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) Animal world Himalayas (Chris Walker / flickr.com) Annapurna (Mike Behnken / flickr.com) On the border of India and Tibet at Kinnur Himachal Pradesh (Partha Chowdhury / flickr.com) A nice 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.
Looking at geographic map, then 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.
Peculiarity geographic location Himalayas in 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 outskirts 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 most high point in the world - Chomolungma, the height of which reaches 8848 m above sea level. Its geographic coordinates: 27 ° 59'17 "north latitude 86 ° 55'31" east longitude. The average height of the entire mountain system is over 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. The glaciers are widely developed. Their total area exceeds 33,000 square kilometers, and their total reserves fresh water they 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 end 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 and 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, which makes the Indian subcontinent's climate much warmer than neighboring regions of Asia located 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.
High mountains do not allow these moist air masses to pass further north, which makes Tibet's climate 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. In the course of 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 - by 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 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 the vegetation, depends mainly on the height above sea level. The fauna of the tropical forests of the southern slopes is typical of 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 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 is 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, thanks 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. When 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 also 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. This region has 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 world capital 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. From 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 the central part of 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, you should 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.
The Himalayas are a mountain range located in the southern part of Asia. The Himalayas are part of states such as Nepal, India, Pakistan, Tibet and Bhutan. This mountain range is the highest in the world, reaching an altitude of almost 9000 meters above sea level. The Himalayas separate the Indian subcontinent from the interior of Asia. The very word "Himalayas" means "house of snow".
In the Himalayas, as many as 14 mountains exceed 8,000 meters in height, including K2, Nangaparbat and Mount Everest. The height of the latter is 8848 meters, making it the most high mountain in the world. The Himalayas stretch over 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from the Indus Valley in the west to the Brahmaputra Valley in the east. Their width is from 100 to 250 kilometers.
Many mountain peaks are sacred to the people who live in the surrounding area. Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims come here and pray to God.
How the Himalayas were formed
The Himalayas are among the youngest mountain ranges in the world. They were formed when the Indian subcontinent, which was originally part of the southern plate, moved north and crashed into Asia. This movement began about 70 million years ago and continues to this day. The Himalayas are still getting taller, growing by about 7 cm per year. Earthquakes and volcanoes are proof of the region's high activity.
Rivers and lakes
Glaciers and permanent snowfields cover the highlands of the Himalayas.They are the source of streams that flow into two big rivers of this region. The Indus flows into the West and through Pakistan into the Arabian Sea. The Ganges and Brahmaputra flow eastward and join in Bangladesh They form the world's largest river delta. 
Climate
Almost any type of climate is found at different altitudes in the mountains. The lower slopes in the south are home to tropical plants and tea. The trees grow to a height of 4000 meters. Wheat and other cereals grow in higher areas.
The Himalayas influence the climate in both India and Tibet. They form a barrier from the monsoon winds that blow from the Indian Ocean through India. Heavy rains fall on the outside of the mountains, while dry winds blow on the plains of Tibet.
Population
The Himalayas are very sparsely populated due to the harsh climate. Most people live on the low Indian slopes. Many people make their living as Sherpas by taking hikers and climbers to the peaks of the mountains.
Mountains have been a natural obstacle for millennia. They stopped people from China and the interior of Asia from mixing with the Indian population. Genghis Khan, Emperor of the Mongols, was stopped from expanding his empire southward due to the height of the mountains.
Most of the roads that cross the Himalayas are at an altitude of over 5,000 meters. In winter they are covered with snow and are almost impassable.
Tourism
Mountaineering has become a major tourism destination in Himalayan mountains Oh. It began almost at the end of the 19th century when many climbers began climbing the peaks. In 1953, mountaineer Edmund Hillary and a representative of the indigenous Tibetan Sherpa people Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer the highest point of our planet - the summit of Mount Everest.
The Himalayas are considered to be the highest and mysterious mountains planet earth. The name of this array can be translated from Sanskrit as "land of snow". The Himalayas serve as a conditional separator between South and Central Asia. The Hindus regard their location as sacred land. 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 dwelling of the gods gave rise to three great Asian rivers- Indu, Ganges, Brahmaputra.
The origin of the Himalayas
It took several stages for the origin and development of the Himalayan mountains, which took a total of about 50,000,000 years. Many researchers believe that two colliding tectonic plates gave rise to the emergence of the Himalayas. 
It is interesting that at present the mountain system continues its development, the formation of folding. The Indian plate is moving northeastward at a speed of 5 cm per year, while contracting by 4 mm. Scholars argue that such progress will lead to a 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 territory is incomparably large in comparison with other mountain objects. 
On which continent are the Himalayas: geographic 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 neighboring massif is the Tibetan Plateau. In the southerly direction, 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 array is 650,000 m².
Many Himalayan ridges boast heights of up to 6 km. The highest point is presented, also called Chomolungma. Her absolute height equal to 8848 m, which is a record among other mountain peaks on the planet. Geographic coordinates - 27 ° 59'17 "north latitude, 86 ° 55'31" east longitude. 
The Himalayas are spread over several countries. Not only the Chinese and Hindus, but also the peoples of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan can be proud of the 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. Many areas have dangerous terrain and cold at high altitudes. Even in summer, frost remains down to -25 ° C, and in winter it increases to -40 ° C. On the territory of the mountains, hurricane winds are not uncommon, the gusts of which reach 150 km / h. In summer and spring, the average air temperature rises to +30 ° С. 
In the Himalayas, it is customary to distinguish 4 climates. From April to June, the mountains are covered with wild herbs and flowers, and the air is cool and fresh. From July to August, rains dominate in the mountains, the largest amount of precipitation falls. In these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation, fog often appears. Until the arrival of November, warm and comfortable weather followed by a sunny frosty winter with heavy snowfalls. 
Description of the plant world
The Himalayan vegetation surprises with its diversity. On the southern slope, subject to frequent precipitation, high-altitude belts are clearly visible, 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 vines, bamboo, numerous bananas, and low-growing palms are found. Sometimes you can get to the areas intended for the cultivation of certain crops. These places are usually cleared and drained by humans. 
Climbing a little higher along the slopes, you can alternately take refuge 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 provide people with expensive timber and resin. Here you can get to the places where dhaka, fat trees grow. 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 - the snow leopard, black bear, Tibetan fox. V southern region the mountain range has all the necessary conditions for the residence of 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. In these places, loose gold, copper and chrome ore, oil, rock salt, brown coal are actively mined. 
Parks and valleys
In the Himalayas, you can visit parks and valleys, many of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Sagarmatha.
- Flower Valley.
Sagarmatha National Park belongs to the territory of Nepal. Its special property is the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest and others. high mountains.
Nanda Devi Park is a natural treasure of India, located in the heart of the Himalayan mountains. This picturesque place stretches at the foot of the hill of the same name and has an area of over 60,000 hectares. The height of the park above sea level is not less than 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 discovered. It is generally accepted that the sudden fall of an unusually large hail led to mass deaths. 
The Flower Valley is located not far from the Nanda Devi Park. Here, on an area of about 9000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. Over 30 species of flora that adorn the Indian valley are considered endangered, and about 50 species are used for 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 remote places, and are buildings carved out of 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 monks, the interior decoration of holy places. In them you can make nice pictures... Entry to the territory of other shrines for visitors is strictly prohibited.
The largest and most revered monasteries include:
- Drepung located in China.
- Temple complexes of Nepal - Bodnath, Budanilkantha, Swayambhunath.
- Jokhang, which is the pride of Tibet.
A carefully guarded religious shrine ubiquitous in the Himalayas is the Buddhist stupa. These religious monuments were erected by monks of the past in honor of any important event in Buddhism, as well as for the sake of prosperity and harmony throughout the world. 
Tourists visiting the Himalayas
The most the right time for travel to the Himalayas, the period from May to July and September to October is considered. During these months, vacationers can count on sunny and warm weather, lack of heavy rainfall and strong winds. For fans of adrenaline sports, there are few, but modern ski resorts. 
In the Himalayan mountains you can find hotels and inns of various price categories. In religious quarters, there are special houses for pilgrims and worshipers of the local religion - ashrams, which have ascetic living conditions. Accommodation 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.
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 over time it compresses and turns into glaciers that close these cracks, which makes 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, sharply reduces its physical capabilities and leads to the development of the so-called altitude 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 is experiencing, 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 "zone of death". Here, even the strongest climbers can survive for only a few days at best. Therefore, all high-altitude ascents are carried out using breathing oxygen apparatus.
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But the representatives of the Nepalese Sherpa tribe, permanently living in the Himalayas, feel quite comfortable at the height, 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, paired with Edmund Hillary, were the first to climb the summit of the Himalayas - Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
But all these sometimes deadly 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 peak of Annapurna, which is 8091 meters high. Anapurna is considered the seventh highest mountain in the world. Located in Nepal, in the Himalayas to the 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 cost. 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 ascended 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-thousanders.
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. Nepalese 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 northeast, southeast and northwest. The southeastern ridge is gentler and 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 south 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 whole mountain range Chomolungma, having walked more than 400 kilometers, to reach the summit from China. But the time for the detour was lost and the monsoons that began did not make it possible to make the ascent. After them, the British climbers George Lee Mallory and Andrew Irwin made a second attempt on the same route in 1924, which was also unsuccessful, ending in 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. This 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. The mortality rate is about 20 percent, which makes it the third most dangerous eight-thousander.
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 sequential 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 the members of the Austrian expedition: Herbert Tichy, Josef Jöhler and the Sherpa Pazang Dawa Lama. The 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 trail. 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 it.
In total, 3138 people successfully 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, the Frenchmen Jean Cuzi and Lionel Terre ascended the top of Makalu. The ascent to Makalu was the only one in the entire history of the conquest of the eight-thousanders, when all nine members of the expedition reached the summit, including the senior group of Sherpa guides. This happened not because Makalu is such an easy mountain, but because the weather was unusually 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 unusual name It is 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
British climbers George Band and Joe Brown were the first to successfully climb Kanchenjunga. 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 top for all the time. 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 began to climb. 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, misfortunes befell their village: 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. To settle the matter with local residents, in 1955 a special delegation arrived from Japan. And only in the next 1956, having paid 7000 rupees for damages and 4000 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 beautiful 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. The mortality rate of ascents is about 10 percent.
1956, May 18 - Lhotse
Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss, members of the Swiss team, became the first people who managed to climb the 8516 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, 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 southern 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 the 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. The mortality rate 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 quite 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 turned out to be unsuccessful for 21 climbers who died while trying to climb. The mortality rate 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 the 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, the 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 trying 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 national team: Dimberger, Shelbert, Diener, Forer and the 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 its summit back in 1954. But due to 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 Tszunyue, 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 "Gosaintan" 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 while 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 Institute of Mountaineering, the most dangerous of all are: Annapurna, K2, and Nanga Parbat. On the ascents of these three peaks, the Himalayas took the life of every fourth person who encroached on their inaccessibility.
And yet, despite all these deadly 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 one by one all the 14 highest peaks of Zamli. 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, moreover, 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.
One of the most famous miraculous wonders of the world are the Himalayan mountains. The point is not only in the scale of this creation of nature, but also in the huge amount of unknown that these gigantic peaks are fraught with.
Where are the Himalayas?
The Himalayan mountain range passes through the territory of five states - this is India, China, Pakistan, Nepal and the Kingdom of Bhutan... The eastern foothills of the ridge touch the northern borders of the Republic of Bangladesh.
Mountain ranges rise in the north, completing the Tibetan Plateau, and separate from it the vast areas of the Indian Peninsula - the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Even the average height of the entire mountain system reaches 6 thousand meters. It is in the Himalayas that the bulk of the "eight-thousanders" are located - mountain peaks, the height of which exceeds the mark of 8 kilometers. Of the 14 such peaks on the planet's surface, 10 are located in the Himalayas.
Himalayas mountains on the map
Himalayas on world map
The highest and inaccessible mountains of the planet are the Himalayas. The name comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit, and literally means "Snow abode"... They settled down in a giant loop on the continent, serving as a kind of border between Central and South Asia. The length of the mountain ranges from west to east is slightly less than 3 thousand km, and the total area of the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square meters. km.
The entire mountain range of the Himalayas consists of three peculiar steps:
- The first one is Pre-Himalayas(local name - Shivalik ridge) is the lowest of all, the mountain peaks of which do not rise more than 2000 meters.
- The second stage - the Dhaoladhar, Pir-Panjal and several other, smaller ranges are called Small Himalayas... The name is rather arbitrary, since the peaks are already rising to solid heights - up to 4 kilometers.
- Behind them are several fertile valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu and others), serving as a transition to the highest points of the planet - Greater Himalayas... Two great South Asian rivers - the Brahmaputra from the east and the Indus from the west, seem to embrace this majestic mountain range, originating on its slopes. In addition, the Himalayas give life to the sacred Indian river - the Ganges.
Mount Chomolungma, aka Everest
The highest point in the world, located on the border of Nepal and China - Mount Chomolungma... However, it has several names and some variation in the assessment of its height. The names of this mountain peak in local dialects they have always associated with the divinity of its origin: Chomolungma in Tibetan, literally - "Divine", in Nepal it is called "Mother of the Gods" - Sagarmatha. There is another beautiful Tibetan name - "Mother - Queen of Snow-White Snows" - Chomo-Kankar. For Europeans, these names were too complicated, and in 1856 they named the mountain an Anglicized name. Everest, in honor of the head of the British Colonial Geodetic Survey, Sir George Everest.
Official today the height of Everest - 8,848 meters, taking into account the ice cap and 8844 meters is the top of hard rock. But these indicators changed several times in one direction or another. So, the first measurement, taken in the middle of the 19th century, showed 29,000 feet (8,839 meters). However, the scientific surveyors did not like the too round number, and they freely added another 2 feet, which gave a value of 8840 m.The measurements continued a century later, when the height was determined at 8848 m.However, several geographers carried out their own calculations using the most modern radio direction finding and navigation. So two more values appeared - 8850 and even 8872 meters. However, these values were not officially recognized.
Himalayan records
The Himalayas are a place of pilgrimage for the world's strongest climbers, for whom the conquest of their peaks is a cherished life goal. Chomolungma did not immediately submit - since the beginning of the last century, many attempts were made to climb the "roof of the world". The first who managed to achieve this goal was in 1953 New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary accompanied by a local guide - Sherpa Norgay Tenzing. The first successful Soviet expedition took place in 1982. In total, Everest has been conquered about 3700 times..
Unfortunately, the Himalayas also set sad records - 572 climbers died while trying to conquer their eight-kilometer heights. But the number of brave athletes is not decreasing, because the “capture” of all 14 “eight-thousanders” and the receipt of the “Crown of the Earth” is the cherished dream of each of them. The total number of "crowned" winners to date is 30, including 3 women.
Ski resorts in India
The northern mountainous regions of India are a completely unique world, with their own philosophy and spirituality, ancient shrines and historical monuments, colorful population and diversity natural landscapes... Any traveler will always find a lot of interesting things here.
Gulmarg (Valley of Flowers)
This resort is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The height of the slopes is 1400-4138 m. Gulmarg was built in 1927 by the British, when they were "staying" in India, so it practically corresponds to European standards. The season here starts at the end of December and ends at the end of March.... They give out the appropriate equipment, so beginners should be comfortable enough, if, of course, they are not afraid of steep descents.
Narkanda
A small ski tourist center located not far from Shimla city at an altitude of about 2400 meters, surrounded by a relict pine forest. Its snowy slopes are perfect for beginners and experienced skiers alike.
Solang
A fairly well-known place in ski circles extreme rest. It is famous for its well-developed infrastructure, both sports and tourism. All who have visited these places always leave excellent reviews about the level of training of the coaching and service personnel of the resort.
Kufri
One of the most famous Indian ski tourist centers... It is located just two dozen kilometers from Shimla city, which for many years was the seat of the English Viceroy of India. Kufri is also remarkable for the fact that a huge natural National park Himalayan nature, where the wide variety of wild flora and fauna of these places is carefully preserved. Climbing up the slopes of the mountains, tourists manage to visit several climatic zones - from the thriving tropics to the harsh conditions of the northern latitudes.
Historical and cultural sights of the Himalayas
For those who prefer to devote their time to getting to know historical sites and cultural property, the Indian region of the Himalayas will provide these opportunities.
First of all, in these places, as already mentioned, was the summer residence of the English governor in India - the viceroy. That is why the little village Shimla turned into a city - the state capital of Himchal Pradesh... The famous museum, housed in the Royal Palace, is replete with exhibits showing the cultural diversity of the region. Shimla is famous for its bazaar with traditional woolen products for these places, national Indian clothes, handmade jewelry made by ancient technology... As a rule, a horse excursion through the surrounding picturesque mountains does not leave anyone indifferent.
Dharamsala for Buddhists, probably the same as Mecca for Muslims. Travelers here encounter hospitality of the local population unseen anywhere else in the world. This small town is the seat of the Dalai Lama himself, who brought his Tibetan people here after years of exile.
Visit the Indian Himalayas, and not visit the estate of Nicholas Roerich- unforgivable for a Russian! It is located in the town of Naggar, near the city of Manali. In addition to the environment in which the painter's family lived, visitors will see a large collection of original works by this great artist.
State capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Shinagan city- another center of tourist pilgrimage. According to some theories, it was here that Jesus Christ found his last refuge. Travelers will definitely be shown the tomb of Yuz Asuf - a person identified with the Son of God. In the same city, you can see unique floating houses - houseboats... Probably, no one left here without purchasing products from the famous Kashmir wool as a souvenir.
Spiritual and health tourism
Spiritual principles and the cult of a healthy body are so closely intertwined in various directions of Indian philosophical schools that it is impossible to draw any visible division between them. Every year, thousands of tourists come to the Indian Himalayas just to get acquainted with Vedic sciences, ancient postulates Yoga teachings, improving your body by Ayurvedic canons Panchakarma.
The pilgrims' program necessarily includes visiting caves for deep meditation, waterfalls, ancient temples, bathing in the Ganges- a sacred river for Hindus. The afflicted can hold conversations with spiritual mentors, receive parting words and recommendations from them for spiritual and physical cleansing. However, this topic is so vast and versatile that it requires a separate detailed presentation.
The natural grandeur and highly spiritual atmosphere of the Himalayas captivates the human imagination. Anyone who has at least once touched the splendor of these places will always be obsessed with the dream of returning here at least once more.
Enchanting time-lapse video of the unshakable Himalayas
This video was shot frame by frame with a Nikon D800 camera for 50 days over a distance of 5000 km. Places in India: Spiti Valley, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Leh, Zanskar, Kashmir.
