Where are the Himalayas located on the map? Where are the Himalayas located - on the map, mountains, on what continent? Geographical location of the Himalayan mountains

general information

The Himalaya mountain system at the junction of Central and South Asia is over 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km². The average height of the ridges is about 6 km, the maximum 8848 m is Mount Chomolungma (Everest). There are 10 eight-thousanders - peaks over 8000 m above sea level. In the northwest of the western chain of the Himalayas there is another highest mountain system - the Karakoram.

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, although the climate allows for the cultivation of only a few types of cereals, potatoes and some other vegetables. The fields are located on sloping terraces.

Name

The name of the mountains comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit. "Himalaya" means "Abode of Snow" or "Kingdom of Snows".

Geography

All mountain range The Himalayas consists of three distinctive steps:

• The first is the Pre-Himalayas (local name is the Shivalik Range) - the lowest of all, Mountain peaks which does not rise more than 2000 meters.
• The second stage - the Dhaoladhar, Pir Panjal and several other smaller ranges - is called the Lesser Himalayas. The name is quite arbitrary, since the peaks already rise to respectable 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 - the Great Himalayas. The 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.

Himalaya records

The Himalayas are a place of pilgrimage for the strongest climbers in the world, for whom conquering their peaks is a cherished goal in life. Chomolungma did not conquer immediately - since the beginning of the last century, many attempts have been made to climb to the “roof of the world.” The first to achieve this goal was the New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary, accompanied by local guide- Sherpa Norgay Tenzing. The first successful Soviet expedition took place in 1982. In total, Everest has been conquered about 3,700 times.

Unfortunately, the Himalayas also set sad records - 572 climbers died trying to conquer their eight-kilometer heights. But the number of brave athletes does not decrease, because “taking” all 14 “eight-thousanders” and receiving the “Crown of the Earth” is the cherished dream of each of them. The total number of “crowned” winners to date is 30 people, including 3 women.

Minerals

The Himalayas are rich in mineral resources. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, placer gold, arsenic and chromium ores. The foothills and intermountain basins contain oil, flammable gases, brown coal, potassium and rock salts.

Climatic conditions

The Himalayas are the largest climate division in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes predominates, to the south - tropical air masses. The summer equatorial monsoon penetrates all the way to the southern slope of the Himalayas. The winds reach such strength there that they make it difficult to climb the highest peaks, so Chomolungma can only be climbed in the spring, during the short period of calm before the onset of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope, winds from the northern or western directions blow throughout the year, coming from the continent, which is supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but is always dry. From northwest to southeast, the Himalayas extend approximately between 35 and 28° N, and the summer monsoon almost does not penetrate into the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All this creates large climatic differences within the Himalayas.

The most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the zone of internal tectonic basins and in internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. In some places the annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m, winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m snow occurs throughout the year.

On southern slopes up to an altitude of 2000 m average temperature January is 6...7 °C, July 18...19 °C; up to an altitude of 3000 m average temperature winter months does not fall below 0 °C, and only above 4500 m does the July average become negative. The snow line in the eastern part of the Himalayas passes at an altitude of 4500 m, in the western, less humidified part - 5100-5300 m. On the northern slopes, the height of the nival belt is 700-1000 m higher than on the southern ones.

Natural waters

High altitude and heavy precipitation contribute to the formation powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snow cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of the glacial tongues have significant absolute altitude. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reach no more than 5 km in length. But the further east and more precipitation, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. The most powerful glaciation is on Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga, and the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main trunk. The Zemu glacier on Kanchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. The Rongbuk glacier, 19 km long, slides down from Qomolungma and ends at an altitude of 5000 m. The Gangotri glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas reaches 26 km; one of the sources of the Ganges originates from it.

Especially many rivers flow from the southern slope of the mountains. They begin in the glaciers of the Greater Himalayas and, crossing the Lesser Himalayas and the foothills, reach the plain. Some large rivers They originate from the northern slope and, heading towards the Indo-Gangetic plain, cut through the Himalayas with deep through valleys. These are the Indus, its tributary the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).

The Himalayan rivers are fed by rain, glaciers and snow, so the main maximum flow occurs in the summer. In the eastern part, the role of monsoon rains in nutrition is great, in the west - snow and ice of the high mountain zone. The narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas are replete with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid melting of snow begins, until October, when the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down from the mountains in rapid streams, carrying away masses of debris that they deposit when leaving the Himalayan foothills. Monsoon rains often cause severe floods on mountain rivers, during which bridges are washed away, roads are destroyed and landslides occur.

There are many lakes in the Himalayas, but among them there are none that can be compared in size and beauty with the Alpine ones. Some lakes, for example in the Kashmir Basin, occupy only part of those tectonic depressions that were previously filled entirely. The Pir Panjal range is known for numerous glacial lakes formed in ancient cirques or in river valleys as a result of their damming by moraine.

Vegetation

On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal zones from tropical forests to the high mountain tundra. At the same time, the southern slope is characterized by significant differences in the vegetation cover of the humid and hot eastern part and the drier and colder western part. Along the foot of the mountains from their eastern extremity to the course of the Jamna River stretches a peculiar swampy strip with black silty soils, called the Terai. The Terai are characterized by jungles - dense thickets of trees and shrubs, in places almost impassable due to vines and consisting of soap trees, mimosa, bananas, low-growing palm trees, and bamboos. Among the terai there are cleared and drained areas that are used for the cultivation of various tropical crops.

Above the terai, on the wet slopes of the mountains and along river valleys up to an altitude of 1000-1200 m, evergreen tropical forests grow of tall palms, laurels, tree ferns and gigantic bamboos, with many vines (including the rattan palm) and epiphytes. Drier areas are dominated by thinner forests of salwood, which loses its leaves during the dry season, with rich undergrowth and grass cover.

At altitudes above 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to mix with the heat-loving forms of the tropical forest: pines, evergreen oaks, magnolias, maples, chestnuts. At an altitude of 2000 m, subtropical forests give way to temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only occasionally are representatives of subtropical flora, for example, magnificently flowering magnolias found. The upper border of the forest is dominated by conifers, including silver fir, larch, and juniper. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. There are many mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. The subalpine belt replacing forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of shrubs, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and sparse as it moves to the alpine belt.

The high-mountain meadow vegetation of the Himalayas is unusually rich in species, including primroses, anemones, poppies and other brightly flowering perennial herbs. The upper limit of the alpine belt in the east reaches an altitude of about 5000 m, but individual plants are found much higher. When climbing Chomolungma, plants were discovered at an altitude of 6218 m.

In the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas, due to lower humidity, there is no such richness and diversity of vegetation; the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is a complete absence of the Terai strip, the lower parts of the mountain slopes are covered with sparse xerophytic forests and bushes, higher up there are some subtropical Mediterranean species like evergreen holm oak and golden olive, and even higher up coniferous forests of pine trees and magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) predominate. The shrub undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but the meadow alpine vegetation is more diverse.

The landscapes of the northern ranges of the Himalayas, facing Tibet, are approaching the desert mountain landscapes of Central Asia. The change in vegetation with height is less pronounced than on the southern slopes. From the bottoms of large river valleys up to the snow-covered peaks, sparse thickets of dry grasses and xerophytic shrubs spread. Woody vegetation is found only in some river valleys in the form of thickets of low-growing poplars.

Animal world

The landscape differences of the Himalayas are also reflected in the composition of the wild fauna. Diverse and rich animal world the southern slopes have a pronounced tropical character. Many large mammals, reptiles, and insects are common in the forests of the lower slopes and in the terai. Elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalos, wild boars, and antelopes are still found there. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Particularly characteristic are macaques and thin-bodied animals. Of the predators, the most dangerous to the population are tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers). Among the birds, peacocks, pheasants, parrots, and wild chickens stand out for their beauty and brightness of plumage.

In the upper mountain belt and on the northern slopes, the fauna is close in composition to that of Tibet. The black Himalayan bear, wild goats and sheep, and yaks live there. Especially a lot of rodents.

Population and environmental issues

Most of the population is concentrated in the middle zone of the southern slope and in intramountain tectonic basins. There is a lot of cultivated land there. Rice is sown on the irrigated flat bottoms of the basins; tea bushes, citrus fruits, and grapevines are grown on the terraced slopes. Alpine pastures are used for grazing sheep, yaks and other livestock.

Because of high altitude Passes in the Himalayas significantly complicate communication between the countries of the northern and southern slopes. Some passes are crossed by dirt roads or caravan trails; there are very few highways in the Himalayas. The passes are accessible only in summer. In winter they are covered with snow and completely impassable.

The inaccessibility of the territory has played a favorable role in preserving the unique mountain landscapes of the Himalayas. Despite the significant agricultural development of low mountains and basins, intensive grazing of livestock on mountain slopes and the ever-increasing influx of climbers from different countries world, the Himalayas remain a refuge for valuable plant and animal species. The real “treasures” are those included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List National parks India and Nepal - Nan-dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan.

Attractions

• Kathmandu: temple complexes Budanilkantha, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, National Museum Nepal;
• Lhasa: Potala Palace, Barkor Square, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery;
• Thimphu: Bhutan Textile Museum, Thimphu Chorten, Tashicho Dzong;
• Temple complexes of the Himalayas (including Sri Kedarnath Mandir, Yamunotri);
• Buddhist stupas (memorial or reliquary structures);
• Sagarmatha National Park (Everest);
• National parks Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers.

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 Indian Himalayas precisely to familiarize yourself with the Vedic sciences, the ancient postulates of the teachings of Yoga, and the healing of your body according to the Ayurvedic canons of Panchakarma.

The pilgrims' program necessarily includes visiting caves for deep meditation, waterfalls, ancient temples, and bathing in the Ganges, a river sacred to Hindus. Those suffering can have conversations with spiritual mentors, receive from them parting words and recommendations for spiritual and physical cleansing. However, this topic is so broad and versatile that it requires a separate detailed presentation.

The natural grandeur and highly spiritual atmosphere of the Himalayas captivate the human imagination. Anyone who has at least once come into contact with the splendor of these places will always be obsessed with the dream of returning here at least once more.

• About five or six centuries ago, a people called the Sherpas moved to the Himalayas. They know how to provide themselves with everything necessary for life in the highlands, but, in addition, they are practically a monopoly in the profession of guides. Because they are truly the best; the most knowledgeable and the most resilient.
• Among the conquerors of Everest there are also “originals”. On May 25, 2008, the oldest climber in the history of climbing, a native of Nepal, Min Bahadur Shirchan, who was 76 years old at that time, overcame the path to the summit. There have been cases when very young travelers took part in expeditions. The latest record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who climbed in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him, fifteen-year-old Tembu Tsheri Sherpa was considered the youngest guest of Chomolungma).
• The development of tourism does not benefit the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the garbage left by people. Moreover, in the future there may be severe pollution of the rivers that originate here. The main problem is that these rivers provide millions of people with drinking water.
• Shambhala is a mythical country in Tibet, about which many ancient texts tell. Buddha's followers believe in its existence unconditionally. It captivates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. In particular, the most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. had no doubt about the reality of Shambhala. Gumilev. However, there is still no irrefutable evidence of its existence. Or they are irretrievably lost. For the sake of objectivity, it should be said: many believe that Shambhala is not located in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about her lies proof that we all really need the belief that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of humanity, which is owned by bright and wise forces. Even if this key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet open...

The Himalayas in art, literature and cinema

• Kim is a novel written by Joseph Kipling. It tells the story of a boy who admires British imperialism while surviving the Great Game.
• Shangri-La is a fictional country located in the Himalayas, described in the novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
• Tintin in Tibet is one of the albums of the Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé. Journalist Tintin investigates a plane crash in the Himalayas.
• The film "Vertical Limit" describes the events taking place on Mount Chogori.
• Several levels in Tomb Raider II and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend are located in the Himalayas.
• The film "Black Narcissus" tells the story of an order of nuns who founded a monastery in the Himalayas.
• The Kingdom of the Golden Dragons is a novel by Isabel Allenda. Most of the events take place in the Forbidden Kingdom, a fictional state in the Himalayas.
• Drachenreiter is a book by German writer Cornelia Funke about Brownie and a dragon traveling to the "Edge of Heaven" - a place in the Himalayas where dragons live.
• Expedition Everest is a themed roller coaster in " World Center Walt Disney Holidays.
• Seven Years in Tibet is a film based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Heinrich Harrer, which describes the story of the adventures of an Austrian mountaineer in Tibet during the Second World War.
• G.I. Joe: The Movie is an animated film that tells the story of the Cobra-La civilization, which survived the Ice Age in the Himalayas.
• Far Cry 4 is a first-person shooter story that tells about the fictional region of the Himalayas, dominated by a self-proclaimed king.

The name Himalayas comes from the Sanskrit words hima and alaja, which mean “abode of snow.” The highest mountains on earth occupy 80% of Nepal's area. The average height of the Himalayas is 6,000 meters above sea level. The length of these high mountains is 2,500 km. But it is on the territory of Nepal that there are eight eight-thousanders - the most high mountain, whose height is more than 8,000 meters. Therefore, all climbers in the world dream of climbing the Himalayas at least once in their lives. Neither the danger to life, nor the cold, nor the financial costs stop them. At the same time, the financial costs are quite significant. After all, if you want to conquer the peak, then in Nepal just for the right to climb you will have to pay a fairly serious amount, which amounts to more than one thousand dollars. Here this fee is called royalty. If you want to conquer Everest, you will also have to stand in line, maybe even for two years. With this large quantities wishing to conquer the Himalayas, there remain peaks that are not popular.

For tourists eager to challenge the mountains, there are laid special routes. Those who manage to make the climb will receive a well-deserved reward - unforgettably beautiful landscapes of dangerous and deep gorges with lush vegetation and lush greenery or snow-capped rocky peaks. The route around Annapurna is considered the most popular among simple tourists without special training. During the days of travel, those who decide to take such a trip can, in addition to the excellent landscapes of mountainous Nepal, also observe the life of the local residents.

The highest mountain in the Himalayas is Everest Peak (8848 meters). Every schoolchild knows about this. In Tibet she is called Chomolungma, which means “Mother of the Gods,” and in Nepal – Sagarmakhta. All climbers dream of conquering Everest, but only climbers of the highest class can conquer it.

The Himalayas arose during the period of orogenesis - the Alpine tectonic cycle and, by geological standards, very young mountains. The Himalayas arose in the place where the collision of the Eurasian and Indian subcontinental plates occurred. Mountain building continues here today. The average height of mountains increases annually by an average of 7 mm. This is why earthquakes are so frequent here.

Into the sky Himalayan mountains Ah quite often you can find fossilized marine organisms. They are called saligrams. According to scientists, their age is about 130 million years. Saligrams are like messages from the Ice Age. They are the best proof that the Himalayas “grew” from water. The Nepalese consider them to be the earthly incarnation of their god Vishnu. For Nepalese, saligrams are sacred. Their export from Nepal is prohibited.

Video: “Climbing the top of Tulagi in Nepal (7059 m) in 2010.”

Film: "Road to the Himalayas"

You can also watch the 1999 Nepali film Himalaya (dir. Eric Valli) and the 2010 film NANGA PARBAT.

Finally, a few more photos of the Himalayas:

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M.

2001.

HIMALAYAS the highest mountain system in the world, in Asia between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic lowland. Nai highest point Mt. Chomolungma (Everest) - 8848 m. Alpine folding. South the foothills are made of sandstone, the bedrock slopes and the axial zone are made of gneisses, granites and other igneous rocks. The mountains consist of three stages: the highest - the Greater Mountains, which are characterized by alpine-type ridges, altitudinal contrasts and glaciation (more than 33 thousand km2). North slopes facing the high Tibetan Plateau have less. G. are under the influence of the summer monsoon, in the east. parts receive up to 4000 mm of precipitation per year. The altitudinal zonation is well defined: from swampy jungles at the foot to evergreen tropical forests, deciduous and coniferous forests, shrubs, and meadows. To the north The slope is drier, so mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate there. Above 5000 m there is eternal snow. Mountaineering is developed in Nepal.

Concise geographical dictionary.

EdwART.

(2008. Himalayas Himalayas, from Nepalese himal - “snow mountain”), the highest mountain system globe , in Asia, between Tibetan plateau to the N. and Indo-Gangetic plain in the south (China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan). They stretch in a huge arc approx. 2500 km, width up to 350 km. Avg. ridge height approx. 6000 m, highest point - Mt.
Chomolungma (8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. They consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively flat north. slopes. North The border is the wide valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers. The mountains were formed during the Alpine era of mountain building. South the foothills are composed primarily of sandstones and conglomerates, bedrock slopes and the axial zone - gneisses, shales, granites and other crystalline rocks. The mountains rise above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps. The lower part is formed by mountains Siwalik (Pre-Himalayas), middle - Lesser Himalayas (chronicle Pir Panjal , Jaoladhar, etc.). The highest mountain range is partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.) Greater Himalayas , which from W. to E. are divided into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Assam. The Greater Mountains are characterized by sharp alpine relief features and extensive modern territory. glaciation of the total area 33200 km². The largest glacier is
The mountains represent a distinct climate division: to the south of them a humid subequatorial climate prevails, to the north there is a climate of cold high-mountain deserts. Altitudinal zonation is well expressed. At the south In the foothills there are swampy jungles (terai), which as you rise are replaced by evergreen forests (palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo intertwined with vines). Above 1200 m in the west and 1500 m in the east, evergreen forests (oak and magnolia) dominate; above 2200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch, maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, silver spruce) forests dominate; Coniferous forests (fir, larch, juniper) with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron rise up to 3600 m. Top. the border of alpine meadows reaches 5000 m and only here it gives way to the nival-glacial belt. Dry sowing the slopes are covered by mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts. Animals include Himalayan bears, wild goats, wild sheep, yaks; a lot of rodents. Up to a height of 2500 m, the slopes are cultivated, terrace farming is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, and rice on irrigated lands). In Greece, especially in Nepal, mountaineering is widely developed and well organized.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

EdwART.

the highest mountain system on earth, in Asia, between the Tibetan Plateau in the north and the Indo-Gangetic Plain in the south; in China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. The name comes from the Nepalese “himal” - “snow mountain”. They form a huge arc long. OK. 2500 km, latitude up to 350 km. Wed. high ridges approx. 6000 m, highest point - Mt. Indo-Gangetic plain(8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. The Himalayas consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively flat north. slopes. North The boundary is a giant longitudinal depression occupied by the upper reaches of the river. Ganges and Brahmaputra flowing in opposite directions.
The Himalayas were formed during the Alpine mountain building era. South the foothills are composed predominantly of sandstones and conglomerates, the bedrock slopes and axial zone are composed of gneisses, crystalline schists, granites and other crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The mountain system rises above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps forming mountains (8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. They consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively flat north. slopes. North The border is the wide valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers.(Pre-Himalayas), Siwalik(Pir Panjal, Jaoladhar, etc.) and partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir Valley, Kathmandu, etc.) Pir Panjal, which along the strike from west to east are divided into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Assam. The Greater Himalayas are characterized by sharp alpine landforms and extensive modern glaciation of a total area. 33,200 km². The largest glacier is Gangotri (approx. 300 km²) in the Kumaon Himalayas.

Altitudinal zonation is well expressed. At the south In the foothills there are swampy jungles (Terai), which, as you rise, are replaced by evergreen tropical forests (palm trees, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo, and all this is intertwined with vines). Above 1200 m in the west and 1500 m in the east, evergreen forests of oak and magnolia dominate; above 2200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch and maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, silver spruce) forests dominate; at high 2700–3600 m are dominated by coniferous forests of fir, larch, juniper with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron. The upper limit of alpine meadows reaches high. 5000 m and only here it gives way to the nival-glacial belt. On the northern, drier slopes, where the influence of the monsoon weakens, mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate. Animals include the Himalayan bear, wild goats, wild sheep, and yak; a lot of rodents. Up to high 2500 m slopes are cultivated, terrace farming is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, rice on irrigated lands). Mountaineering is widely developed and well organized in the Himalayas, especially in Nepal.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

Synonyms:

See what "HIMALAYAS" is in other dictionaries:

Himalayas- Himalayas. View from space of the Himalayas, the abode of snow, Hindi. Contents 1 Geography 2 Geology 3 Climate 4 Literature 5 Links Geography Himalayas ... Encyclopedia of tourists

The highest mountain system on earth, between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (in the south). Length St. 2400 km, width up to 350 km. Among the high ridges of approx. 6000 m, maximum height up to 8848 m, Mount Chomolungma (Everest) highest... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Noun, number of synonyms: 2 mountain system (62) mountains (52) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Himalayas- HIMALAYAS, mountains in the Center. Asia, the greatest on the globe. Zap. their extremity is at 36° north. lat., together with the Hindu Kush, Kara Korum and Kuen Lun, the greatest mountain on earth. node (see map to the station of British India). From here G.... ... Military encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Himalayas (meanings). Himalayas ... Wikipedia

Himalayas- Snowy peaks of the Himalayas. HIMALAYAS, the highest mountain system on earth, in Asia (India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan), between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (in the south). Length over 2400 km. Height up to 8848 m (mountain... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Himalayas- this is the highest mountain system of our planet, which stretches in Central and South Asia and is located on the territory of countries such as China, India, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal. This mountain range has 109 peaks, their average height reaches more than 7 thousand meters above sea level. However, one of them surpasses them all. So, we will talk about the highest peak of the Himalaya mountain system.

What is it, the highest peak of the Himalayas?

The highest peak of the Himalayas is Mount Qomolungma, or Everest. It rises in the northern part of the Mahalangur Himal range, the highest mountain range of our planet, which can be reached only after arriving in. Its height reaches 8848 m.

Indo-Gangetic plain is the name of the mountain in Tibetan, which means “Divine Mother of the Earth”. In Nepali, the peak sounds like Sagarmatha, which translates to “Mother of the Gods.” Everest was named after George Everest, a British explorer who led a geodetic survey in the surrounding areas.

The shape of the highest peak of the Himalayas, Chomolungma, is a triangular pyramid, in which the southern slope is steeper. As a result, that part of the mountain is practically not covered with snow.

Conquering the highest peak of the Himalayas

The impenetrable Chomolungma has long attracted the attention of climbers on Earth. However, unfortunately, due to unfavorable conditions, the mortality rate here is still high - there were more than 200 official reports of death on the mountain. At the same time, almost 3,000 people successfully climbed and descended from Everest. The first ascent to the summit took place in 1953 by Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary using oxygen devices.

The Himalayas are the great mountain system of Asia, forming a barrier between the plateau of Tibet in the north and the plains of the Indian subcontinent in the south. The Himalayas include the world's highest mountains, with more than 110 peaks rising to 7,300 meters or more above sea level. One of these peaks is Everest. Another name for the mountain in the Tibetan version is Qomolangma, in the Chinese version - Komolangma Feng, in Nepalese - Sagamata. It is the highest mountain in the World, with a height of 8,850 meters.

Geographical location of the Himalayas

Everyone who is interested in these mountains first of all searches on what continent, in what country and where are the Himalayas located. The geographical position of the Himalayas extends over 2550 kilometers from North Africa to the Pacific coast South-East Asia in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. The Himalayas stretch from west to east between Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan they include parts of Kashmir and Namzhagbarwa Pike, and in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Between the western and eastern edges are two Himalayan countries - Nepal and Bhutan. The Himalayas border in the northwest with mountain ranges Hindu Kush and Karakoram, and in the north with the high and vast plateau of Tibet. The width of the Himalayas from south to north varies between 200 and 400 km. Their total area is 595,000 square kilometers.

On physical map it can be seen that India, Nepal and Bhutan have sovereignty over most of the Himalayas, Pakistan and China also occupy parts of them. In the disputed Kashmir region, Pakistan has administrative control over approximately 36,000 sq. km in the Ladakh region of Kashmir and claims territory at the eastern end of the Himalayas in Indian state– Arunachal Pradesh. The disputes highlight the border issues facing India and neighboring countries in the Himalayan landmass.

Physical Features

The most characteristic features of the Himalayas are their high, steep, jagged peaks, valleys and alpine glaciers. Complex geological structure complemented by river gorges deeply cut by erosion. A number of elevated zones are distinguished by different ecological types of flora, fauna and climate. Viewed from the south, the Himalayas appear on a map as a giant crescent moon with its main axis rising above the snow line, where snowfields, alpine glaciers and avalanches feed the lower valleys.

Most of the Himalayas lie below the snow line. The Himalayan ranges are grouped into four parallel longitudinal mountain belts of varying widths, each of which has different physical and geographical features and its own geological history. They range from south to north as the outer sub-Himalayas (also called the Siwalik Range), the lesser or lower Himalayas, the Greater Himalayan Range (Great Himalayas) and the Tethys or Tibetan Himalayas. Further north in Tibet lie the Trans-Himalaya.

Geological history

It is believed that the Himalayas owe their origin to the movement of the Indo-Australian plate, which is constantly moving north, where it collides with the Eurasian plate. The force of the plate movement is such that it bends the layers of rock and creates faults into which masses of granites and basalts invade. This is how the Tibetan plateau was formed. The Trans-Himalayan ranges became the region's watershed and rose so high that they became a climate barrier. The more rain falls on the southern slopes, the more the southern rivers tend to move north along transverse faults.

The northern shores of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are quickly filled with debris brought from the mountains by the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. About 20 million years ago, the rate of pressure between the two plates increased sharply. As the Indian subcontinental plate continued to subduct, the uppermost layers were thrown back a large horizontal distance to the south, forming boulders.

Wave after wave of boulders rushed south over the Indian landmass for a distance of up to 100 km. Over time, these boulders rolled up, shortening the former trench by 400-800 km. All this time, the falling rivers matched the rate of rise, carrying a huge amount of stones and rocks. Once the Himalayas rose high enough, they became a climate barrier: the extreme mountains in the north lost their rain and became as parched as the Tibetan Plateau.

On the contrary, on wet southern shores the rivers rose with such energy that they forced the ridge line to slowly move north. However, changes in the landscape forced all but the major rivers to change the direction of their lower reaches, because as the northern ridges rose, so did southern edge extensive plateau. Where the Kashmir Valley is located, as well as the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, temporary lakes were formed, which were then filled with sediments.

Population of the Himalayas

The Indian subcontinent is home to four language families - Indo-Aryan, Tibetan-Burman, Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian. They have a long history of infiltration by Iranian groups from the west, Indian peoples from the south, and Asian peoples from the east and north. In the hilly regions of the lesser Himalayas live the Gaddis and Gujaris. They are traditional mountaineers, owning large herds of sheep and goats and descending with them from their snowy abode into the outer Himalayas only in winter and returning to the highest pastures only in June.

These pastoral people are in constant migration, living off their herds of sheep, goats and a few cows, for which they seek pasture on different heights. To the north of the Great Himalayan Range live the Champa, Ladak, Balti and Darda peoples. The Champas traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life in the upper Indus. The Ladakhis settled on the terraces and stone fans that flank the Indus in the northeastern region of Kashmir.

The Balti settled further along the Indus Valley and converted to Islam.
In Himachal Pradesh, most people are descendants of Tibetan migrants who speak Tibetan-Burmese. In Nepal, Paharis, who speak an Indo-Aryan language, constitute the majority of the population. Peoples such as the Newar, Tamang, Gurung, Magar and Sherpa speak Tibeto-Burman. Of all these nationalities inhabiting the Himalayas, the famous long-living mountaineers, the Sherpas, stand out.

Economy of the Himalayas

The economy of the Himalayas depends on the resources available in different parts of this vast region with different ecological zones. The main activity is livestock farming, but forestry, trade and tourism are also important. The Himalayas have abundance economic resources. These include rich arable land, extensive meadows and forests, workable mineral deposits, easy water power and magnificent natural beauty.

In the central Himalayas of Nepal, two-thirds of the arable land is in the foothills and adjacent plains. The land in this country produces most of the world's total rice production. The region also produces large crops of corn, wheat, potatoes and sugar cane. The Kashmir Valley produces fruits such as apples, peaches, pears and cherries, which are in great demand in Indian cities. There are rich vineyards on the shores of Dal Lake in Kashmir, and the grapes are used to make wine and brandy.

Walnut and almond trees grow on the hills surrounding the Kashmir valley. A country like Bhutan also has orchards and exports oranges to India. Tea plantations are located on the hills and plains at the foot of the mountains in the Darjeeling region. There is a spice cardamom plantation in Sikkim. Since 1940, the Himalayas have experienced an explosion of population growth. As a result, deforestation to clear land for planting and construction, supplying firewood and paper moved up the steep and higher slopes of the small Himalayas. Only in Sikkim and Bhutan large areas still covered with dense forest.

The Himalayas are rich in mineral resources, although exploitation is limited to accessible areas. Sapphires are found on the Zaskar Range, and gold is mined in the bed of the Indus River. Baltistan has copper ore deposits and iron ore is found in the Kashmir valley. In Ladakh there are deposits of borax and sulfur. Coal seams are found in the hills of Jammu. Bauxite is found in Kashmir. Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim have extensive deposits of coal, mica, gypsum, graphite and iron, copper, lead and zinc ores.

Conquerors of the Himalayas

The earliest travels in the Himalayas were made by traders, shepherds and pilgrims. The pilgrims believed that the more difficult the journey, the closer it brought them to enlightenment. For shepherds and traders, trekking at altitudes between 5,500 and 5,800 meters was a way of life. However, for everyone else, the Himalayas presented a huge and terrible barrier.

The Himalayas first appeared on the map in 1590 with the participation of a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor, Antonio Monserrate. In 1773, French geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Harville compiled the first map of the Himalayan range based on systematic research. In 1865, Everest was renamed after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India.

By 1862, it became known that Everest was the tallest mountain in the world. After World War II, India produced several large-scale maps based on aerial photographs. Himalayan mountaineering began in 1880 with Briton W. W. Graham, who claimed to have climbed several peaks. Although his claims were met with skepticism, they sparked interest in the Himalayas among other European climbers.

Attempts to conquer Everest began in 1921 and about a dozen of them were made before it was conquered in May 1953 by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and his Tibetan guide Tenzing Norgay. That same year, an Austro-German team led by Karl Maria Herrligkoffer reached the summit of Nanka Parbat. Over time, climbers began to find easier ways to reach the peaks.

Easier access to the mountains brought increasing numbers of climbers and tourists to the region. Every year hundreds of people attempt to climb Everest. By the beginning of the 21st century, the annual number of tourists had increased so much that in some regions expedition participants began to threaten the ecological balance of the mountains, destroying flora and fauna and leaving behind mountains of garbage. In addition, large expeditions increased the likelihood of loss of life. In 2014, more than 40 foreign tourists died in a snowstorm near Annapurna.

From May 22, 2019 until today, a search has been underway for eight conquerors of India’s second highest mountain, Nada Devi. There are fears that they were carried away by an avalanche. These were four British, two Americans, one Australian and an Indian guide who were supposed to climb the eastern ridge at Nada Devi and return to base on May 26th. Her ascent began on May 13 and, after their departure, the team showed no signs of life. Heavy snowfall that lasted a week complicated the search.

Hundreds of climbers from all over the world come every year to climb the peaks of the mountains. Not everyone makes it, some return. Many remain in the mountains forever, frozen in permafrost. Their names are written on the slab and everyone who has gathered to this peak must become familiar with their names. Everyone should know that their name can also be written on this plate. There's still a lot of free space there.