of Everest "Samgarmatha" is translated as "Goddess of the Universe" or "The Forehead of the Sky".
So, this article looked at the highest and most impressive mountain range in the world. This is the Himalayan Range.
The Himalayas abound with a huge number of rocky, almost vertical slopes on which it is very difficult to climb, you have to use all sorts of technical devices in the form of hammered hooks, ropes, special ladders and other climbing equipment. Often, rocky ledges alternate with deep cracks, and so much snow settles on the mountain slopes that it compresses over time and turns into glaciers that close these cracks, making passage through these places deadly. It is not uncommon for snow and ice to come down, which, rushing down, turn into huge avalanches, sweeping away everything in their path and capable of crushing climbers in seconds.
The air temperature in the Himalayas, when rising to an altitude, decreases by about 6 degrees for every 1000 meters. So if at the foot of the summer the temperature is +25, then at an altitude of 5000 meters it will be about -5.
At altitude, the movements of air masses are usually intensified, often turning into a hurricane wind, which makes movement very difficult, and sometimes makes it impossible, especially on narrow ridges of mountain ranges.
Starting at 5000 meters, the atmosphere contains approximately half of the oxygen at sea level to which the human body is accustomed. Lack of oxygen has a detrimental effect on the human body, drastically reduces its physical capabilities and leads to the development of the so-called mountain sickness - shortness of breath, dizziness, chills and interruptions in the work of the heart. Therefore, usually at this altitude, the human body needs time to acclimatize.
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At an altitude of 6,000 meters, the atmosphere is so rarefied and poor in oxygen that full acclimatization is no longer possible. Regardless of what kind of physical stress a person experiences, he begins to slowly choke. Climbing to a height of 7000 meters is already mortally dangerous for many, at such a height consciousness begins to get confused and even it becomes difficult to think. The height of 8000 meters is called the "death zone". Here, even the strongest climbers can survive for only a few days at best. Therefore, all high-altitude ascents are carried out using oxygen breathing apparatus.
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But the representatives of the Nepalese Sherpa tribe, permanently living in the Himalayas, feel quite comfortable at altitude, and therefore, as soon as the Europeans began to "master" the mountain peaks of the Himalayas, the men of this tribe began to work on expeditions as guides and porters, receiving payment for this. Over time, this became their main profession. By the way, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, together with Edmund Hillary, were the first to climb the summit of the Himalayas - Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
But all these sometimes fatal dangers did not stop mountaineering enthusiasts. It took more than one decade to conquer all these peaks. Here is a short chorology of climbing the highest mountains on our planet.
1950, June 3 - Annapurna
French climbers Maurice Herzog, Louis Lachenal climbed the Annapurna peak, which is 8091 meters high. Anapurna is considered the seventh highest mountain in the world. Located in Nepal, in the Himalayas, east of the Gandaki River, which flows through the deepest gorge in the world. The gorge separates Annapurna and another eight-thousander Dhaulagiri.
Climbing Anapurna is considered one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Moreover, this is the only conquest of an eight-thousander that was accomplished the first time, and besides, without oxygen apparatus. However, their feat came at a high price. Since they were shod only in leather boots, Erzog froze all his toes, and because of the onset of gangrene, the expedition doctor had to amputate them. For all the time, only 191 people have successfully climbed Annapurna, this is less than any other eight-thousanders. Climbing Annapurna is considered the most dangerous, with a mortality rate of 32 percent, like no other eight-thousander.
1953, May 29 - Everest "Chomolungma"
The members of the English expedition, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Norgay Tenzing, were the first to conquer Everest, a summit of 8848 meters. Nepali her name is "Sagarmatha", that is, "Mother of the universe." It is the tallest mountain in the world. on the border of Nepal and China.
Everest is a triangular pyramid with three sides and ridges that stretch to the northeast, southeast and northwest. The southeastern ridge is gentler and is the most widely used climbing route. It was this route to the summit through the Khumbu glacier, the valley of silence, from the foot of Lhotse through the South Col, Hillary and Tenzing blazed their first ascent. And for the first time the British tried to climb Everest back in 1921. They then could not go from the southern side, because of the ban of the Nepalese authorities and tried to rise from the north, from the side of Tibet. To do this, they had to go around the entire Chomolungma mountain range, having covered more than 400 kilometers to get to the top from China. But the time for the detour was lost and the monsoons that began did not make it possible to carry out the ascent. After them, a second attempt on the same route was made in 1924 by British climbers George Lee Mallory and Andrew Irwin, which was also unsuccessful, ending with the death of both at an altitude of 8500 meters.
Despite its reputation as an extremely dangerous mountain, commercialized climbing Everest has made it a very popular tourist attraction over the past few decades. According to the latest data, 5656 successful ascents were made to Everest, at the same time 223 people died. The mortality rate was about 4 percent.
1953, July 3 - Nangaparbat
The peak is located in the north of Pakistan in the western part of the Himalayas. It is the ninth highest eight-thousander, 8126 meters. This peak has such steep slopes that even snow does not hold on top of it. In Urdu, Nangaparbat means "Naked Mountain". The first to climb the peak was the Austrian climber Hermann Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian Himalayan expedition. He made the ascent alone, without oxygen apparatus. The ascent time to the summit was 17 hours, and with the descent 41 hours. It was the first successful ascent in 20 years of attempts, before that 31 climbers had already died there.
According to the latest data, a total of 335 successful ascents have been made to Nangaparbat. 68 climbers were killed. Mortality is about 20 percent, which makes it the third most dangerous 8000m.
1954, July 31 - Chogori, "K2", "Dapsang"
The first to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world, were Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. Although attempts to conquer K2 began in 1902.
Chogori Peak or Dapsang Peak - 8611 meters high, is located on the Baltoro Muztag Ridge in the Karakorum mountain range, on the border of Pakistan and China. This mountain received the unusual name K2 in the 19th century, when a British expedition measured the heights of the peaks of the Himalayas and Karakorum. Each newly measured peak was given a serial number. K2 was the second mountain they stumbled upon and since then this name has stuck behind it for a long time. Locals call this Lamba Pahar, which means "High Mountain". Despite the fact that K2 is lower than Everest, it turned out to be more difficult to climb it. For all the time, there were only 306 successful ascents on K2. When attempting to climb, 81 people died. The mortality rate is about 29 percent. K2 is often called a killer mountain
1954, October 19 - Cho-Oyu
The first to climb the peak were members of the Austrian expedition: Herbert Tichy, Josef Jöhler and the Sherpa Pazang Dawa Lama. Cho-Oyu summit is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal, in the Mahalangur-Himal mountain range, the Chomolungma mountain range, about 20 km west of Mount Everest.
Cho-Oyu, in Tibetan means "Goddess of Turquoise." It has a height of 8201 meters, it is the sixth highest eight-thousander. A few kilometers to the west of Cho Oyu is the Nangpa-La pass with a height of 5716 m. This pass is a passage from Nepal to Tibet, laid by the Sherpas as the only trade route. Because of this pass, many climbers consider Cho-Oyu to be the simplest eight-thousander. This is partly true because all ascents are made from the side of Tibet. But from the side of Nepal, the southern wall is so difficult that only a few managed to conquer.
In total, 3,138 people safely climbed Cho Oyu, this is more than any other peak except Everest. Lethality is 1%, less than any other. It is considered the safest eight-thousander.
1955, May 15 - Makalu
For the first time, Frenchmen Jean Cousi and Lionel Terre ascended the top of Makalu. The ascent to Makalu was the only one in the history of the conquest of the eight-thousanders, when all nine members of the expedition, including the senior group of Sherpa guides, reached the summit. This happened not because Makalu is such an easy mountain, but because the weather was extremely good and nothing prevented the climbers from achieving this triumph.
Makalu is 8485 meters high, the fifth highest mountain in the world, located just 20 kilometers southeast of Everest. In Tibetan, Makalu means Big Black. Such an unusual name was given to this mountain because its slopes are very steep and the snow simply does not hold on to them, so it remains bare for most of the year.
It turned out to be difficult enough to defeat Makalu. In 1954, an American team led by Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Everest, tried to do this, but they failed. And only the French, after a lot of preparatory work and well-coordinated teamwork, managed to do this. In total, 361 people have successfully climbed Makalu for all the time, while 31 people died while trying to climb. The mortality rate of Makalu ascents is about 9 percent.
1955, May 25 - Kanchenjunga
The first to successfully climb Kanchenjunga were British climbers George Band and Joe Brown. Before the ascent, the locals warned the climbers that a Sikkim god lives on the top of this mountain and should not be disturbed. They refused to accompany the expedition and the British went to the ascent on their own. But either because of superstition, or for some other reason, having climbed to the top, they did not reach the very top for several feet, believing that the top was conquered.
Kanchenjunga is located on the border of Nepal and India, about 120 kilometers south of Everest. The name "Kanchenjunga" in translation from Tibetan means "Treasury of the five great snows." Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the highest mountain in the world. But after Everest and other eight-thousanders were measured, it turned out that it is the third highest peak in the world, its height is 8586 meters.
Another legend in Nepal says that Kanchenjunga is a mountain woman. And women cannot go to it on pain of death. Of course, climbers are not superstitious people, but nevertheless, only one female climber, an Englishwoman, Jeanette Harrison, has climbed to its summit. No matter what, but a year and a half later, Jeanette Harrison died while climbing Dhaulagiri. For all the time, 283 climbers have successfully climbed Kanchenjunga. Of those who tried to climb, 40 people died. The ascent mortality is about 15 percent.
1956, May 9 - Manaslu
The mountain is 8163 meters high, the eighth highest eight-thousander. There were several attempts to climb this peak. For the first time in 1952, when, in addition to the British, the Swiss and French teams entered the championship of the conquest of Everest, the Japanese decided to conquer the Manaslu peak located in Nepal about 35 kilometers east of Annapurna. They scouted all the approaches and mapped out the route. The next year, 1953, they started climbing. But the ensuing blizzard broke all their plans and they were forced to retreat.
When they returned in 1954, the local Nepalese took up arms against them, referring to the fact that the Japanese defiled the gods and aroused their anger, because after the departure of the previous expedition, their village suffered misfortunes: there was an epidemic, crop failure, temples collapsed and three priests died. Armed with sticks and stones, they drove the Japanese away from the mountain. In 1955, a special delegation arrived from Japan to settle the matter with local residents. And only in the next 1956, having paid 7,000 rupees for damages and 4,000 rupees for the construction of a new temple and having arranged a big holiday for the population of the village, the Japanese received permission to climb. Thanks to the fine weather, Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and sirdar sherpa Gyaltsen Norbu climbed the peak on May 9. Manaslu remains one of the most dangerous eight-thousanders. In total, there were 661 successful ascents of Manaslu, sixty-five climbers died during the ascent. Mortality of ascents is about 10 percent.
1956, May 18 - Lhotse
Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss, members of the Swiss team, became the first people to climb the 8,516 meter high Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world.
Lhotse Peak is located on the border of Nepal and China, a few kilometers south of Everest. These two peaks are connected by a vertical ridge, the so-called South Col, the height of which is over 8000 meters along its entire length. Usually ascents are carried out along the western, more gentle slope. But in 1990, the Soviet Union team climbed the southern side, which was previously considered completely inaccessible, since it is a 3300-meter almost vertical wall. In total, 461 successful ascents were made on Lhotse. For all the time, 13 climbers have died there, the mortality rate is about 3 percent.
1956 July 8 - Gasherbrum II
The summit is 8034 meters high, the thirteenth highest mountain in the world. For the first time, Austrian climbers Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart climbed Gasherbrum II. They ascended the summit along the south side along the southwestern ridge. Before climbing the peak itself, having risen to an altitude of 7500 meters, they set up a temporary camp for the night, and then went on an assault early in the morning. It was a completely new, untested approach to rock climbing, which later began to be used by climbers from many countries.
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Gasherbrum II is the second of four peaks of Gasherbrum in Karakorum on the Pakistan-China border, about 10 kilometers southeast of K2. The Baltoro Muztag ridge, which includes Gasherbrum II, is known for the longest glacier in the Karakorum, more than 62 kilometers long. This was the reason that many climbers descended almost from the very top of Gasherbrum II on skis, on snowboards and even with a parachute. Gasherbrum II is considered one of the safest and lightest eight-thousanders. 930 climbers successfully climbed Gasherbrum II and only 21 people died in unsuccessful attempts to climb. Mortality of ascents is about 2 percent.
1957 June 9 - Broad Peak
The mountain is 8051 meters high, the twelfth highest 8000m peak. The Germans tried to climb Broad Peak for the first time in 1954, but due to low temperatures and stormy winds, their efforts were unsuccessful. The first to climb the peak were Austrian climbers Fritz Wintersteller, Markus Schmuck im Kurt Dieberger. The ascent was carried out along the southwest side. The expedition did not use the services of porters and all the property was lifted by the participants themselves, which was rather difficult.
Broad Peak or "Jangyang" is located on the border between China and Pakistan, a few kilometers southeast of K2. This area is still little explored and geographers hope that over time it can gain sufficient popularity. For all the time, there were 404 successful ascents on Broad Peak. They were unsuccessful for 21 climbers who died while trying to climb. Mortality of ascents is about 5 percent.
1958, July 5 - Gasherbrum I "Hidden Peak"
The mountain is 8080 meters high. The summit belongs to the Gasherbrum - Karakorum mountain range. Attempts to climb Hidden Peak began a long time ago. In 1934, the members of an international expedition were able to climb only to an altitude of 6300 meters. In 1936, French climbers climbed the 6,900 meter mark. And only two years later, Americans Andrew Kaufman and Pete Schoening climb to the top of Hidden Peak.
Gasherbrum I or Hidden Peak, the eleventh highest eight-thousander in the world, one of the seven peaks of the Gasherbrum massif is located in Kashmir in the Pakistan-controlled Northern region on the border with China. Gasherbrum is translated from the local language as "Polished Wall", and it fully corresponds to this name. Due to its steep, almost polished, rocky slopes, climbing it was rejected by many. A total of 334 people have successfully climbed the peak, while 29 climbers have died while attempting to climb. The mortality rate of ascents is about 9 percent.
1960, May 13 - Dhaulagiri I
"White Mountain" - heights of 8167 meters, the seventh highest of the eight-thousanders. The first to climb to the top were the members of the European team: Dimberger, Shelbert, Diner, Forer and Sherpas Nyima and Navang. For the first time, an airplane was used to deliver expedition members and equipment. Back in 1950, the French, members of the 1950 expedition, paid attention to the "White Mountain". But then it seemed to them not available and they switched to Annapurna.
Dhaulagiri I is located in Nepal, 13 kilometers from Annapurna and the Argentines tried to climb to its top as early as 1954. But because of a strong blizzard, we did not reach the summit of only 170 meters. Although by the standards of the Himalayas, Dhaulagiri is only the sixth tallest, she is quite a tough nut to crack. So in 1969, while trying to climb, the Americans left seven of their comrades on the southeastern ridge. In total, 448 people successfully climbed to the top of Dhaulagiri I, but 69 climbers died in unsuccessful attempts. The mortality rate of ascents is about 16 percent.
1964, May 2 - Shishabangma
The summit is 8027 meters high. The first to conquer Shishabangma were eight Chinese climbers: Xu Jing, Zhang Zhunyan, Wang Fuzhou, Zhen San, Zheng Tianliang, Wu Tszongyue, Sodnam Dozhi, Migmar Trashi, Dozhi, Yongten. For a long time, climbing this peak was prohibited by the Chinese authorities. And only after the Chinese themselves climbed to its summit, there was an opportunity to participate in ascents and foreign climbers.
The Shishabangma mountain range, in Chinese "Geosenzhanfeng", in Indian "Gosintan" is located in China in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, a few kilometers from the Nepalese border. It consists of three peaks, two of which are over 8 kilometers. Shishabangma Main 8027 meters and Shishabangma Central 8008 meters. As part of the program "All 14 eight-thousanders of the world" there is an ascent to the main peak. In total, there were 302 successful ascents to Shishabangu. Twenty-five people died trying to climb the summit. The mortality rate of ascents is about 8 percent.
As can be seen from the chronology of ascents to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, it took more than 40 years to conquer them. Moreover, according to the analysis of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the most dangerous of all are: Annapurna, K2, and Nanga Parbat. On the ascent of these three peaks, the Himalayas took the life of every fourth person who encroached on their inaccessibility.
And yet, despite all these mortal dangers, there are people who have conquered all eight-thousanders. The first of these was Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer, German by nationality from South Tyrol. And although already during the first ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1970, his brother Gunther died, and he himself lost seven toes; in the second ascent of Manaslu in 1972, his teammate in the bunch died, this did not stop him. From 1970 to 1986, he climbed all 14 highest peaks of Zamli one by one. Moreover, he climbed Everest twice, In 1978, together with Peter Habeler along the classic route through the South Col, and in 1980 alone along the northern route, and during the monsoon season. Both ascents without the use of oxygen apparatus.
In total, now there are already 32 people in the world who have conquered all 14 eight-thousanders and these are probably not the last people who are waiting for the Himalayas.
The Himalayas abound with a huge number of rocky, almost vertical slopes on which it is very difficult to climb, you have to use all sorts of technical devices in the form of hammered hooks, ropes, special ladders and other climbing equipment. Often, rocky ledges alternate with deep cracks, and so much snow settles on the mountain slopes that it compresses over time and turns into glaciers that close these cracks, making passage through these places deadly. It is not uncommon for snow and ice to come down, which, rushing down, turn into huge avalanches, sweeping away everything in their path and capable of crushing climbers in seconds.
The air temperature in the Himalayas, when rising to an altitude, decreases by about 6 degrees for every 1000 meters. So if at the foot of the summer the temperature is +25, then at an altitude of 5000 meters it will be about -5.
At altitude, the movements of air masses are usually intensified, often turning into a hurricane wind, which makes movement very difficult, and sometimes makes it impossible, especially on narrow ridges of mountain ranges.
Starting at 5000 meters, the atmosphere contains approximately half of the oxygen at sea level to which the human body is accustomed. Lack of oxygen has a detrimental effect on the human body, drastically reduces its physical capabilities and leads to the development of the so-called mountain sickness - shortness of breath, dizziness, chills and interruptions in the work of the heart. Therefore, usually at this altitude, the human body needs time to acclimatize.
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At an altitude of 6,000 meters, the atmosphere is so rarefied and poor in oxygen that full acclimatization is no longer possible. Regardless of what kind of physical stress a person experiences, he begins to slowly choke. Climbing to a height of 7000 meters is already mortally dangerous for many, at such a height consciousness begins to get confused and even it becomes difficult to think. The height of 8000 meters is called the "death zone". Here, even the strongest climbers can survive for only a few days at best. Therefore, all high-altitude ascents are carried out using oxygen breathing apparatus.
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But the representatives of the Nepalese Sherpa tribe, permanently living in the Himalayas, feel quite comfortable at altitude, and therefore, as soon as the Europeans began to "master" the mountain peaks of the Himalayas, the men of this tribe began to work on expeditions as guides and porters, receiving payment for this. Over time, this became their main profession. By the way, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, together with Edmund Hillary, were the first to climb the summit of the Himalayas - Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
But all these sometimes fatal dangers did not stop mountaineering enthusiasts. It took more than one decade to conquer all these peaks. Here is a short chorology of climbing the highest mountains on our planet.
1950, June 3 - Annapurna
French climbers Maurice Herzog, Louis Lachenal climbed the Annapurna peak, which is 8091 meters high. Anapurna is considered the seventh highest mountain in the world. Located in Nepal, in the Himalayas, east of the Gandaki River, which flows through the deepest gorge in the world. The gorge separates Annapurna and another eight-thousander Dhaulagiri.
Climbing Anapurna is considered one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Moreover, this is the only conquest of an eight-thousander that was accomplished the first time, and besides, without oxygen apparatus. However, their feat came at a high price. Since they were shod only in leather boots, Erzog froze all his toes, and because of the onset of gangrene, the expedition doctor had to amputate them. For all the time, only 191 people have successfully climbed Annapurna, this is less than any other eight-thousanders. Climbing Annapurna is considered the most dangerous, with a mortality rate of 32 percent, like no other eight-thousander.
1953, May 29 - Everest "Chomolungma"
The members of the English expedition, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Norgay Tenzing, were the first to conquer Everest, a summit of 8848 meters. Nepali her name is "Sagarmatha", that is, "Mother of the universe." It is the tallest mountain in the world. on the border of Nepal and China.
Everest is a triangular pyramid with three sides and ridges that stretch to the northeast, southeast and northwest. The southeastern ridge is gentler and is the most widely used climbing route. It was this route to the summit through the Khumbu glacier, the valley of silence, from the foot of Lhotse through the South Col, Hillary and Tenzing blazed their first ascent. And for the first time the British tried to climb Everest back in 1921. They then could not go from the southern side, because of the ban of the Nepalese authorities and tried to rise from the north, from the side of Tibet. To do this, they had to go around the entire Chomolungma mountain range, having covered more than 400 kilometers to get to the top from China. But the time for the detour was lost and the monsoons that began did not make it possible to carry out the ascent. After them, a second attempt on the same route was made in 1924 by British climbers George Lee Mallory and Andrew Irwin, which was also unsuccessful, ending with the death of both at an altitude of 8500 meters.
Despite its reputation as an extremely dangerous mountain, commercialized climbing Everest has made it a very popular tourist attraction over the past few decades. According to the latest data, 5656 successful ascents were made to Everest, at the same time 223 people died. The mortality rate was about 4 percent.
1953, July 3 - Nangaparbat
The peak is located in the north of Pakistan in the western part of the Himalayas. It is the ninth highest eight-thousander, 8126 meters. This peak has such steep slopes that even snow does not hold on top of it. In Urdu, Nangaparbat means "Naked Mountain". The first to climb the peak was the Austrian climber Hermann Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian Himalayan expedition. He made the ascent alone, without oxygen apparatus. The ascent time to the summit was 17 hours, and with the descent 41 hours. It was the first successful ascent in 20 years of attempts, before that 31 climbers had already died there.
According to the latest data, a total of 335 successful ascents have been made to Nangaparbat. 68 climbers were killed. Mortality is about 20 percent, which makes it the third most dangerous 8000m.
1954, July 31 - Chogori, "K2", "Dapsang"
The first to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world, were Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. Although attempts to conquer K2 began in 1902.
Chogori Peak or Dapsang Peak - 8611 meters high, is located on the Baltoro Muztag Ridge in the Karakorum mountain range, on the border of Pakistan and China. This mountain received the unusual name K2 in the 19th century, when a British expedition measured the heights of the peaks of the Himalayas and Karakorum. Each newly measured peak was given a serial number. K2 was the second mountain they stumbled upon and since then this name has stuck behind it for a long time. Locals call this Lamba Pahar, which means "High Mountain". Despite the fact that K2 is lower than Everest, it turned out to be more difficult to climb it. For all the time, there were only 306 successful ascents on K2. When attempting to climb, 81 people died. The mortality rate is about 29 percent. K2 is often called a killer mountain
1954, October 19 - Cho-Oyu
The first to climb the peak were members of the Austrian expedition: Herbert Tichy, Josef Jöhler and the Sherpa Pazang Dawa Lama. Cho-Oyu summit is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal, in the Mahalangur-Himal mountain range, the Chomolungma mountain range, about 20 km west of Mount Everest.
Cho-Oyu, in Tibetan means "Goddess of Turquoise." It has a height of 8201 meters, it is the sixth highest eight-thousander. A few kilometers to the west of Cho Oyu is the Nangpa-La pass with a height of 5716 m. This pass is a passage from Nepal to Tibet, laid by the Sherpas as the only trade route. Because of this pass, many climbers consider Cho-Oyu to be the simplest eight-thousander. This is partly true because all ascents are made from the side of Tibet. But from the side of Nepal, the southern wall is so difficult that only a few managed to conquer.
In total, 3,138 people safely climbed Cho Oyu, this is more than any other peak except Everest. Lethality is 1%, less than any other. It is considered the safest eight-thousander.
1955, May 15 - Makalu
For the first time, Frenchmen Jean Cousi and Lionel Terre ascended the top of Makalu. The ascent to Makalu was the only one in the history of the conquest of the eight-thousanders, when all nine members of the expedition, including the senior group of Sherpa guides, reached the summit. This happened not because Makalu is such an easy mountain, but because the weather was extremely good and nothing prevented the climbers from achieving this triumph.
Makalu is 8485 meters high, the fifth highest mountain in the world, located just 20 kilometers southeast of Everest. In Tibetan, Makalu means Big Black. Such an unusual name was given to this mountain because its slopes are very steep and the snow simply does not hold on to them, so it remains bare for most of the year.
It turned out to be difficult enough to defeat Makalu. In 1954, an American team led by Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Everest, tried to do this, but they failed. And only the French, after a lot of preparatory work and well-coordinated teamwork, managed to do this. In total, 361 people have successfully climbed Makalu for all the time, while 31 people died while trying to climb. The mortality rate of Makalu ascents is about 9 percent.
1955, May 25 - Kanchenjunga
The first to successfully climb Kanchenjunga were British climbers George Band and Joe Brown. Before the ascent, the locals warned the climbers that a Sikkim god lives on the top of this mountain and should not be disturbed. They refused to accompany the expedition and the British went to the ascent on their own. But either because of superstition, or for some other reason, having climbed to the top, they did not reach the very top for several feet, believing that the top was conquered.
Kanchenjunga is located on the border of Nepal and India, about 120 kilometers south of Everest. The name "Kanchenjunga" in translation from Tibetan means "Treasury of the five great snows." Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the highest mountain in the world. But after Everest and other eight-thousanders were measured, it turned out that it is the third highest peak in the world, its height is 8586 meters.
Another legend in Nepal says that Kanchenjunga is a mountain woman. And women cannot go to it on pain of death. Of course, climbers are not superstitious people, but nevertheless, only one female climber, an Englishwoman, Jeanette Harrison, has climbed to its summit. No matter what, but a year and a half later, Jeanette Harrison died while climbing Dhaulagiri. For all the time, 283 climbers have successfully climbed Kanchenjunga. Of those who tried to climb, 40 people died. The ascent mortality is about 15 percent.
1956, May 9 - Manaslu
The mountain is 8163 meters high, the eighth highest eight-thousander. There were several attempts to climb this peak. For the first time in 1952, when, in addition to the British, the Swiss and French teams entered the championship of the conquest of Everest, the Japanese decided to conquer the Manaslu peak located in Nepal about 35 kilometers east of Annapurna. They scouted all the approaches and mapped out the route. The next year, 1953, they started climbing. But the ensuing blizzard broke all their plans and they were forced to retreat.
When they returned in 1954, the local Nepalese took up arms against them, referring to the fact that the Japanese defiled the gods and aroused their anger, because after the departure of the previous expedition, their village suffered misfortunes: there was an epidemic, crop failure, temples collapsed and three priests died. Armed with sticks and stones, they drove the Japanese away from the mountain. In 1955, a special delegation arrived from Japan to settle the matter with local residents. And only in the next 1956, having paid 7,000 rupees for damages and 4,000 rupees for the construction of a new temple and having arranged a big holiday for the population of the village, the Japanese received permission to climb. Thanks to the fine weather, Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and sirdar sherpa Gyaltsen Norbu climbed the peak on May 9. Manaslu remains one of the most dangerous eight-thousanders. In total, there were 661 successful ascents of Manaslu, sixty-five climbers died during the ascent. Mortality of ascents is about 10 percent.
1956, May 18 - Lhotse
Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss, members of the Swiss team, became the first people to climb the 8,516 meter high Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world.
Lhotse Peak is located on the border of Nepal and China, a few kilometers south of Everest. These two peaks are connected by a vertical ridge, the so-called South Col, the height of which is over 8000 meters along its entire length. Usually ascents are carried out along the western, more gentle slope. But in 1990, the Soviet Union team climbed the southern side, which was previously considered completely inaccessible, since it is a 3300-meter almost vertical wall. In total, 461 successful ascents were made on Lhotse. For all the time, 13 climbers have died there, the mortality rate is about 3 percent.
1956 July 8 - Gasherbrum II
The summit is 8034 meters high, the thirteenth highest mountain in the world. For the first time, Austrian climbers Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart climbed Gasherbrum II. They ascended the summit along the south side along the southwestern ridge. Before climbing the peak itself, having risen to an altitude of 7500 meters, they set up a temporary camp for the night, and then went on an assault early in the morning. It was a completely new, untested approach to rock climbing, which later began to be used by climbers from many countries.
Gasherbrum II is the second of four peaks of Gasherbrum in Karakorum on the Pakistan-China border, about 10 kilometers southeast of K2. The Baltoro Muztag ridge, which includes Gasherbrum II, is known for the longest glacier in the Karakorum, more than 62 kilometers long. This was the reason that many climbers descended almost from the very top of Gasherbrum II on skis, on snowboards and even with a parachute. Gasherbrum II is considered one of the safest and lightest eight-thousanders. 930 climbers successfully climbed Gasherbrum II and only 21 people died in unsuccessful attempts to climb. Mortality of ascents is about 2 percent.
1957 June 9 - Broad Peak
The mountain is 8051 meters high, the twelfth highest 8000m peak. The Germans tried to climb Broad Peak for the first time in 1954, but due to low temperatures and stormy winds, their efforts were unsuccessful. The first to climb the peak were Austrian climbers Fritz Wintersteller, Markus Schmuck im Kurt Dieberger. The ascent was carried out along the southwest side. The expedition did not use the services of porters and all the property was lifted by the participants themselves, which was rather difficult.
Broad Peak or "Jangyang" is located on the border between China and Pakistan, a few kilometers southeast of K2. This area is still little explored and geographers hope that over time it can gain sufficient popularity. For all the time, there were 404 successful ascents on Broad Peak. They were unsuccessful for 21 climbers who died while trying to climb. Mortality of ascents is about 5 percent.
1958, July 5 - Gasherbrum I "Hidden Peak"
The mountain is 8080 meters high. The summit belongs to the Gasherbrum - Karakorum mountain range. Attempts to climb Hidden Peak began a long time ago. In 1934, the members of an international expedition were able to climb only to an altitude of 6300 meters. In 1936, French climbers climbed the 6,900 meter mark. And only two years later, Americans Andrew Kaufman and Pete Schoening climb to the top of Hidden Peak.
Gasherbrum I or Hidden Peak, the eleventh highest eight-thousander in the world, one of the seven peaks of the Gasherbrum massif is located in Kashmir in the Pakistan-controlled Northern region on the border with China. Gasherbrum is translated from the local language as "Polished Wall", and it fully corresponds to this name. Due to its steep, almost polished, rocky slopes, climbing it was rejected by many. A total of 334 people have successfully climbed the peak, while 29 climbers have died while attempting to climb. The mortality rate of ascents is about 9 percent.
1960, May 13 - Dhaulagiri I
"White Mountain" - heights of 8167 meters, the seventh highest of the eight-thousanders. The first to climb to the top were the members of the European team: Dimberger, Shelbert, Diner, Forer and Sherpas Nyima and Navang. For the first time, an airplane was used to deliver expedition members and equipment. Back in 1950, the French, members of the 1950 expedition, paid attention to the "White Mountain". But then it seemed to them not available and they switched to Annapurna.
Dhaulagiri I is located in Nepal, 13 kilometers from Annapurna and the Argentines tried to climb to its top as early as 1954. But because of a strong blizzard, we did not reach the summit of only 170 meters. Although by the standards of the Himalayas, Dhaulagiri is only the sixth tallest, she is quite a tough nut to crack. So in 1969, while trying to climb, the Americans left seven of their comrades on the southeastern ridge. In total, 448 people successfully climbed to the top of Dhaulagiri I, but 69 climbers died in unsuccessful attempts. The mortality rate of ascents is about 16 percent.
1964, May 2 - Shishabangma
The summit is 8027 meters high. The first to conquer Shishabangma were eight Chinese climbers: Xu Jing, Zhang Zhunyan, Wang Fuzhou, Zhen San, Zheng Tianliang, Wu Tszongyue, Sodnam Dozhi, Migmar Trashi, Dozhi, Yongten. For a long time, climbing this peak was prohibited by the Chinese authorities. And only after the Chinese themselves climbed to its summit, there was an opportunity to participate in ascents and foreign climbers.
The Shishabangma mountain range, in Chinese "Geosenzhanfeng", in Indian "Gosintan" is located in China in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, a few kilometers from the Nepalese border. It consists of three peaks, two of which are over 8 kilometers. Shishabangma Main 8027 meters and Shishabangma Central 8008 meters. As part of the program "All 14 eight-thousanders of the world" there is an ascent to the main peak. In total, there were 302 successful ascents to Shishabangu. Twenty-five people died trying to climb the summit. The mortality rate of ascents is about 8 percent.
As can be seen from the chronology of ascents to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, it took more than 40 years to conquer them. Moreover, according to the analysis of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the most dangerous of all are: Annapurna, K2, and Nanga Parbat. On the ascent of these three peaks, the Himalayas took the life of every fourth person who encroached on their inaccessibility.
And yet, despite all these mortal dangers, there are people who have conquered all eight-thousanders. The first of these was Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer, German by nationality from South Tyrol. And although already during the first ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1970, his brother Gunther died, and he himself lost seven toes; in the second ascent of Manaslu in 1972, his teammate in the bunch died, this did not stop him. From 1970 to 1986, he climbed all 14 highest peaks of Zamli one by one. Moreover, he climbed Everest twice, In 1978, together with Peter Habeler along the classic route through the South Col, and in 1980 alone along the northern route, and during the monsoon season. Both ascents without the use of oxygen apparatus.
In total, now there are already 32 people in the world who have conquered all 14 eight-thousanders and these are probably not the last people who are waiting for the Himalayas.
The most majestic and mysterious mountain range on our planet is the Himalayas. This massif, whose name is translated as the abode of snow, conventionally divides 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, consider the Himalayas on the map and find out why these mountains are so unusual.
The location of the Himalaya mountain system on the world map
“Where are the Himalayan mountains, in what country” - this question often arises among novice travelers who have heard about the beauty of the most inaccessible mountains of 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. The mountain system has 83 peaks, 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:
- Sivalik ridge. This is the southernmost part of the mountain range. The ridge is located in Nepal and affects several states in India. Here the height of the Himalayan mountains does not exceed 2 km.
- Small Himalayas. This ridge stretches parallel to the Sivalik ridge. The average height here is 2.5 km.
- Greater 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 highest peaks of the planet are located.
Highest peaks
The mountain range contains 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world. Here are the tallest 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 it is here that mountain conquerors from all over the planet rush, because climbing the highest peaks is the work of a real climber's life.
Flora and fauna
The flora of the Himalayas changes with altitude. The natural features of the Himalayas at different levels amaze with the change of landscapes, fauna and flora. In the foothills of the small Himalayas, terai or swampy jungles prevail, above them are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous and finally, alpine meadows appear. The northern slopes are dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. The fauna of the Himalayas is as diverse as the flora. Here you can still see wild tigers, rhinos, elephants and monkeys, and when you climb higher, the risk of meeting a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard increases.
On the territory of the mountains, fascinating Nepal, there is a unique nature reserve, where endangered species of animals are still preserved. The zone is under the protection of UNESCO. Mount Everest is located on the territory of this reserve.
Rivers and lakes
It is in the Himalayas that the three largest rivers of South Asia originate. These include Brahmaputra and Indus. Moreover, the mountain range has many beautiful and cleanest lakes. The highest mountain is Lake Tilicho, located at an altitude of 4919 m.
The special pride of the Himalayas is of course the glaciers. In terms of the amount of fresh water reserves, the mountain range was bypassed only by the Arctic and Antarctic. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri layer, which reaches 26 km in length.
When is it good in the Himalayas?
According to travelers, it is always good in the Himalayas. Each season of the year gives the slopes of this ridge unique landscapes, the beauty of which is simply impossible to tell in words. In spring the slopes are covered with beautiful flowers, the aroma of which spreads for many kilometers, in the summer, during the rainy season, lush greenery makes its way through the light fog and gives freshness and coolness, autumn riots with colors, and in winter, when snow falls, there is no place in the world cleaner and whiter.
The main tourist season falls in the autumn months, but in winter there are many skiing enthusiasts, because in the Himalayas there are many ski resorts of world importance.
Solarshakti / flickr.com View of the snow-capped Himalayas (Saurabh Kumar_ / flickr.com) Great Himalayas - view of the path to Leh from Delhi (Karunakar Rayker / flickr.com) You will have to cross this bridge if you are going to Everest Base Camp (ilker ender / flickr.com) Great Himalayas (Christopher Michel / flickr.com) Christopher Michel / flickr.com Christopher Michel / flickr.com Sunset on Everest (旅 者 河 童 / flickr.com) Himalayas - from the plane (Partha S. Sahana / flickr.com) Lukla Airport, Patan, Kathmandu. (Chris Marquardt / flickr.com) Valley of Flowers, Himalayas (Alosh Bennett / flickr.com) Himalayan Landscape (Jan / flickr.com) Bridge over the Ganges (Asis K. Chatterjee / flickr.com) Kanchenjunga, Indian Himalayas (A.Ostrovsky / flickr.com) Climber at Sunset, Nepal Himalayas (Dmitry Sumin / flickr.com) Manaslu - 26,758 feet (David Wilkinson / flickr.com) Himalayan Fauna (Chris Walker / flickr.com) Annapurna (Mike Behnken / flickr.com ) On the border of India and Tibet in Kinnur Himachal Pradesh (Partha Chowdhury / flickr.com) Beautiful place in Kashmir (Kashmir Pictures / flickr.com) Abhishek Shirali / flickr.com Parfen Rogozhin / flickr.com Koshy Koshy / flickr.com valcker / flickr.com Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal (Matt Zimmerman / flickr.com) Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal (Matt Zimmerman / flickr.com)
Where are the Himalayan mountains, the photos of which are so amazing? For most people, this question is unlikely to cause difficulty, at least they will answer exactly on which continent these mountains stretch.
If you look at a geographical map, you can see that they are located in the northern hemisphere, in South Asia, between the Indo-Gangetic plain (in the south) and the Tibetan plateau (in the north).
In the west, they pass into the Karakorum and Hindu Kush mountain systems.
The peculiarity of the geographical position of the Himalayas is that they are located on the territory of five countries: India, Nepal, China (Tibet Autonomous Region), Bhutan and Pakistan. The foothills also cut across the northern edge of Bangladesh. The name of the mountain system can be translated from Sanskrit as "abode of the snows".
The height of the Himalayas
The Himalayas are home to 9 of the 10 highest peaks on our planet, including the highest point in the world - Chomolungma, which reaches 8848 meters above sea level. Its geographic coordinates are 27 ° 59′17 ″ north latitude 86 ° 55′31 ″ east longitude. The average height of the entire mountain system exceeds 6,000 meters.
Highest peaks of the Himalayas
Geographical description: 3 main stages
The Himalayas form three main stages: the Sivalik Range, the Lesser Himalayas and the Greater Himalayas, each of which is higher than the previous one.
- Sivalik ridge - the southernmost, lowest and geologically youngest step. It stretches for about 1700 km from the Indus Valley to the Brahmaputra Valley with a width of 10 to 50 km. The height of the ridge does not exceed 2000 m. Sivalik is located mainly in Nepal, as well as in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
- The next step is the Small Himalayas, it runs to the north of the Sivalik ridge, parallel to it. The average height of the ridge is about 2500 m, and in the western part it reaches 4000 m. The Sivalik ridge and the Lesser Himalayas are strongly cut by river valleys, breaking up into separate massifs.
- Greater Himalayas - the northernmost and highest step. The height of individual peaks here exceeds 8000 m, and the height of the passes is more than 4000 m. Glaciers are widely developed. Their total area exceeds 33,000 square kilometers, and their total fresh water reserves are about 12,000 cubic kilometers. One of the largest and most famous glaciers, the Gangotri, is the source of the Ganges River.
Rivers and lakes of the Himalayas
The three largest rivers of South Asia - the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra - begin in the Himalayas. The rivers of the western tip of the Himalayas belong to the Indus basin, and almost all other rivers belong to the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. The easternmost edge of the mountain system belongs to the Ayeyarwaddy basin.
There are many lakes in the Himalayas. The largest of them are Lake Bangong-Tso (700 km²) and Yamjo-Yumtso (621 km²). Lake Tilicho is located at an absolute elevation of 4919 m, which makes it one of the highest in the world.
Climate
The climate in the Himalayas is quite varied. The southern slopes are strongly influenced by monsoons. The amount of precipitation here increases in the direction from west to east from less than 1000 mm to more than 4000 mm.
On the border of India and Tibet in Kinnur Himachal Pradesh (Partha Chowdhury / flickr.com)
The northern slopes, on the other hand, are in the rain shadow. The climate here is arid and cold.
In the highlands, there are severe frosts and winds. In winter, temperatures can drop to minus 40 ° C or even lower.
The Himalayas have a strong influence on the climate of the entire region. They act as a barrier to cold, dry winds blowing from the north, making the Indian subcontinent a much warmer climate than neighboring Asian regions at the same latitudes. In addition, the Himalayas are a barrier to the monsoons that blow from the south and bring huge amounts of rainfall.
The high mountains do not allow these moist air masses to pass further north, which makes the climate of Tibet very arid.
It is believed that the Himalayas played a significant role in the formation of the deserts of Central Asia, such as Taklamakan and Gobi, which is also explained by the effect of the rain shadow.
Origin and geology
Geologically, the Himalayas are one of the youngest mountain systems in the world; refers to alpine folding. It is composed mainly of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, crumpled into folds and raised to a considerable height.
The Himalayas were formed as a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian lithospheric plates, which began approximately 50-55 million years ago. During this collision, the ancient Tethys Ocean was closed and the orogenic belt was formed.
Flora and fauna
The flora of the Himalayas is subject to altitudinal zonation. At the foot of the Sivalik ridge, the vegetation is represented by swampy forests and thickets, known here as "terai".
Himalayan Landscape (Jan / flickr.com)
Above they are replaced by evergreen tropical, deciduous and coniferous forests, and even higher - alpine meadows.
Deciduous forests begin to prevail at absolute elevations of more than 2000 m, and coniferous forests - above 2600 m.
Shrub vegetation predominates at an altitude of more than 3500 m.
On the northern slopes, where the climate is much more arid, the vegetation is much poorer. Mountain deserts and steppes are widespread here. The height of the snow line varies from 4500 (southern slopes) to 6000 m (northern slopes).
Fauna of the Himalayas (Chris Walker / flickr.com)
The local fauna is quite diverse and, like vegetation, depends mainly on the height above sea level. The fauna of the tropical forests of the southern slopes is typical for the tropics. Elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, antelopes are still found here in the wild; monkeys are numerous.
Above, there are Himalayan bears, mountain goats and rams, yaks, etc. In the highlands there is still such a rare animal as the snow leopard.
There are many different protected areas in the Himalayas. Among them, it is worth noting the Sagarmatha National Park, within which Everest is partially located.
Population
Most of the Himalayan population lives in the southern foothills and in the intermontane basins. The largest basins are the Kashmir and Kathmandu; these regions are very densely populated, and almost all the land here is cultivated.
Bridge over the Ganges (Asis K. Chatterjee / flickr.com)
Like many other mountainous regions, the Himalayas are distinguished by great ethnic and linguistic diversity.
This is due to the inaccessibility of these places, because of which the population of almost every valley or depression lived very isolated.
Contacts even with neighboring areas were minimal, since in order to get to them, it was necessary to overcome high-mountain passes, which are often covered with snow in winter, and they become completely impassable. In this case, some intermountain basin could be completely isolated until next summer.
Almost the entire population of the region speaks either Indo-Aryan languages, which belong to the Indo-European family, or Tibeto-Burmese languages, which belong to the Sino-Tibetan family. Most of the population is Buddhist or Hindu.
The most famous people of the Himalayas are the Sherpas, who live in the highlands of Eastern Nepal, including in the Everest region. They often work as guides and porters on expeditions to Chomolungma and other peaks.
Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal (Matt Zimmerman / flickr.com)
Sherpas have a hereditary altitude adaptation, due to which, even at very high altitudes, they do not suffer from altitude sickness and do not need additional oxygen.
Most of the population of the Himalayas is engaged in agriculture. If there is a sufficiently flat surface and water, people cultivate rice, barley, oats, potatoes, peas, etc.
In the foothills and in some intermontane hollows, more thermophilic crops are grown - citrus fruits, apricots, grapes, tea, etc. In the highlands, the breeding of goats, sheep and yaks is widespread. The latter are used as a beast of burden, as well as for meat, milk and wool.
Himalayas landmarks
The Himalayas are home to a wide variety of attractions. In this region there are a huge number of Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples, as well as simply places considered sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism.
Valley of Flowers, Himalayas (Alosh Bennett / flickr.com)
In the foothills of the Himalayas is the Indian city of Rishikesh, which is sacred to Hindus, and is also widely known as the world capital of yoga.
Another sacred Hindu city is Hardwar, located at the point where the Ganges descends from the Himalayas into the plain. From Hindi its name can be translated as "gate to God."
Among the natural attractions, it is worth mentioning the Valley of Flowers National Park, located in the Western Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarkhand.
The valley fully justifies its name: it is a solid floral carpet, quite unlike ordinary alpine meadows. Together with the Nanda Devi National Park, it is a UNESCO heritage site.
Tourism
The Himalayas are popular for mountaineering and hiking in the mountains. Of the hiking trails, the most famous track around Annapurna, which runs along the slopes of the mountain range of the same name, in the north of central Nepal.
Climber at sunset, Nepal Himalayas (Dmitry Sumin / flickr.com)
The length of the route is 211 km, and its height varies from 800 to 5416 m.
Sometimes tourists combine this track with a hike to Lake Tilicho, located at an absolute elevation of 4919 m.
Another popular route is the trail around Manaslu, which runs around the Mansiri Himal mountain range and overlaps with the route around Annapurna.
How long it will take to complete these routes depends on the physical fitness of the person, the time of year, weather conditions and other factors. In high altitude areas, do not climb too quickly to avoid the symptoms of altitude sickness.
The conquest of the Himalayan peaks is quite difficult and dangerous. It requires good training, equipment and mountaineering experience.
