Small Himalayas. Nepal, the Himalayas are the highest mountains on Earth. Himalayas: photo, video, film, mountains on the map

Himalayas - a mountain system, is considered the highest in the world.

"Only mountains can be better than mountains." Ever since school, everyone knows that the highest mountains in the world, as well as the most picturesque and mysterious, are the Himalayas.

The mythical Shambhala, the mysterious and formidable Bigfoot - this is only a small part of the myths and legends, hidden from us by the eternal white ice of the mountain peaks.

Geographical location and characteristics

The highest mountain system on the planet - the Himalayas, which in Sanskrit means "the abode of snows" is spread over the vast territory of Central Asia. They are located in the following countries:

• People's Republic of China (Tibet region);
• Nepal;
• India;
• Pakistan;
• Bangladesh (a small part of it).

The mountain range, which stretches for almost 2400 km, was formed approximately 50-70 million years ago as a result of the movement and collision of the Eurasian and Indo-American tectonic plates. But, despite such an ancient age in terms of earthly years, these mountains are still young by geological standards. The growth process of the Himalayas continues to this day, for example, the highest point on the planet - Mount Chomolungma (Everest) is growing by about 6 cm per year.

The mountain peaks of the Himalayas, sharp as peaks, rise on the Indo-Gangetic valley and consist of three steps:

The Great Himalayas is the highest part of the mountain range, rising above sea level by 4 km and above. By the way, in the Himalayas there are 10 of the 14 "eight-thousanders" - mountain peaks whose height exceeds 8 km, as well as the highest point in the world - Mount Chomolungma, as the locals call it Everest, by the name of geodesist George Everest, who in the middle of the 19th century determined the exact height of the peak. It amounted to as much as 8848 m.

A little lower, at an altitude of 2-4 km above sea level, there are fertile valleys, for example, Kathmandu and Kashmir, alternating with mountain ranges. These are the so-called Lesser Himalayas. The Himalayas, the second name is Sivalik. These are the youngest and lowest hills in the mountain system, their height does not exceed 2 km.

The area of ​​the ice sheet, located mainly on the slopes of high mountains, is 33 thousand square kilometers. The largest glacier is Gangotri (has a length of 26 km), it gives rise to the Ganges - the sacred river of the Hindus. There are also many picturesque alpine lakes in the Himalayas, for example, Lake Tilicho is located at an altitude of 4919 meters!

Himalayas on the map

Rivers

From the Himalayas, such largest rivers of the planet as the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra originate and carry their turbulent waters.

Climate

Monsoons, carrying warm air from the Indian Ocean, supply the southern slopes of the mountains with life-giving moisture for most of the year. The same cannot be said about the northern slopes of the Himalayas. Warm southern air is not able to overcome the mountain heights, so there is an arid continental climate.

The air temperature in the mountains reaches -40 degrees Celsius in winter, and the wind speed is sometimes as much as 150 km/h. The Himalayas rank third on the planet in terms of the amount of snow and ice after the Arctic and Antarctic.

Flora and fauna of the Himalayas

The diversity of the flora of the Himalayas is directly proportional to the height. At the southern foothills of the mountains there are real jungles, which here are called "terai", a little higher they are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous, and finally - alpine meadows.

meadows in the Himalayas photo

On the drier and desolate northern slopes, semi-deserts, steppes and mixed forests replace each other. Very valuable species of trees sprout in the Himalayas, for example, dhak, sal tree. The boundaries of the ice sheet are approximately at an altitude of 6 km on the north side and 4.5 km on the south. Above 4 km, vegetation of the tundra type is already found - mosses, dwarf shrubs, rhododendrons.

Sigarmatha National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Nepal. Here is the highest peak in the world, the well-known Mount Everest, and two eight-thousander peaks, as well as such endemics (rare and endangered species of animals and plants) as (snow leopard), Tibetan fox, black and others.

Himalayan sheep photo

Rhinos, tigers, leopards live and feel very comfortable on the south side. Bears, antelopes, yaks, wild horses and mountain goats live in the north.

Population

It is worth saying a little about the population of this mountainous region, because it is quite diverse. As early as 8000 BC, these mountains were inhabited by tribes. Ancient Aryans lived in the south, Persian and Turkic peoples in the west, Tibetan tribes in the east. They lived in isolated valleys, where they created their state formations and closed ethnic groups.

In the 19th century, the Himalayas were the possessions of the British Empire, and in 1947 - a zone of military conflict due to the separation of India and Pakistan. The population is still engaged in subsistence farming. Cereal crops are grown on the southern damp slopes, while distant pastures are practiced in drier and less fertile regions.

Development and interesting facts

Among all the eight-thousanders, Chomolungma has always been of particular interest. Local tribes did not climb its peaks for a long time, considering the mountain sacred. Everest was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpas (Sherpas are people living in Eastern Nepal) Tenzing Norgay.

The first Soviet expedition took place in 1982. Since 1953, Everest has been conquered more than 3,700 times, however, there is another, more sad statistics - about 570 people died during the ascent. In addition to Everest, the Annapurna mountain range is considered the most dangerous "eight-thousander", the mortality rate among climbers since the first ascent is as much as 41%! True, according to statistics for 1990-2008, Kanchenjunga (8586 meters above sea level) began to be considered the most dangerous peak, the mortality rate over these years was 22%.

flora Himalaya photo

The Himalayas are becoming more and more "inhabited" region of the planet every year. The flow of tourists from season to season increases, which entails the development of infrastructure and the entire tourism system as a whole. Not so long ago, the authorities of China and Nepal agreed to develop transport links between their countries through the construction of a railway tunnel. It is expected that it will pass under the highest peak of the planet - Everest! Preparatory work on this project is already underway.

In 2011, a dinner party was held in the Himalayas at an altitude of 6805 meters! Climbers in the amount of seven people climbed to a record height, taking with them a table, chairs, appliances and food. Dinner still took place, despite the cold and strong wind. Initially, the climbing group wanted to dine at an altitude of 7045 meters, but the hurricane wind did not allow it.

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

Origin of the Himalayas

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

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

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

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

What continent are the Himalayas located on: geographical information

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

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

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

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

Characteristics of natural conditions

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

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

Description of the flora

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

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

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

local fauna

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

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

parks and valleys

In the Himalayas, you can visit parks and valleys, many of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Fund:

1. Sagarmatha.
2. Flower Valley.

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

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

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

Not far from Nanda Devi Park is the Flower Valley. Here, on an area of ​​about 9,000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. Over 30 varieties of flora that adorn the Indian valley are considered endangered, and about 50 species are used 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 hard-to-reach places, and are buildings carved from the rock. Most of the temples have a long history of existence, up to 1000 years old, and lead a rather "closed" lifestyle. Some of the monasteries are open to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the way of life of monks, the interior decoration of holy places. They can take beautiful photos. Entrance to the territory of other shrines for visitors is strictly prohibited.

The largest and most revered monasteries include:

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

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

Tourists visiting the Himalayas

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

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. Living in such premises is quite cheap, and sometimes it can be completely free. Instead of a fixed amount, the guest can offer a voluntary donation or help with the housework.

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

Where are the Himalayas

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

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

The ridges of the Himalayas give rise to the largest rivers in southern Asia: the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.

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

Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas

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

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

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

Climate features

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

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

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

Inhabitants of the mountain system

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

The most majestic and mysterious mountain range on our planet is the Himalayas. This massif, whose name is translated as the abode of snow, conditionally separates Central and South Asia, and the height of its individual peaks reaches more than 8,000 meters. The Himalayas are rightfully considered the highest mountains in the world, let's look at the Himalayas on the map and find out why these mountains are so unusual.

Location of the Himalayas mountain system on the world map

“Where are the mountains of the Himalayas, in which country” - this question often arises among novice travelers who have heard about the beauty of the most impregnable mountains on the planet and decided to go there in search of adventure. Looking at a world map, you can see that the Himalayas are located in the northern hemisphere between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh are the countries whose territories cover the Himalayas. The most visited country in the Himalayas is India. There are many attractions and resorts here. The massif is 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. There are 83 peaks in the mountain system, the highest of which is Everest, the height of the mountain is 8848 m.

The Himalayan mountains on the map consist of three main stages:

• Sivalik Ridge. This is the southernmost part of the mountain range. The range is located in Nepal and affects several states of India. Here the height of the Himalayan mountains does not exceed 2 km.
• Small Himalayas. This range runs parallel to the Sivalik range. The average height here is 2.5 km.
• Big Himalayas. This is the highest and oldest part of the mountain range. The height of the ridge exceeds 8 km, and it is here that the highest peaks of the planet are located.

highest peaks

The mountain range contains 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world. Here are the highest ones:

• Chomolungma - 8848 m.
• Kanchenjunga - 8586 m.
• Lhotse - 8516 m.
• Makalu - 8463 m.
• Cho Oyu - 8201 m.

Most of them are located on the territory of Tibet, and it is here that conquerors of mountains from all over the planet rush, because climbing the highest peaks is the life work of a real climber.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the Himalayas changes with the change in altitude. The natural features of the Himalayas at different levels amaze with the change of landscapes, flora and fauna. In the foothills of the small Himalayas, terai or swampy jungles predominate, above them they are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous, and finally, alpine meadows appear. The northern slopes are dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. The fauna of the Himalayas is as diverse as the flora. Here you can still meet wild tigers, rhinos, elephants and monkeys, and having risen higher, the risk of meeting with a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard increases.

On the territory of the mountains that capture Nepal, there is a unique nature reserve, where endangered species of animals are still preserved. The zone is under the protection of UNESCO. Mount Everest is located on the territory of this reserve.

Rivers and lakes

It is in the Himalayas that the three largest rivers of South Asia originate. These include the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus. Moreover, in the mountain range there are many beautiful and clean lakes. The highest mountain is Lake Tilicho, located at an altitude of 4919 m.

The special pride of the Himalayas is, of course, glaciers. In terms of the amount of fresh water reserves, the mountain range was surpassed only by the Arctic and Antarctic. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri layer, which reaches a length of 26 km.

When is it good in the Himalayas?

According to travelers, it is always good in the Himalayas. Each season of the year gives the slopes of this ridge unique landscapes, the beauty of which is simply impossible to describe in words. In spring, the slopes are strewn with beautiful flowers, the aroma of which spreads for many kilometers, in summer, during the rainy season, lush greenery breaks through a light fog and gives freshness and coolness, autumn is rampant with colors, and in winter, when snow falls, there is no cleaner and whiter place in the world.

The main tourist season falls on the autumn months, but in winter there are many skiing enthusiasts, because in the Himalayas there are many world-class ski resorts.

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

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

Kingdom of snow

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

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

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

How the Himalayas appeared and developed

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

There are two phenomena that influenced the appearance of mountains:

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

Dimensions of the Himalayan peaks

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

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

Three main steps

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

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

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

Himalayan water system

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

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

Weather

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flora and fauna

Flora directly depends on the height of the Himalayas.

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

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

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

There are many nature reserves in the Himalayas. For example, Sagarmatha National Park.

Population

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special values ​​of the Himalayas

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

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

You can walk through the National Park "Valley of Flowers", which is located on the western side of the Himalayas. This area strewn with beautiful flowers is a national heritage of UNESCO.

tourist travel

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

The most popular tracks include:

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

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

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