The Himalayas are considered to be the highest and most mysterious mountains of the 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 dwelling place of the god Shiva, his wife Devi and their daughter Himavata. According to ancient beliefs, the abode of the gods gave rise to three great Asian rivers - the 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 the beginning of the Himalayas was given by two colliding tectonic plates.
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 area 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 a southern 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 represented by Mount Everest, also called Chomolungma. Its absolute height is 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 Indians, but also the peoples of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan can be proud of the neighborhood with the majestic mountains. Sections of this mountain range are 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 hazardous 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, the air is cool and fresh. From July to August, rains dominate in the mountains, the largest amount of precipitation falls. During these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation, fog often appears. Warm and comfortable weather conditions remain until the arrival of November, after which a sunny frosty winter with heavy snowfalls sets in.
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. Large thickets of trees and bushes are found in abundance in these places. In some places, dense vines, bamboo, numerous bananas, low-growing palms are found. Sometimes you can get to the sites 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 give people expensive wood 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, and Tibetan fox. In the southern region of the mountain range, there are all the necessary conditions for the residence of leopards, tigers and rhinos. The representatives of the northern 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.
- Nanda Devi.
- Flower Valley.
Sagarmatha National Park belongs to the territory of Nepal. The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest and other high mountains, are considered its special treasures.
Nanda Devi Park is a natural treasure of India, located in the heart of the Himalayan mountains. This picturesque place is located 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 Nanda Devi Park. Here, on an area of about 9000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. More than 30 varieties 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. You can make beautiful photos in them. Entry to the territory of other shrines for visitors is strictly prohibited.
We recommend that you look at the Troll's Tongue.
The largest and most revered monasteries include:
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 an important event in Buddhism, as well as for the sake of prosperity and harmony throughout the world.
Tourists visiting the Himalayas
The most suitable time to travel to the Himalayas is the period from May to July and September to October. 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 devotees 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 may offer a voluntary donation or help with the household.
