The mountain structure of the Himalayas is undoubtedly the highest in the world. It stretches for 2,400 meters from the northwest towards the southeast. Its western part is 400 kilometers wide, and the eastern one is about 150 kilometers.
In the article, we will consider where the Himalayas are located, on the territory of which states the mountain range is spread, and who lives in this territory.
Kingdom of snow
The pictures of the Himalayan peaks are mesmerizing. Many will easily give an answer to the question of where these giants are located on our planet.
The map shows that they are located on a vast territory: from the northern hemisphere and ending they cross along the way South Asia and the Indo-Gangetic plain. Further, they smoothly grow 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, Bhutanese, Pakistani, 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 attributed to the coordinates of the Himalayas: 27 ° 59′17 ″ north latitude and 86 ° 55′31 ″ east longitude
There are two phenomena that influenced the appearance of mountains:
- The system was formed mainly from sediments and rocks interacting in the earth's crust. At first, they folded into peculiar folds, and then rose to a certain height.
- 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 Tethys Ocean disappeared.
The dimensions of the Himalayan peaks
This mountain system includes 10 of the 14 highest mountains on Earth, which have exceeded the 8 km mark. The highest of them is Mount Chomolungma (Everest) - 8 848 meters up. On average, all 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 Himalayan mountains have formed 3 main levels, each of which is higher than the previous one.
Description of the Himalayan steps, starting with the lowest in height:
- The Sivalik ridge is the southernmost, lowest and youngest level. Its length is 1 km 700 meters between the Indus and Brahmaputra lowlands, and in width - from 10 to 50 km. The height of the Sivalik Upland 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.
- Lesser Himalayas - 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 sections.
- The Greater 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, Brahmaputra and the Ganges - begin their journey in the Himalayas. The western Himalayan rivers are included in the catchment of the Indus, and all the others are adjacent to the Brahmaputra-Ganges basin. The easternmost side of the Himalayas belongs to the system. Also in this mountain structure there are many naturally occurring bodies of water that have no connections with other rivers, seas and oceans. For example, the 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 an elevation of 1919 m, and is considered one of the highest in the world.
Vast glaciers are another feature of the mountain system. They cover an area of 33 thousand km 2 and store about 7 km 3 of snow. The largest and longest glaciers are Zema, Gangotri and Rongbuk.
Weather
The weather in the mountains is changeable, it is influenced by geographical position Himalayas, their vast territory.
- On the southern side, under the monsoon influence, there is a lot of precipitation in summer - in the east up to 4 meters, in the west up to 1 meter per year, and in winter they almost never happen.
- In the north, on the contrary, there is almost no rain at all, the 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. In mountainous areas, winds with a speed of up to 150 km / h are often found. In the Himalayas, the weather changes quite often.
The Himalayan mountain structure also influences the weather of the entire region. The mountains act as protection against freezing arid gusts of wind that blow from the north, so the climate in India is warmer than in Asian countries, which, by the way, are in the same latitudes.
In Tibet, the weather is very dry, as all the monsoon winds blowing from the south and bringing a lot of rainfall cannot cross the high mountains. All moisture-containing air volumes settle in them.
There is an assumption that the Himalayas also took part in the formation of desert Asia, since they impeded the passage of rainfall.
Flora and fauna
The 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, deciduous and coniferous plants are found. Further there are mountain meadows covered with dense grass.
- Forests, which are composed of deciduous trees and small shrubs, predominate 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 shrubs begins.
- On the slopes from the north, the weather is drier, so there is much less vegetation. Mainly mountainous deserts and steppes prevail.
The fauna is very diverse and depends on where the Himalayas are located and their position above sea level.
- In the southern tropics, wild elephants, antelopes, tigers, rhinos and leopards live, a very large number of monkeys.
- The famous Himalayan bears, mountain rams and goats, yaks live a little higher.
- And even higher, snow leopards are sometimes found.
There are many nature reserves in the Himalayas. For example, Sagarmatha National Park.
Population
A significant part of people live 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 plots are almost all cultivated.
In the Himalayas, the population is divided into ethnic groups. It so happened that it is difficult to get to these places, people for a long time lived in separate tribes, little contact with neighboring ones. Often in the winter, the inhabitants of a basin found themselves completely cut off from the others, because it was impossible to get to the neighbors because of the snow blockages in the mountains.
It is known where the Himalayas are located - on the territory of five countries. Residents of the region communicate in two languages: Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burmese.
Religious views also differ: some praise Buddha, while others worship Hinduism.
The inhabitants of the Himalayas - the Sherpas - live high in the mountains of Eastern Nepal, including the Everest region. They often earn extra money as assistants on expeditions: they show the way and carry things. They are perfectly adapted to the altitude, so even at the highest points of this mountain system they do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. Apparently, this is betrayed at the genetic level.
The inhabitants of the Himalayas are mainly engaged in agricultural work. If the land plots are relatively flat and there is a sufficient amount of water in stock, then the peasants 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 still kept for obtaining 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 local residents. It is located on the descent from the mountain of the Ganges River, which flows into the plain.
You can take a walk in the Valley of Flowers National Park, which is located on the western side of the Himalayas. This area covered with beautiful flowers is a national heritage of UNESCO.
Tourist travel
In the Himalayan mountain system, sports such as climbing to peaks and hiking along mountain trails are immensely popular.
The most popular tracks are:
- The famous path near Annapurna passes by the slopes of the homonymous 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 alpine lake Tilicho.
- You can see the territory near Manaslu, which is located around the Mansiri-Himal mountains. It overlaps with the first route.
The travel time of these paths is influenced by the tourist's preparation, the season and the weather. It is dangerous for an unprepared person to immediately climb to a height, as "mountain sickness" can begin. Plus, it's not safe. You need to prepare well, purchase special equipment for mountaineering.
Almost everyone knows where the Himalayas are and dreams of visiting there. Travel to the mountains attracts tourists from different countries, including from Russia. Remember that it is better to climb in the warm season, preferably in autumn or spring. It rains in the Himalayas in summer, and very cold and impassable in winter.
The majestic Himalayas ... A harsh land of primeval beauty, where a person can be alone with the whole world. Thousands of square kilometers of mountains and amazing wildlife, evoking thoughts about the eternal secrets of life - all this can be found by a wanderer in the Himalayas. The pinnacle of the world is here, and we invite you to learn more about it.
Where are the Himalayas
About 70 million years ago, two giant tectonic plates collided - Indo-American and 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 geographic objects.
The Himalayas are located on the mainland Eurasia, in the Asian part. They are bordered in the north by the Tibetan plateau, in the south by the Indo-Gangetic plain. The length of the system is more than 2,400 km, the width reaches 350 km. The southern part of the Himalayas is adjoined by the so-called Pre-Himalayas - the smaller Sivalik mountains. This mountain system contains many of the highest peaks in the world. The average height of the mountain ridges of the Himalayas is 6,000 meters. The highest is the famous Mount Everest (otherwise - Chomolungma, 8848 meters). And this, as we probably remember, is the highest point of our planet.
The Himalayan ridges give rise to the most big rivers in the south of Asia: Indu, Ganges and Brahmaputra.
We already have the first data, namely, where the Himalayan mountains are. More specifically about the countries that have a mountainous landscape, further.
Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas
Since the borders of the countries are divided practically 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 section of a beautiful natural formation.
The area of the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square kilometers. Far from one another, many peoples live here. Natural conditions here are extremely harsh: cold at high altitudes, dangerous terrain. but locals happy with their magnificent home.
The first secrets have already been revealed to us by the Himalayas: where are they located, the country (even several), which has on its territory mountainous areas... Further on climatic conditions in the territories of the Himalayas.
Climate features
The Himalayan mountains are a particularly large form of relief. The mountains themselves on their southern side are swampy jungles, lush rainforests, conifers and deciduous trees, as well as a variety of shrub plants and meadows. The northern slopes are not so rich and varied. Their surfaces are semi-deserts and mountain steppes. The ridges of the Himalayan ridges are of the Alpine type - sharp, steep. They lie huge glaciers in immeasurable quantities.
It is noteworthy that the coordinates of the Himalayas 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 great heights of the mountains greatly influenced the climate of the neighboring countries. So, south of the Himalayas, at their very foot, there is a city with the highest rainfall on the planet. This is because the mountains delay the 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, home to huge glaciers, impressed us. What about the inhabitants of the mountain range?
Inhabitants of the mountain system
Surprisingly, many people live in such harsh conditions as in the Himalayas. According to scientists, memorials about the first settlements of the territory of the mountain system date back to 8000 BC. e. People came both from the south (peoples from the Indian subcontinent), and from north-east direction(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 probably wondered: how can you survive in such inhospitable places? Those communities that led a sedentary lifestyle were engaged in subsistence farming where there were all the conditions for this: a horizontal surface, water, more or less fertile soil, suitable climate... The modern inhabitants of the Himalayan valleys also provide themselves with their own labor. Here is another phenomenon that struck us with the Himalayas, where some of the oldest natural farms are located.
In the higher territories, the key occupation of the local population is distant pasture cattle breeding. The opportunity to do it is almost everywhere up to the edge of the snow.
And we will consider a few more facts that will be interesting to know about the Himalayas.
Apart from knowing where the Himalayas are, several other features of this corner of the planet will also be interesting. We know about the Himalayas that this is the most inaccessible, highest (in terms of average) mountain system in the world. But what does their name mean?
The word "Himalayas" means "Abode of Snow". And indeed: after all, already at an altitude of 4.5 kilometers, the snow never melts here. In terms of 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 in such a cold climate in most mountain areas, the Hindus are sure that they are the refuge of their god Shiva.
Mount Everest (Chomolungma) is the highest in the world (above sea level). She is associated with triumph. Extreme climbers from all over the world are literally trying to climb Everest. This first happened in 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summits. Mountaineering in the Himalayas is very popular. The mountain system contains ten of the fourteen eight-thousanders (in fact, their height is even slightly higher). Conquering them all is the dream of professional climbers.
This concludes our article on where the Himalayas are and what this mountain system is about, coming to an end.
Conclusion
"The abode of the snows", the Himalayas - mountains to which the prefix "most" is firmly attached. The tallest, the most inaccessible ... And people strive 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 unwavering and tough. However, courageous travelers should try to become friends with the "heavenly". Yes, indeed "heavenly", because the sky is so close here!
Ever 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 has a clear idea of where, in fact, are the mountains of the Himalayas? 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, and its width is 350 kilometers. In terms of height, many peaks of the Himalayas are record holders. There are ten of the highest peaks on the planet, more than eight thousand meters high.
- Everest or Chomolungma 8848 meters above sea level. Highest mountain in the Himalayas, she submitted to man only in 1953. All the ascents that have taken place before have not been crowned with success, because the slopes of the mountain are very steep and dangerous. Strong winds blow at the summit, which, combined with very low night temperatures, are difficult tests for those who dared 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 refuge for monks preaching Buddhism and Hinduism. Their monasteries in a large number located in the Himalayas in India and Nepal. Pilgrims, followers of these religions and just tourists from all over the world flock here. 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 that 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 stock, then you should definitely go to India or Nepal. Here you can visit the most beautiful temples and monasteries, spread out 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 personally see where such great rivers as the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra originate.
.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 most high point 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 have always been 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, they set the Himalayas and sad records - 572 climbers killed 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
Northern mountainous regions India is a completely unique world, with its 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 “visiting” 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 relic 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 treasures, 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 located in 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.
Tourists love India. Read - Russians come there most often for the winter.
The discovery of India is a merit of the Portuguese. in another article.
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.
Globe, Asia, China, Pakistan, India, Bhutan and Nepal. They stretch in an arc about 2500 km long, 200-350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km 2. Height up to 8848 m (Mount Chomolungma is the most high peak the globe). 10 peaks exceed 8000 m, more than 100 - 7000 m.
In the north, they are limited by the tectonic valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers (Matsang, Tsangpo), in the west by the Hinduraj ridge, in the east by the Dikhang gorge of the Brahmaputra river, in the south by the Indo-Gangetic plain. The Himalayas are an important orographic, climatic and biotic barrier between the deserts of Central Asia and the landscapes of the monsoon tropics of South Asia.
Relief... The Himalayas are characterized by a clear strike of orographic elements from northwest to southeast. They include several parallel mountain ranges rising from south to north in three giant steps, dissected by river gorges into separate massifs and blocks. The first step (over the Indo-Gangetic plain) is formed by the Sivalik ridge (Pre-Himalayas) up to 3647 m high (Mount Chaur). It reaches its greatest width (up to 120 km) in the western and central parts, to the east of 88 ° east longitude it narrows to 5-10 km. It is heavily dissected by deeply cut river valleys. The second stage - Small (Low) Himalayas - is separated from Sivalik by a tectonic fault, along which there is a number of intermontane basins (dunes), which were occupied by lakes in the past. It consists of a system of massifs and ridges. The ridges are strongly dissected, the southern slopes are steep, the northern ones are more gentle. In the west rises the Pir-Panjal ridge (up to 6632 m), in the central part - the Dhaoladhar ranges (up to 5067 m) and Mahabharat (up to 2891 m) with sharp ridges and deep valleys. The Small Himalayas are separated from the highest step - the Large (High) Himalayas with the highest massifs and peaks covered with glaciers by a chain of intermontane depressions and ancient glacial basins (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.). This part of the Himalayas forms a powerful alpine ridge 50-90 km wide, with passes lying higher than 4500 m. The northern slopes have soft outlines, the southern ones are steep, dissected by deep gorges. Glacial landforms are typical (kars, troughs, exaration forms, terminal moraines). The Greater Himalayas begin in the northwest of the Nanga Parbat massif, where they are widest (over 300 km). There are also high uplands (over 5000 m) and the Zaskar mountain range (up to 7756 m). To the east of the Teesta river valley, the Greater Himalayas decline significantly. This part is characterized by deeply cut river valleys, relatively little dissected massifs with dome-shaped tops. In the Himalayas, the intensity of erosion processes is high, landslides, mudflows are frequent, and avalanches in the middle and high mountains. It is customary to divide the Himalayas from west to east into Punjab (from the Indus river gorge in the north-west to the Sutlej river valley), Kumaon (between the Sutlej and Kali river valleys), Nepalese (in Nepal), Sikkim (within the Indian state of Sikkim) and Assamese (west of Bhutan).
Sivalik ridge.
Geological structure and minerals. Tectonically, the Himalayas are a fold-cover mountain system of the same name, which is a link in the Cenozoic Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt. In their structure, three zones are distinguished, corresponding to the steps of the relief; in addition, the High Himalayas are divided into two zones. Northern zone High Himalayas, called the Tethyan Himalayas, or Tethys-Himalayas, is composed of a layer of marine sediments of the Middle Proterozoic - Eocene of enormous thickness (up to 17 km), accumulated on the gentle continental shelf of the Indian subcontinent (on the southern edge of the Tethys paleoocean). In the north, the Tethyan Himalayas are bounded by the Indus-Tsangpo tectonic depression, which marks the tectonic suture of the same name (suture), which is considered as a relic of the surface of the subduction zone, along which the Tethys crust plunged northward under the southern margin of Eurasia with the formation of the Trans-Himalayan volcanoplutonic belt (Suture ). In the suture zone, ophiolites come to the surface (their covers are established in the Tethyan Himalayas), metamorphic formations, sedimentary and magmatic complexes. In the south, the Tethyan Himalayas are separated by a gently sloping northward fault from the Central Crystal Zone of the High Himalayas. This zone is composed of repeatedly metamorphosed, mainly Precambrian complexes - micaceous schists, quartzites, gneisses, migmatites, which are broken through by leucogranites of the Miocene age. The last metamorphic event in the zone corresponds to conditions of very high temperatures and relatively low pressures. The metamorphic formations of the Central Crystalline Zone are thrust (along the Main Central Thrust) and partially overlap the complexes of the Low Himalayas, forming many isolated tectonic outliers. The zone of the Low Himalayas is formed by sedimentary strata of the Upper Proterozoic - Lower Eocene (sandstones, clays, limestones, tillites), similar to the cover of the Hindustan platform. The deposits have undergone greenschist metamorphism and have a thrust-nappe structure. In the south, the Low Himalayan zone is thrust over (along the Main Border Thrust) over the Pre-Himalayan (or Outer Himalayas) zone, which tectonically represents a foredeep that has arisen in recent times before the front of the growing Himalayan orogen and is filled with Miocene sandy-argillaceous and Pliocene coarse-clastic molasses capacity up to 7 km. The folded molasse complexes of the Pre-Himalayas are separated by a system of gentle ruptures of the Frontal Himalayan thrust fault from the undeformed and not involved in the molasse uplift of the Indo-Gangetic depression.
The formation of the Himalayas as a fold-fold mountain structure is associated with the collision (collision) of the Hindustan block with Eurasia, which began about 55 million years ago (at the end of the Paleocene). The maximum deformations took place: at the beginning of the Miocene (20-25 million years ago), when the Main Central Thrust fault was formed; in the Late Miocene (15-10 million years ago) - the Main Border Thrust; at the end of the Pliocene - the Main Frontal Thrust. The modern uplift of the Himalayas is accompanied by intense seismicity, concentrated mainly along the thrust zones.
There are few known deposits of copper and gold ores; chromites, precious stones(sapphire, etc.) associated with metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Low and High Himalayas. In the Pre-Himalayas, deposits of oil and natural combustible gas have been discovered.
Climate... The southern slopes of the Himalayas are heavily affected by the Indian summer monsoon. The amount of precipitation decreases from the east (4000-5500 mm per year) to the west (1000-2000 mm). The interior regions receive about 400-750 mm of rainfall per year. Everywhere on the southern slope, up to an altitude of 3000 m, the average annual temperatures are positive, above 4500 m - an area of negative summer temperatures. The climate of the western part of the Himalayas is characterized by sharp fluctuations in temperature, strong winds... Average temperatures in July are about 18 ° C, in January from -10 to -18 ° C. The influence of the monsoon manifests itself in July - August south of the Pir-Panjal ridge. Winter precipitation is associated with cyclones bringing rain and snowfall. The main passes are cleared of snow at the end of May. The climate of the eastern part is hotter, with a clearly pronounced monsoon humidification regime. Summer temperatures at an altitude of 1500 m reach 35 ° C, in the valleys they rise to 45 ° C. In winter, at an altitude of 1800 m, the average January temperature is 4 ° C. Snowfalls occur annually above 2200-2500 m, in the valleys there are dense fogs. Above 5000 m, precipitation falls as snow all year round. The climate of the northern slopes of the Himalayas is cold high-mountainous desert. Daily ranges of temperatures reach 45 ° C, precipitation is about 100 mm per year. In summer, at an altitude of 5000-6000 m, there are positive temperatures only during the day. In winter, snow often evaporates without melting.
Glaciation... On the southern slopes of the Punjab Himalayas, the snow line runs at an altitude of 4400-4600 m, in the Nepal Himalayas (on the slopes of the Chomolungma) - 4700-4800 m, in the Assam Himalayas - 4600 m.On the northern, drier slopes of the Himalayas, it rises to 5800-6100 m. The high position of the snow line and the significant steepness of the slopes do not contribute to the formation of large glaciers. The area of the modern glaciation of the Himalayas is small - about 33 thousand km 2. Most glaciers are grouped around the most tall arrays... The largest glaciers in the Punjabi Himalayas are Gangri (21 km long), Shaffat (16 km), Milang (16 km), in the Kumaon Himalayas - Milam (20 km) and Gangotri (32 km, the largest in the Himalayas). In the Nepal Himalayas, in the Chomolungma region, there are about 600 glaciers, including the Western Rongbuk and Khumbu 22 km long, in the Sikkim Himalayas, in the Kanchenjunga massif area, there are the Zemu glaciers (31 km) and Kanchenjunga (24 km). Most of glaciers recede from average speed 10-15 m per year. The glaciers of the valleys are predominantly dendritic, of the Himalayan type, descending 1300-1600 m below the snow border. In the western part of the Himalayas, valley glaciers of the Turkestan type prevail, feeding mainly on avalanches and falls of hanging glaciers. On steep slopes there are hanging and tar glaciers. The northern slopes are characterized by giant curtains of corrugated ice that cover many of the peaks to their summits. The tongues of some glaciers are covered over a considerable extent by a moraine cover.
Rivers and lakes. In spite of great height The Himalayas are not river basins watershed Indian Ocean and drainless area Central Asia. Due to the presence of through antecedent gorges, the sources of the Indus, Sutlej, Karnali, Arun rivers are located in the Karakorum and the Tibetan plateau. On the slopes of the Himalayas originate the largest rivers of South Asia - the Ganges and Brahmaputra. The river network is more developed on the southern slope. In the upper reaches, the rivers are fed by snow and glaciers; in the middle and bottom - rainfall, with the maximum water consumption in summer. The valleys are narrow and deep. The rivers have huge hydropower resources that are practically not used. Large hydroelectric power plants and reservoirs have been created on the Sutlej and Bias rivers. Lakes (of tectonic origin and glacial) are located mainly in the western part of the Himalayas below 5000 m (Vular, Tso-Morari, etc.); large alpine lakes - Bangong, Mapam-Yumtso. When glacial lakes break out, glacial mudflows can occur.
Soils, flora and fauna. The landscapes of the Himalayas are very diverse, especially on the southern slopes. The maximum number of altitudinal belts is typical for the most humid slopes of the eastern part of the Himalayas. The foothills of the mountains are bordered by a strip of terai - boggy tree-shrub thickets (jungles) on meadow-boggy tropical soils. Above the slope, humid evergreen tropical forests grow on mountainous red earths. Dipterocarp, palm, pandanus, tree ferns intertwined with lianas (up to 400 species) prevail. At an altitude of 1200-1500 m, mountain evergreen subtropical forests of oak, laurel, magnolia, tea (castanopsis, phoebe) dominate. Above 2000-2200 m, they are replaced by mixed deciduous forests on brown forest soils, in the stand of which species of temperate latitudes appear - maples, alder, hazel, birch and conifers (Himalayan pine, Himalayan spruce, dense fir). From a height of 3000 m begins the belt of mountain coniferous forests of pine, fir, hemlock, yew, juniper. At an altitude of 3700-3900 m, it is replaced by a subalpine belt - a crooked forest of huge rhododendrons and junipers with the participation of ferns, above 4000 m - a belt of alpine meadows, the upper border of which runs at an altitude of about 5000 m, individual plants (arenaria, edelweiss) rise to a height of 6100 m.In the central part of the Himalayas, in the spectrum of altitudinal belts, there is no belt of humid evergreen tropical forests, and deciduous forests of fat with the participation of terminalia, albicia, etc. dominate up to an altitude of 600-1000 m.
In the drier western part of the Himalayas, the lower parts of the slopes (up to 600 m) are occupied by sparse xerophytic forests and shrubs with wild olive, an admixture of acacia, pomegranate, oleander on mountain brown soils. Above (up to 1200-1500 m), monsoon deciduous forests grow with the predominance of fat on mountain red earths, which are replaced by mountain subtropical mixed forests of stone oak and mountain pine trees with evergreen undergrowth. From an altitude of 2000-2500 m, mountainous mixed subboreal forests of long-coniferous pine (chir), fir, Himalayan cedar (deodar) with the participation of oaks, maple on low-humus brown forest soils dominate. In the zone of 3000-3500 m, mountain coniferous forests of fir with an admixture of birch dominate on podzolized brown soils. Above 3500 m there is a subalpine birch crooked forest, thickets of juniper and rhododendrons, giving way to a belt of alpine meadows and shrubs on mountain meadow soils. The upper boundary of the distribution of vascular plants is 6300 m. northern slope desert-steppe landscapes with cushion and xerophytic grasses on shallow stony mountain-desert soils are characteristic. Woody vegetation (willows, poplars) is found along river valleys.
The Himalayas are inhabited by about 300 species of mammals, more than 10 of them are endemic (golden langur, Himalayan tar, dwarf pig, etc.), 175 species of reptiles (about 50 species are endemic), 105 species of amphibians. The avifauna numbers about 1000 species (15 species are endemic). The fauna of the Terai and low mountains of the Himalayas belongs to the Indo-Malay faunal region. Large mammals live here - elephants, rhinos, gauras, wild boars, several species of deer (muntjak, sambar), among predators - tigers and leopards, the red wolf; from birds - peacocks, pheasants, parrots. In the eastern part of the Himalayas, the binturong (family of viverrids) is found. The fauna of the middle and high mountains belongs to the Sino-Himalayan subregion of the Holarctic region. The forest and alpine belts are inhabited by the wild yak, musk deer, red deer (hangul), mountain rams (argali, blue sheep), horned goat, goral, takin, and black Himalayan bear. Clouded leopard and snow leopard (irbis) are endangered. Of the birds, the most common are the Himalayan snowcock, the Himalayan crested pheasant, and the tragopans.
The most famous protected areas of the Himalayas are National parks Corbett, Greater Himalayas, Namdapha, Kanchenjunga (India); The World Heritage List includes the Manas Reserve, Nandadevi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (India), Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Parks (Nepal). Mountaineering is widely developed in the Himalayas, mainly in Nepal. Climatic resorts - Shimla, Macypi, Darjeeling and others (India).
The main occupation of the population is Agriculture... On the northern slope of the Greater Himalayas (the vicinity of Lake Tangra-Yumtso) are the upper limits of agriculture in the world. Excessive cattle grazing in alpine meadows and forests has led to an intensification of erosion and mudflow processes.
Lit .: Singh G. Geography of India. M., 1980; Senkovskaya N.F. Ser. 5. Geography. 1982. No. 6; she is. Features of the distribution of mudflows in the Himalayas // Ibid. 1984. No. 6; Kononov Yu. V. Country of subtropics and snow-capped mountains. M., 1985; Bedi R. Animal world India. M., 1987; Dolgushin L. D., Osinova G.B. Glaciers. M., 1989; Golubchikov Yu. N. Geography of mountainous and polar countries. M., 1996; State of Nepal's environment. Kathmandu, 2000; Khain V.E. Tectonics of continents and oceans (year 2000). M., 2001; Inventory of glaciers, glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst floods monitoring and early warning systems in Hindu Kush - Himalayan region. Kathmandu, 2002.
N. N. Alekseeva; Ark. V. Tevelev ( geological structure and minerals).
