Where are the Himalayas located? The Himalayas are the highest mountains on Earth.

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

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

Kingdom of snow

The pictures of the Himalayan peaks are breathtaking. Many will easily give an answer to the question of where on our planet these giants are located.

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

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

How the Himalayas appeared and developed

This system of mountains, from the point of view of geology, is quite young. It has been assigned to Himalaya coordinates: 27°59′17″ North and 86°55′31″ East

There are two phenomena that influenced the appearance of mountains:

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

Dimensions of the Himalayan peaks

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

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

Three main steps

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

Description of the Himalayan steps, starting with the smallest in height:

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

Himalayan water system

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

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

Weather

The weather in the mountains is changeable, it is influenced by the geographical position of the Himalayas, their vast territory.

• On the south side, under the monsoon influence, a lot of precipitation falls in the summer - up to 4 meters in the east, up to 1 meter per year in the west, and almost never in winter.
• In the north, on the contrary, there is almost no rain at all; a continental climate prevails here, cold and dry. High in the mountains, severe frosts and increased winds occur. The air temperature is below -40 o C.

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

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

In Tibet, the weather is very dry, because all the monsoon winds blowing from the south side and bringing a lot of precipitation cannot cross high mountains. All moisture-containing volumes of air settle in them.

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

Flora and fauna

Flora directly depends on the height of the Himalayas.

• The base of the Sivalik Range is covered with swampy forests and terai (a kind of growth).
• A little higher green dense forests with a high tree stand begin, there are deciduous and coniferous plants. Further there are mountain meadows covered with dense grass.
• Forests that are made up of deciduous trees and small shrubs, prevail at an altitude of more than 2 km. And coniferous forests - more than 2 km 600 meters.
• Above 3 km 500 meters the kingdom of bushes begins.
• On the slopes from the north, the weather is drier, so there is much less vegetation. Mostly mountainous deserts and steppes predominate.

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

• Wild elephants, antelopes, tigers, rhinos and leopards live in the southern tropics, very a large number of monkeys.
• A little higher live the famous Himalayan bears, mountain sheep and goats, yaks.
• And even higher sometimes there are snow leopards.

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

Population

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

In the Himalayas, the population is divided into ethnic groups. It so happened that it is difficult to get into these places, people for a long time lived in isolated tribes with little contact with neighboring ones. Often in winter period the inhabitants of any hollow turned out to be completely cut off from others, because it was impossible to get to their neighbors because of the snow blockages in the mountains.

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

Religious views also differ: some praise the Buddha, while others bow to Hinduism.

The inhabitants of the Himalayas - Sherpas - live high in the mountains of Eastern Nepal, including the region of Everest. They often earn extra money as assistants on expeditions: they show the way and carry things. They have perfectly adapted to the height, so even at the highest points of this mountain system they do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. Apparently, it betrays them at the genetic level.

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

Special values ​​of the Himalayas

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

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

You can walk through the National Park "Valley of Flowers", which is located on the western side of the Himalayas. This strewn the most beautiful flowers The area is a UNESCO National Heritage Site.

tourist travel

In the Himalayas, sports such as climbing and hiking along mountain paths are very popular.

The most popular tracks include:

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

The preparation of the tourist, the time of year and the weather affect the time of passing these paths. It is dangerous for an unprepared person to immediately climb to a height, as "mountain sickness" may begin. Besides, it's unsafe. You need to prepare well, purchase special equipment for mountaineering.

Almost every person knows where the Himalayas are and wants to go there. Traveling to the mountains attracts tourists from different countries, including from Russia. Remember that climbing is best done in the warm season, best of all in autumn or spring. In the summer it rains in the Himalayas, and in the winter it is very cold and impassable.

Almost the entire northeast of India is occupied by the vast mountain system of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush. There are many Buddhist monasteries and communities here, many of which settled here more than one millennium ago. The Himalayas are India's most famous natural landmark, and Chomolungma Peak, or Everest, the highest peak, claims to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Not only climbers and other lovers of extreme recreation come here, but also pilgrims - followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and esotericism.

The Himalayas are part of five countries at once. The mountain system is located on the territory of India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bhutan, and the Asian rivers Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, around which the most important world cultures were created, are fed from the Himalayan glaciers.

Despite the abundance of mountain slopes, there are very few ski resorts in the Himalayas, and those that exist are not very developed. This is due not so much to the reluctance of Indians to invest in sports tourism, but to the lack of good places for riding. Of the available most popular Gulmarg in the Indian part of Kashmir, Auli in Uttarakhand and Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

How to get to the Himalayas

The nearest airport to the Indian Himalayas is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. First you need to fly here, and then by domestic flights, by train or by a rented car, you can already get to your destination.

There is no railway network in the mountains, but you can take the train to the foot. The only railway in the Himalayas is more of an amusement than a convenient transportation, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is referred to here as a "toy train". It departs from Siligiri station and goes up to Gkhum, located at an altitude of 2257 m, past tea plantations, valleys and other picturesque landscapes.

The easiest way to get to the Gulmarg ski resort is by plane: the city of Srinagor, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, has its own airport. Auli resort is close to several airports, the nearest one is in Dehradun.

The main means of transportation between cities and towns in the Himalayas are minibus jeeps (shared jeep), they run between all settlements. Indians are used to occupying a minimum of space on the road, therefore, in order to travel comfortably, it makes sense to buy 1-2 extra seats.

Search for flights to the city of Delhi (the nearest airport to the Himalayas)

Weather in the Himalayas

The weather in the Himalayas depends on the height of the mountain ranges - the higher, the colder. At an altitude of 2000-2300 m above sea level, in winter the air temperature ranges from -4 to +8 °С, in summer - an average of +18 ... +24 °С, sometimes it is hot, up to +23 ... +30 °С .

The best time to travel is from May to July and September-October. At this time, the weather is dry, sunny, warm enough and comfortable for walking. It is also warm in July and August, but at this time rains and fogs come here, high clouds, so it is unlikely that you will be able to admire the mountain landscapes. In winter, it is cold and windy in the Himalayas, all roads are covered with snow, and travel becomes problematic.

Himalayas Hotels

There are hotels of different price categories in the Himalayas. Big choice there are hotels from 2 * to 5 * in Darjeeling and in popular ski resorts. small house without amenities, with a fan instead of air conditioning, it will cost from 1100 INR per day for two. "Treshka" will cost about 3500-4200 INR per day for a double room, and 5 * hotels - from 7000 INR per day. Prices on the page are for March 2019.

In the Himalayas, especially in its religious quarters, ashrams are popular. These are shelters for pilgrims, similar to very ascetic hostels. The conditions there are quite spartan, often in a room for several people there is only beds and one shower for everyone (if you're lucky, there will be a fan). Accommodation is very cheap, and sometimes you can live in the ashram for free for help with the housework or a voluntary donation.

Skiing

There are several ski resorts in the Himalayas. In terms of service level, they cannot be compared with European ones, but the most important thing - the necessary minimum of services and gorgeous mountain landscapes - is here. There are equipment rentals almost everywhere. full set will cost about 1400-1750 INR per day.

The most popular ski resort in the Himalayas - Gulmarg. It meets European standards more than anyone else, and looks like a Swiss village from the middle of the last century. There are equipment rentals, several ski lifts, about 15 km of slopes and excellent forest freeride.

Auli is another popular Himalayan ski resort. Local trails are considered the best in the region (only about 10 km). There are snow cannons, ski schools for beginners and gentle slopes for them. The resort as a whole is more focused on beginner athletes, experienced ones will be quite bored here.

Solang- a ski resort 22 km from the city of Manali. There are trails for both beginners and extreme sports (one "black trail"), tourists note the high professionalism of instructors.

Narkanda- a very picturesque resort surrounded by coniferous forest, located near Shimla, the only drawback is very little space.

Kufri- the oldest ski resort in India. In winter, there is a center for skiing, in summer - trekking and hiking, since there are two national parks not far from Kufri: the Himalayan Nature Park and the Indira Tourist Park.

Cuisine and restaurants of the Himalayas

Tibetan cuisine is widespread in the Himalayas. It is much less spicy than in southern India, and has more meat, although vegetarian options are also present. The most popular dishes that can be found in almost every cafe and restaurant are chowman (pasta with vegetables and meat), momo (steamed dumplings with various meat and vegetable fillings) and tukhpa (lamb broth soup with pasta, vegetables and meat). Here, a lot is cooked in the tandoor - an earthen oven without a lid. Basically, this is a simple peasant food: meat or poultry is fried on a spit, and then baked in a tandoor in special bread cakes, which are lined inside the tandoor.

The season matters. In the Himalayas, this seasonality is special and is associated with religion and other ancient traditions. In the rainy season, you can not find dishes with nuts here, after a hearty meal you need to eat mangoes, and in the summer they do not eat meat and fish. However, the latter is easily explained: refrigerators are still far from being in every home, and meat spoils very quickly in the heat.

In the Himalayas, the cult of wholesome food. For example, it is believed that mango soup not only improves blood circulation, but also increases sexual desire, halva is almost a blessing of the gods, and a drink from rhodo flowers (Himalayan rhododendrons) brings harmony to the body and soul.

The best photos of the Himalayas

Entertainment and attractions

In the Himalayas, ancient temples and natural attractions are of particular interest. The most famous are Ladakh, the city of ashrams Rishikesh and Haridwar, one of the seven sacred cities. The high-mountain temples of Shiva and Vishnu in Kedarnath and Badrinath, the Kashmir Valley and, of course, Shambhala with Tibetan monasteries are worth attention.

Also popular are excursions to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, surrounded by the "pond of immortality", trips to the state of Sikkim to the foot of the sacred Annapurna and other Buddhist shrines.

Acquaintance with the Himalayas often begins with the capital of Himchal Pradesh - the town shimla. It is called "the most fashionable village in the Himalayas": it is worth visiting the palace of the Viceroy of Britain (today there is a museum), the central square with the Cathedral of Christ and the main shopping street where you can buy scarves and shawls made of fine wool, saris and other national clothes and sequins to decorate the forehead.

One of the most mysterious places in the Himalayas - Srinagar. All his secrets are connected with the tomb of Rozbal - according to historical research (for the most part doubtful), the body of Jesus lies there, and many locals sincerely believe in it. In addition, the city is known for doiks - boats on Dal Lake, proximity ski resort Gulmarg and very high quality woolen products in local shops and markets.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most interesting rides in the Himalayas. It is better known here under the name "Toy Train". The road was built in 1881, and since then a small train has been running along a narrow 60 cm gauge to an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The final station is Gkhum (altitude 2257 m), the path runs past tea plantations and other local beauties. From the railway ring of the terminal station offers a gorgeous view of the surroundings.

Road to the Himalayas

natural attractions

The Himalayas are very interesting National parks- Nanda Devi and the Valley of Flowers in the Western Himalayas, which are under the protection of UNESCO. These two parks are located side by side and are considered one of the most picturesque in the Himalayas. The landscapes here are really impressive: glaciers on mountain peaks, alpine meadows, the source of the Ganges River, which flows through the entire Nanda Devi reserve, and a diverse flora and fauna. Rare animals live here, for example, the snow leopard and the blue sheep.

The most famous attraction of the national park is Rooklund Lake, also known as Skeleton Lake. It got its ominous name after many human skeletons were found at the bottom of the lake. It is believed that these people were killed by hail while climbing to the top.

Himalayas and Roerich

The Himalayas have inspired and continue to inspire artists, directors, musicians and just creative people. The great Russian artist and mystic Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich in his expedition in the 30s of the 20th century. not only visited the Indian Himalayas and depicted what he saw in the pictures, but even founded the Institute of Himalayan Studies in America. Furthermore, last years The artist's life was spent in the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Now there, in Nagar (a suburb of the city of Manali), there is a house-museum of the painter. The atmosphere in which the Roerich family lived for 20 years, the personal car of Nicholas Konstantinovich and some of his paintings have been preserved there.

The Kullu Valley is known not only for the Roerich estate. This region is called Indian Switzerland: coniferous forests grow here, and the Tibetan Medicine Center is located in Manali, where you can get diagnosed by the best local doctors and improve your health.

Majestic Himalayas... Harsh land pristine beauty where a person can be alone with the whole world. Thousands of square kilometers of mountains and amazing wildlife, evoking thoughts of the eternal secrets of life - all this can be found by a wanderer in the Himalayas. Here is the top of the world, and we invite you to learn more about it.

Where are the Himalayas

About 70 million years ago, two giant tectonic plates collided - the Indo-American and the Eurasian. A powerful push marked the beginning of the largest mountain system on our planet. Just imagine: it occupies 0.4% of the total area of ​​the planet, which is incredibly large in relation to other geographical objects.

The Himalayas are located on the continent of Eurasia, in the Asian part. They border in the north with the Tibetan Plateau, in the south - with the Indo-Gangetic plain. The length of the system is more than 2400 km, the width reaches 350 km. Adjacent to the southern part of the Himalayas are the so-called Pre-Himalayas - the smaller Sivalik Mountains. This mountain system contains many of the most high peaks in the world. The average height of the mountain ranges of the Himalayas is 6000 meters. The highest is the famous Mount Everest (otherwise - Chomolungma, 8848 meters). And this, as we probably remember, is the highest point on our planet.

The ranges of the Himalayas give rise to the most big rivers in southern Asia: the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.

We already have the first data, namely, where the Himalayas are located. More specifically, about countries with a mountainous landscape on their territory, further.

Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas

Since the borders of the countries are divided almost regardless of the relief features, the mountain ranges of the Himalayas are located in several. These countries are India, Nepal, China (the area known as Tibet), Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Tajikistan. Each of them got a plot of a beautiful natural formation.

The area of ​​the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square kilometers. In remoteness from one another, many peoples live here. natural conditions here are extremely harsh: cold at high altitudes, dangerous terrain. However, the locals are happy with their magnificent home.

The Himalayas have already revealed the first secrets to us: where are they, a country (even several), which has mountainous areas on its territory. More about climatic conditions in the Himalayas.

Climate features

The Himalayas are a particularly large landform. The mountains themselves on their southern side are swampy jungles, lush tropical forests, coniferous and deciduous, as well as a variety of shrubs and grasslands. The northern slopes are not so rich and varied. Their surfaces are semi-deserts and mountain steppes. The ridges of the Himalayan ranges are of the Alpine type - sharp, steep. Huge glaciers lie on them in an unmeasured amount.

It is noteworthy that the coordinates where the Himalayas are located are such that the mountain system serves as a natural climatic boundary between the tropics of the south and the desert lands north of the Himalayas. The colossal areas and high altitudes of the mountains greatly influenced the climate of the surrounding countries. So, south of the Himalayas, at their very foot, there is a city with the highest amount of precipitation on the planet. This happens because the mountains delay precipitation moving with air masses from the Indian Ocean, and they fall at their foot. At an altitude of 4500 meters above sea level in the Himalayas lies a zone of eternal snow.

The Himalayas, where there are huge glaciers, impressed us. And what about the inhabitants of the mountain system?

Inhabitants of the mountain system

Surprisingly, in such harsh conditions as in the Himalayas, many people live. According to scientists, the records of the first settlements in the territory of the mountain system date back to 8000 BC. e. People came from the south (peoples from the Hindustan peninsula), and from the northeast (Tibetans), and from the west (Turkic peoples).
People settled their settlements in the valleys. Their remoteness from one another contributed to the separate development of these ethnic groups.

Readers must have wondered: how can one survive in such inhospitable places? Those communities that led a settled way of life were engaged in subsistence farming where there were all conditions for this: a horizontal surface, water, more or less fertile soil, suitable climate. Modern residents Himalayan valleys are also self-sufficient with their labor. Here is another phenomenon that struck us in the Himalayas, where one of the oldest subsistence farms is located.

In higher territories, the key occupation local population- transhumance cattle breeding. The opportunity to do it is almost everywhere to the edge of the snow.

And we will consider some more facts that will be interesting to know about the Himalayas.

In addition to knowing where the Himalayas are, several other features of this corner of the planet will also be of interest. That this is the most impregnable, the highest (by average) mountain system in the world, we know about the Himalayas. But what does their name mean?

The word "Himalaya" means "abode of snow". And indeed: after all, already at an altitude of 4.5 kilometers, the snow never melts here. By the amount of snow, this natural form is in third place on the planet. Only the Arctic and Antarctic have overtaken the Himalayas.
It is also interesting to know that with such a cold climate in most areas of the mountains, Hindus are sure that they are the haven of their god Shiva.

Mount Everest (Chomolungma) is the highest in the world (above sea level). She is associated with triumph. Extreme people from all over the world are literally trying to climb Everest. This first happened in 1953 when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit. Mountaineering in the Himalayas is very popular. The mountain system contains ten of the fourteen eight-thousander mountains (in fact, their height is even slightly higher). To conquer them all is the dream of professional climbers.

On this, our article about where the Himalayas are located and what this mountain system is, comes to an end.

Conclusion

"The abode of the snows", the Himalayas are mountains to which the prefix "most" is firmly attached. The highest, most impregnable... And people tend to get here in order to experience the power of nature, which created such a miracle. But the Himalayas do not invite guests. They are unshakable and harsh. However, brave travelers should try to become friends with the "under heaven". Yes, indeed "under heaven", because the sky is so close here!

Since school days, we all know that the highest mountain on the planet is Everest, and it is located in the Himalayas. But not everyone clearly imagines where, in fact, the Himalayas are located? In recent years, mountain tourism has become very popular, and if you are fond of it, then this miracle of nature - the Himalayas, is definitely worth a visit!

And these mountains are located on the territory of five states: India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The total length of the largest mountain system on our planet is 2,400 kilometers, while its width is 350 kilometers. In terms of height, many peaks of the Himalayas are champions. Here are the ten highest peaks on the planet, with a height of more than eight thousand meters.

- Everest or Chomolungma with a height of 8848 meters above sea level. The highest mountain in the Himalayas was conquered by man only in 1953. All climbs that were before were unsuccessful, because the slopes of the mountain are very steep and dangerous. Strong winds blow at the top, which, combined with very low night temperatures, are difficult tests for those who dare to conquer this inaccessible peak. Everest itself is located on the border of two states - China and Nepal.

In India, the Himalayas, thanks to their gentler slopes, which are not so dangerous, have become a haven for monks who preach Buddhism and Hinduism. Their monasteries are located in large numbers in the Himalayas in India and Nepal. Pilgrims, followers of these religions and just tourists flock here from all over the world. Thanks to this, the Himalayas in these regions are very visited.

But ski tourism in the Himalayas is not popular, since there are no suitable gentle slopes for skiing, which could attract tourists en masse. All states where the Himalayas are located are popular mainly among climbers and pilgrims.

Traveling through the Himalayas is not such an easy adventure, it can only be done by a hardy and strong spirit. And if you have these forces in reserve, then you should definitely go to India or Nepal. Here you can visit the most beautiful temples and monasteries spread on the picturesque slopes, take part in the evening prayer of Buddhist monks, and at dawn indulge in relaxing meditation and hatha yoga classes conducted by Indian gurus. Traveling through the mountains, you will see with your own eyes where such great rivers as the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra originate.

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

Origin of the Himalayas

The origin and development of the Himalayan mountains took several stages, which took a total of about 50,000,000 years. Many researchers believe that two colliding tectonic plates gave rise to the Himalayas.

It is interesting that at present the mountain system continues its development, the formation of folding. The Indian plate is moving towards the northeast at a rate of 5 cm per year, while shrinking by 4 mm. Scholars argue that such an advance will lead to further rapprochement between India and Tibet.

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

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

What continent are the Himalayas located on: geographical information

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

The Himalayan mountain system stretches for 2,500 km, and its width is at least 350 km. The total area of ​​the massif is 650,000 m².

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

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

Characteristics of natural conditions

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

In the Himalayas, it is customary to distinguish 4 types of climate. From April to June, the mountains are covered with wild herbs and flowers, coolness and freshness reign in the air. Starting in July and ending in August, rains rule in the mountains, the largest amount of precipitation falls. During these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation, fogs often appear. Until the arrival of November, warm and comfortable weather followed by a sunny frosty winter with heavy snowfalls.

Description of the flora

Himalayan vegetation surprises with its diversity. Altitude zones are clearly visible on the southern slope, subject to frequent precipitation, and real jungles (terai) grow at the foot of the mountains. In these places, large thickets of trees and shrubs are found in abundance. In some places, dense creepers, bamboo, numerous bananas, and undersized palm trees are found. Sometimes you can get to the areas intended for the cultivation of certain crops. These places are usually cleared and drained by man.

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

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

local fauna

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

In addition to the richest flora and fauna, the Himalayas abound in a variety of minerals. Alluvial gold, copper and chromium ore, oil, rock salt, brown coal.

parks and valleys

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

1. Sagarmatha.
2. Flower Valley.

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

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

The most picturesque places of Nanda Devi are represented by grandiose glaciers, the Rishi Ganga River, the mystical Skeleton Lake, around which, according to legend, numerous human and animal remains were found. It is generally accepted that the sudden fall of an unusually large hail led to mass deaths.

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

Buddhist temples

The Himalayas are famous for their Buddhist monasteries, many of which are located in hard-to-reach places, and are buildings carved from the rock. Most of the temples have a long history of existence, up to 1000 years old, and lead a rather "closed" lifestyle. Some of the monasteries are open to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the way of life of the monks, interior decoration holy places. They can do nice pictures. Entrance to the territory of other shrines for visitors is strictly prohibited.

The largest and most revered monasteries include:

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

A carefully guarded religious shrine, found everywhere in the Himalayas, are Buddhist stupas. These religious monuments were built by the monks of the past in honor of some important event in Buddhism, and for prosperity and harmony throughout the world.

Tourists visiting the Himalayas

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

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