Himalayan mountains on the map. The Himalayas are the largest mountain system in the world

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 highest 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 so many people wanting to conquer the Himalayas, there remain peaks that are not popular.

For tourists eager to challenge the mountains, special routes have been laid at an altitude of 5.5 thousand meters. 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.

In the sky-soaring Himalayan mountains, fossilized marine organisms can often be found. 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:

Himalayas (Sanskrit Himalaya - abode of snow, from Hima - snow and Alaya - dwelling)

highest mountain system globe, located in India, China, Nepal and Pakistan, between Tibetan plateau(See Tibetan Plateau) (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (see Indo-Gangetic Plain) (in the south). G. is the most powerful mountain system of the Earth with the highest peaks, the greatest differences in heights over short distances, deep (up to 4-5 km) gorges. Length over 2400 km, width from 180 to 350 km, area about 650 thousand. km 2. Average altitude is about 6000 m, 11 peaks over 8000 m(Chomolangma city - 8848 m- the highest peak on earth). The mountains have clear morphological and physical-geographical boundaries: in the north there are longitudinal tectonic valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) rivers, in the south there is the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, in the north-west. -Hinduraj ridge, in the east - the river gorge. Brahmaputra. G. is the largest orographic, climatic, and floristic barrier between the deserts of Central Asia and the tropical landscapes of South Asia. However, due to the presence of through antecedent gorges of the Indus, Sutlej, Karnali, and Arun rivers, the watershed of the basin Indian Ocean and the drainless region of Central Asia passes not through the mountains, but through the mountain systems neighboring the north - the Karakoram and the Trans-Himalayas.

Relief. The mountains rise steeply above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three grandiose steps; the first step is formed by the southern foothills of the mountains - the Siwalik ridge, strongly dissected by deeply incised gorges of numerous rivers (width in the west is 120 km, to the east from 88° east. d. narrows to 5-10 km), average height 900-1200 m. This ridge is separated from the next stage by a large fault, along which there is a series of intermountain basins (dunes), formerly occupied by lakes. m 2nd stage - Small (Low) Mountains - a system of individual mountain ranges and ridges (average height 3000-4000 m, peaks up to 6000 ). The mountains are highly dissected and characterized by steep southern and gentler northern slopes. West Side m- Pir Panjal ridge - a jagged narrow ridge on a wide, flat base: in the central part (Dhaoladhar, Mahabharat ridges) the mountains rise sharply (up to 5000 km), characterized by sharp ridges and deep valleys. To the east of the tectonic valley of the river. Teesta's southern slope is divided by hanging valleys and is called "duars" (doors). The 2nd stage is separated from the 3rd stage by an extensive depression with a chain of tectonic intermountain depressions and ancient glacial basins (Kathmandu, Srinagar, etc.). 3rd stage - Large (High) Mountains, or the Main Himalayan Range, width 50-90 m. Starts in the north-west. from the Nanga Parbat massif (8126 km), where it is widest (over 300

), has raised edges, between which lie high plateaus (Deosai, Rushpu, etc.). To the south-east from the river valley The Greater Sutlej forms a powerful ridge with a number of high massifs and peaks covered with glaciers. To the east of the river Teesta Large G. are significantly reduced. Deeply incised river valleys, relatively poorly dissected massifs and dome-shaped peaks are common here. Geological structure and minerals. In the geological structure of Greece there are a number of parallel tectonic zones (from north to south) (see Fig. Tectonic diagram km). Along the southern foot of the mountains stretches the Pre-Himalayan (Indo-Gangetic) foothill trough, filled with Cenozoic terrigenous deposits of the molasse type, with a total thickness of up to 10

The main boundary fault (of the deep type) separates the Pre-Himalayan trough from the zone of development of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks of the Lesser and Greater Heights. Among the Precambrian rocks of the Lesser Heights, blocks of formations of the Paleozoic (Krol Formation) and presumably Mesozoic (Tal Formation) are tectonically sandwiched; Continental accumulations of the Gondwana system (Upper Paleozoic) and effusive rocks of basic composition (Panjal traps) are also known here. There are known cases of thrusting of some strata onto others from the north to the south, but the true amplitudes of the thrusts cannot be determined due to poor knowledge of the stratigraphy of ancient strata. Many researchers (A. Ganser and others) believe that there are large thrusts and shariya overlappings. The complex of Precambrian rocks of the Greater Himalayas (the southern slope and axial part of the Main Himalayan Range)—gneisses, crystalline schists, phyllites, and other deeply metamorphosed strata—is complicated by microfolding and flattening and forms large dome-shaped uplifts.

A deep fault (“structural suture of the Indus”), represented by a system of steep faults inclined to the north and accompanied by ophiolites, separates the next tectonic zone (Tibetan mountains), which occupies the northern slope of the Main Himalayan ridge, part of the Kashmir basin, the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra and is composed of a continuous section of weakly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks from the Upper Precambrian to the Cretaceous and Paleogene inclusive. Structurally, it is a system of large synclinoriums, complicated on the wings by smaller folds, overturned towards the core of the synclinorium. The best section was studied in the river valley. Spiti (tributary of the Sutlej river).

The geological history of Georgia is interpreted by researchers in different ways. According to Soviet geologists M.V. Muratov, I.V. Arkhipov, G.P. Gorshkov, and others, the mountains belong to the Alpine geosynclinal (folded) region (See Alpine geosynclinal region), which arose inside the Tethys geosyncline; Soviet scientists B. P. Barkhatov, D. P. Rezvoy, V. M. Sinitsyn, A. Ganser, B. A. Petrushevsky and others, based on the fact that there are no typical geosynclinal sedimentary formations of Alpine age in Greece, believe that the geology was formed as a result of processing and activation in Neogene-Anthropogen times of the northern part of the Precambrian Indian Platform; In this way, the cities differ sharply in the history of their geological development from those located to the southwest. Suleiman Mountains and lying to the south-east. the Arakan-Yoma mountains, which arose from alpine geosynclines.

Mineral resources are represented by deposits of copper, gold, chromite, and sapphire associated with the complex of metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Small and Large Mountains. Oil and gas deposits are known in the Pre-Himalayan foothill trough.

Climate. The mountains form a sharp climatic boundary between the equatorial monsoon region of Hindustan and the continental region of Central Asia. The climate of the western sector of Greece is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations and strong winds. Cold winter ( average temperature January -10, -18 °C), above 2500 m- with snow storms. Summer is warm (average July temperature is about 18°C) and dry. The influence of the monsoon is insignificant and is reflected only in a slight increase in humidity and cloudiness in July - August. Precipitation (about 1000 mm per year) are associated with cyclones, and in valleys and basins they fall 3-4 times less than in mountain slopes. The main passes are cleared of snow at the end of May. In western Georgia at an altitude of 1800-2200 m Most of the climatic resorts in India are located (Shimla, etc.). The eastern sector has a hotter and more humid climate with a monsoon moisture regime (85-95% of annual precipitation falls from May to October). In summer at an altitude of 1500 m temperatures rise on the slopes to 35°C, and in the valleys even to 45°C. It rains almost continuously. On southern slopes(at an altitude of 3000-4000 m) drops from 2500 mm(on the W.) up to 5500 mm(on V.); in inland areas- about 1000 mm. In winter at an altitude of 1800 m average January temperature 4° C, above 3000 m- temperatures are negative. Snowfalls occur annually above 2200-2500 m, there are thick fogs in the valleys. North The slopes of Georgia have a cold mountain-desert climate. Daily temperature ranges up to 45°C, precipitation around 100 mm in year. In summer at an altitude of 5000-6000 m Only during the day are there positive temperatures. Relative air humidity 30-60%. In winter, snow often evaporates without melting.

Rivers and lakes. The river network is more developed on the southern slope. In the upper reaches of the river, they are fed by snow and glaciers with sharp fluctuations in flow rates during the day; in the middle and lower reaches it is rainwater, with maximum flow in summer. The valleys are narrow and deep. Lots of rapids and waterfalls. Lakes of tectonic origin and glacial ones; There are especially many of them in the western part of Georgia (Vular, Tsomorari, etc.).

Glaciation. The total area of ​​glaciation is over 33 thousand. km 2. The longest glaciers on the Chomolungma massif (up to 19 km) and Kanchenjunga (26 and 16 km); in Kumaon G. - Milam glaciers (20 km) and Gangotri (32 km), in Punjab G. - Durung-Drung (24 km), Barmal (15 km). In Kashmir, the lower limit of glaciers is 2500 m, in central cities - 4000 m. Glaciation is more developed in the western part of Greece. In the west, the height of the snow line on the southern slopes is 5000 m, in the north - 5700-5900 m, in the East - 4500-4800, respectively m and 6100 m. Glaciers are predominantly dendritic (Himalayan) type, descending at 1300-1600 m below the snow line. There are glaciers of the Turkestan type, which have small firn basins compared to the drainage areas and are fed mainly by avalanches and collapses of hanging glaciers. The northern slopes are characterized by giant curtains of corrugated ice that cover many of the peaks to their summits.

Landscapes G. very diverse, especially on the southern slopes. Along the foot of the mountains from the east to the river valley. Jumna stretches a swampy strip of terai - trees and shrubs (jungles) of soap trees, mimosa, fan palms, bamboos, bananas, mangoes - on black silty soils. Higher, up to 1000-1200 m on the windward slopes of mountains and along river valleys grow evergreen moist rainforests from palm trees, laurels, pandanus, tree ferns, bamboos intertwined with vines (up to 400 species). Above 1200 m to W. and 1500 m in the east there is a belt of evergreen broad-leaved forests, consisting of various types of oak and magnolia, above 2200 m temperate forests appear from deciduous (alder, hazel, birch, maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, silver spruce) species with mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. At an altitude of 2700-3600 m Coniferous forests of silver fir, larch, hemlock, and juniper with a dense undergrowth of rhododendrons dominate. The lower part of the forest belt is characterized by red soils, while the higher parts are characterized by brown forest soils. In the subalpine zone there are juniper-rhododendron thickets. The upper limit of alpine meadows is about 5000 m, although some plants (arenaria, edelweiss) go above 6000 m.

The landscapes of western Georgia are more xerophytic. There are no terai, the lower parts of the slopes are occupied by sparse xerophytic forests and shrubs, and above are monsoon deciduous forests dominated by sal. From a height of 1200-1500 m Mediterranean subtropical species appear: evergreen holm oak, golden-leaved olive, acacias, coniferous forests- Himalayan cedar, long-coniferous pine (chir), Macedonian blue pine. The shrub undergrowth is poorer than in the East, the alpine vegetation is richer. In the forest belt, red soils and low-humus brown forest soils predominate; higher up, brown pseudopodzolic soils; in the alpine zone - mountain meadows. The forests of the lower slopes of the mountains and the terai are home to large mammals - elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalos, wild boars, antelopes, and among predators - tigers and leopards; there are many monkeys (mainly macaques and thin-bodied monkeys) and birds (peacocks, pheasants, parrots).

Mountain-desert landscapes with rare dry grasses and shrubs dominate on the northern slopes of Georgia. Woody vegetation (groves of low-growing poplars) - mainly along river valleys. Among the animals, representatives of the Tibetan fauna dominate - Himalayan bears, wild goats, wild sheep, yaks. Lots of rodents. Up to altitude 2500 m the slopes are being processed. Plantation crops predominate - tea bush, citrus fruits. On irrigated terraces - rice. In the northern Himalayas, naked barley rises to a height of 4500 m. (Cm. map ).

Lit.: Ryabchikov A. M., Nature of India, M., 1950; Speight O. G. K., India and Pakistan, trans. from English, M., 1957; Arkhipov I.V., Muratov M.V., Postelnikov E.S., Main features of the structure and history of the development of the Alpine geosynclinal region, in the book: International Geological Congress, 22nd, 1964. Reports of Soviet geologists. Problem 11. Himalayan and Alpine orogeny, M., 1964; Rezvoy D.P., About the great geodivision of the Asian continent, ibid.; his, Tectonics of the Himalayas, in the book: Folded regions of Eurasia (Materials of the meeting on problems of tectonics in Moscow), M., 1964; Ganser A., ​​Geology of the Himalayas, trans. from English, M., 1967; Direnfurt G., Third Pole, trans. from German, M., 1970.

L. I. Kurakova, A. M. Ryabchikov, D. P. Rezvoy (geological structure and minerals).

Southern slope of the Eastern Himalayas in Bhutan at an altitude of 4500 m.

Chomolungma massif in the Central Himalayas. On the right is Mount Makalu (8470 m).

Himalayas. Orography scheme.

Himalayas. Tectonic scheme.


Big Soviet encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

Synonyms:

See what “Himalayas” are 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; India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan. Name from Nepal. himal snow mountain; Himalayas is a general name for many individual Himalayas, which have their own names. A common interpretation of the name Himalayas is as... ... Geographical encyclopedia

    The highest mountain system on the globe, 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

The Himalayas - it is here, at the third pole of cold, that almost all the highest mountains in the world are located, which are considered to be those whose height exceeds 8000 meters.

There are not so many such mountains on earth, only fourteen. Moreover, they are all located in the place on the globe where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates collide. This place is called "Roofs of the World".

Since people became infected with mountaineering, the dream of each of them has been to visit the Himalayas and conquer all these eight-thousanders.


Routes to M... Valley before...

The Himalayas abound a huge amount rocky, almost vertical slopes that are very difficult to climb, you have to use all sorts of technical devices in the form of driven hooks, ropes, special ladders and other climbing equipment. Often, rocky ledges alternate with deep cracks, and so much snow settles on the mountain slopes that over time it is compressed and turns into glaciers that close these cracks, which makes walking through these places deadly. It is not uncommon for snow and ice to descend, which, rushing down, turn into huge avalanches, demolishing everything in their path and capable of crushing climbers in seconds.

The air temperature in the Himalayas, when rising in altitude, decreases by about 6 degrees for every 1000 meters. So if at the foot of the mountain in summer the temperature is +25, then at an altitude of 5000 meters it will be about -5.

At altitude, the movements of air masses are usually intensified, often turning into hurricane winds, which makes movement very difficult, and sometimes makes it impossible, especially on the narrow ridges of mountain ranges.

Starting at an altitude of 5,000 meters, the atmosphere contains approximately half the oxygen at sea level to which the human body is accustomed. Lack of oxygen has a detrimental effect on the human body, sharply reduces its physical capabilities and leads to the development of so-called mountain sickness - shortness of breath, dizziness, chills and interruptions in heart function. Therefore, at this altitude, the human body usually needs time to acclimatize.

At an altitude of 6000 meters, the atmosphere is so thin and oxygen-poor that complete acclimatization is no longer possible. No matter what kind of physical activity a person experiences, he begins to slowly suffocate. Climbing to an altitude of 7000 meters is already mortally dangerous for many; at such a height the mind begins to become confused and even thinking becomes difficult. The height of 8000 meters is called the “death zone”. Here, even the strongest climbers can survive for only a few days at best. Therefore, all high-altitude ascents are carried out using oxygen breathing apparatus.

But representatives of the Nepalese Sherpa tribe, who permanently live in the Himalayas, feel quite comfortable at altitude and therefore, as soon as the Europeans began to “master” Mountain peaks Himalayas, the men of this tribe began to work on expeditions as guides and porters, receiving payment for this. Over time, this became their main profession. By the way, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, together with Edmund Hillary, were the first to climb the peak of the Himalayas - Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

But these sometimes deadly dangers did not stop mountaineering enthusiasts. It took more than one decade for all these peaks to be conquered. Here is a brief chorology of climbing the highest mountains on our planet.

1950, June 3 - Annapurna

French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal climbed Annapurna Peak, which is 8091 meters high. Anapurna is considered the seventh highest mountain in the world. Located in Nepal, in the Himalayas east of the Gandaki River, which flows through the deepest gorge in the world. The gorge separates Annapurna and another eight-thousander, Dhaulagiri.

Climbing Anapurna is considered one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Moreover, this is the only conquest of an eight-thousander that was accomplished the first time, and moreover, without oxygen apparatus. However, their feat was successful at a high price. Since they were wearing only leather boots, Herzog froze all his toes and, due to the onset of gangrene, the expedition doctor was forced to amputate them. Over the entire period, only 191 people successfully climbed Annapurna, which is less than any other eight-thousanders. Climbing Annapurna is considered the most dangerous, with a mortality rate of 32 percent, like no other eight-thousander.

1953, May 29 - Everest "Qomolungma"

Members of the English expedition, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Norgay Tenzing were the first to conquer the 8848 m high peak. In Tibetan, this mountain is called Chomolungma, which means “Goddess Mother of Snow.” Her Nepalese name is “Sagarmatha”, that is, “Mother of the Universe”. This is the highest mountain in the world. on the border of Nepal and China.

Everest is a triangular pyramid with three sides and ridges that extend to the northeast, southeast and northwest. The southeastern ridge is gentler and is the most widely used climbing route. It was this route to the top through the Khumbu glacier, the valley of silence, from the foot of Lhotse through the South Col that Hillary and Tenzing blazed for their first ascent. And the British first tried to do it back in 1921. They then could not go from the south side, due to the ban of the Nepalese authorities, and tried to climb from the north, from Tibet. To do this, they had to go around the entire Chomolungma mountain range, traveling more than 400 kilometers to get to the top from China. But time was lost for the detour and the onset of the monsoons did not make it possible to carry out the ascent. After them, a second attempt along the same route was made in 1924 by British climbers George Leigh Mallory and Andrew Irwin, which was also unsuccessful, ending in the death of both at an altitude of 8500 meters.

Despite its reputation dangerous mountain, placed on commercial basis Climbing Everest has made it a very popular activity for tourists over the past few decades. According to the latest data, 5,656 successful ascents of Everest have been made, while 223 people have died. The mortality rate was about 4 percent.

1953, July 3 - Nanga Parbat

The peak is located in the north of Pakistan in the western part of the Himalayas. This is the ninth highest eight-thousander, 8126 meters. This peak has such steep slopes that even snow does not stick to its top. In Urdu, Nangaparbat means "Naked Mountain". The first to climb the peak was the Austrian climber Hermann Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian Himalayan expedition. I made the ascent alone, without an oxygen apparatus. The ascent time to the top was 17 hours, and the descent time was 41 hours. This was the first successful ascent in 20 years of attempts; 31 climbers had already died there before.

According to the latest data, a total of 335 successful ascents have been made to Nanga Parbat. 68 climbers died. The mortality rate is about 20 percent, making it the third most dangerous eight-thousander.

1954, July 31 - Chogori, "K2", "Dapsang"

The first to summit K2, the second highest peak in the world, were Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. Although attempts to conquer K2 began back in 1902.

Peak Chogori or otherwise Dapsang - 8611 meters high, is located on the Baltoro Muztagh ridge in the Karakoram mountain range, on the border of Pakistan and China. This mountain received the unusual name K2 in the 19th century, when a British expedition measured the heights of the peaks of the Himalayas and Karakoram. Each newly measured peak was given a serial number. K2 was the second mountain they stumbled upon and since then this name has been attached to it for a long time. Locals call this Lamba Pahar, which means " High mountain" Despite the fact that K2 is lower than Everest, it turned out to be more difficult to climb. Over the entire period, there have been only 306 successful ascents on K2. 81 people died while attempting to climb. The mortality rate is about 29 percent. K2 is often called the killer mountain

1954, October 19 - Cho Oyu

The first to climb the peak were members of the Austrian expedition: Herbert Tichy, Joseph Joechler and Pazang Dawa Lama. The peak of Cho Oyu is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal, in the Mahalangur Himal mountain range of the Qomolangma mountain range, approximately 20 km west of Mount Everest.

Cho Oyu means "Goddess of Turquoise" in Tibetan. It has a height of 8201 meters, it is the sixth highest eight-thousander. A few kilometers west of Cho Oyu is the Nangpa La pass with an altitude of 5716 m. This pass is the passage from Nepal to Tibet, paved by the Sherpas as the only trade route. Because of this pass, many climbers consider Cho Oyu to be the easiest eight-thousander. This is partly true, because all ascents are made from Tibet. But on the Nepal side, the southern wall is so difficult that only a few managed to conquer it.

In total, 3,138 people climbed Cho Oyu safely, more than any other peak except Everest. Mortality is 1%, less than any other. It is considered the safest eight-thousander.

1955, May 15 - Makalu

For the first time, the Frenchmen Jean Cousy and Lionel Terre climbed to the top of Makalu. The ascent to Makalu became the only one in the entire history of conquest of eight-thousanders, when all nine members of the expedition reached the summit, including the senior group of Sherpa guides. This happened not because Makalu is such an easy mountain, but because the weather was extremely good and nothing prevented the climbers from achieving this triumph.

At 8,485 meters, Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, is located just 20 kilometers southeast of Everest. In Tibetan, Makalu means "Big Black". This unusual name given to this mountain because its slopes are very steep and the snow simply does not hold on them, so it remains bare most of the year.

Defeating Makalu turned out to be quite difficult. In 1954, an American team led by Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Everest, tried to do this, but they failed. And only the French, after a lot of preparatory work and well-coordinated team work, were able to accomplish this. In total, 361 people successfully climbed Makalu over the entire period, while 31 people died while attempting to climb. The mortality rate for climbing Makalu is about 9 percent.

1955, May 25 - Kanchenjunga

British climbers George Band and Joe Brown were the first to successfully climb Kanchenjunga. Before climbing local residents climbers were warned that the Sikkimese god lives on the top of this mountain and should not be disturbed. They refused to accompany the expedition and the British went to the ascent on their own. But either due to superstition, or for some other reason, having climbed to the top, they did not reach the very top a few feet, considering that the peak had been conquered.

Kanchenjunga is located on the Nepal-India border, approximately 120 kilometers south of Everest. The name "Kanchenjunga" translated from Tibetan means "Treasury of the Five Great Snows". Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the most high mountain in the world. But after Everest and other eight-thousanders were measured, it turned out that it is the third highest peak in the world, its height is 8586 meters.

Another legend existing in Nepal says that Kanchenjunga is a woman mountain. And women are not allowed to attend on pain of death. Of course, climbers are not superstitious people, but nevertheless, only one female climber, an Englishwoman, Ginette Harrison, has ever climbed to its peak. All would be well, but a year and a half later, Ginette Harrison died while climbing Dhaulagiri. Over the entire period, 283 climbers successfully climbed Kanchenjunga. Of those who tried to rise, 40 people died. The lethality of the climb is about 15 percent.

1956, May 9 - Manaslu

The mountain is 8163 meters high, the eighth highest eight-thousander. There have been several attempts to climb this peak. For the first time in 1952, when, in addition to the British, the Swiss and French teams took the lead in conquering Everest, the Japanese decided to first conquer Manaslu Peak, located in Nepal about 35 kilometers east of Annapurna. They scouted out all the approaches and mapped out the route. The following year, 1953, we began the ascent. But the blizzard broke all their plans and they were forced to retreat.

When they returned in 1954, the local Nepalese took up arms against them, citing the fact that the Japanese had desecrated the gods and aroused their anger, because after the departure of the previous expedition, misfortune befell their village: there was an epidemic, a crop failure, a temple collapsed and three priests died. Armed with sticks and stones, they drove the Japanese away from the mountain. To settle matters with the local residents, a special delegation arrived from Japan in 1955. And only the following 1956, having paid 7,000 rupees to compensate for losses and 4,000 rupees for the construction of a new temple and having organized a big holiday for the village population, the Japanese received permission to climb. Thanks to beautiful weather Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and Sirdar Sherpa Gyaltsen Norbu climbed the peak on May 9. Manaslu remains one of the most dangerous eight-thousanders. In total there were 661 successful ascents of Manaslu, sixty-five climbers died during the ascent. The lethality of ascents is about 10 percent.

1956, May 18 - Lhotse

Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss, members of a Swiss team, became the first people to climb the 8,516-metre Lhotse summit, the fourth highest peak in the world.

Lhotse Peak is located on the border of Nepal and China, a few kilometers south of Everest. These two peaks are connected by a vertical ridge, the so-called South Col, whose entire height is above 8000 meters. Typically, ascents are carried out along the western, gentler slope. But in 1990, the Soviet Union team climbed the southern side, previously considered completely inaccessible, since it is a 3,300-meter almost vertical wall. A total of 461 successful ascents have been made on Lhotse. Over the entire period, 13 climbers died there, the mortality rate is about 3 percent.

1956 July 8 - Gasherbrum II

The peak is 8034 meters high, the thirteenth highest mountain in the world. For the first time, Austrian climbers Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart climbed Gasherbrum II. They climbed to the summit along the south side along the southwest ridge. Before ascending to the peak itself, rising to a height of 7,500 meters, they set up a temporary camp for the night, and then launched an assault early in the morning. This was a completely new, untested approach to rock climbing, which was subsequently used by climbers from many countries.

Gasherbrum II is the second of four Gasherbrum peaks in the Karakoram on the Pakistan-China border about 10 kilometers southeast of K2. The Baltoro Muztagh ridge, which includes Gasherbrum II, is known for the longest glacier of the Karakoram, more than 62 kilometers long. This was the reason that many climbers descended almost from the very top of Gasherbrum II on skis, snowboards and even with a parachute. Gasherbrum II is considered one of the safest and easiest eight-thousanders. Gasherbrum II was successfully climbed by 930 climbers and only 21 people died in unsuccessful attempts. The mortality rate of ascents is about 2 percent.

1957 June 9 - Broad Peak

The mountain is 8051 meters high, the twelfth highest eight-thousander. The Germans first tried to climb Broad Peak in 1954, but due to low temperatures and stormy winds, their efforts were unsuccessful. The first to climb the peak were Austrian climbers Fritz Wintersteller, Markus Schmuck and Kurt Dimberger. The ascent was carried out along the southwestern side. The expedition did not use the services of porters and all the property was lifted by the participants themselves, which was quite difficult.

Broad Peak or "Jangiyang" is located on the border between China and Pakistan, a few kilometers southeast of K2. This area is still little studied and geographers hope that over time it can gain sufficient popularity. Over the entire period, there have been 404 successful ascents of Broad Peak. They were unsuccessful for 21 climbers who died while attempting to climb. The lethality of ascents is about 5 percent.

1958, July 5 - Gasherbrum I "Hidden Peak"

Mountain 8080 meters high. The top refers mountain range Gasherbrum - Karakorum. Attempts to climb Hidden Peak began a long time ago. In 1934, members of an international expedition were only able to rise to a height of 6300 meters. In 1936, French climbers reached the 6,900-meter mark. And only two years later, Americans Andrew Kaufman and Pete Schoening climb to the top of Hidden Peak.

Gasherbrum I or Hidden Peak, the eleventh highest eight-thousander in the world, one of the seven peaks of the Gasherbrum massif is located in Kashmir in the Pakistan-controlled Northern Region on the border with China. Gasherbrum is translated from the local language as “Polished Wall”, and it fully corresponds to this name. Due to its steep, almost polished, rocky slopes, climbing it was rejected by many. A total of 334 people successfully summited the peak, while 29 climbers died while attempting the summit. Climbing mortality rate is about 9 percent.

1960, May 13 - Dhaulagiri I

"White Mountain" - 8167 meters high, the seventh highest of the eight-thousanders. The first to reach the summit were members of the European team: Dimberger, Shelbert, Diener, Forer and Sherpas Nyima and Nawang. For the first time, an airplane was used to transport expedition members and equipment. On " White Mountain"the French, participants in the 1950 expedition, drew attention back in 1950. But then it seemed inaccessible to them and they moved to Annapurna.

Dhaulagiri I is located in Nepal, 13 kilometers from Annapurna, and the Argentines tried to climb to its peak back in 1954. But due to a strong snowstorm, we did not reach the top by only 170 meters. Although Dhaulagiri is only the sixth highest by Himalayan standards, it is quite a tough nut to crack. So in 1969, while attempting to climb, the Americans left seven of their comrades on the southeastern ridge. In total, 448 people successfully climbed to the top of Dhaulagiri I, but 69 climbers died in unsuccessful attempts. The lethality of ascents is about 16 percent.

1964, May 2 - Shishabangma

The peak with a height of 8027 meters. Eight Chinese climbers were the first to conquer Shishabangma: Xiu Jing, Zhang Zhongyan, Wang Fuzhou, Zhen San, Zheng Tianliang, Wu Zongyue, Sodnam Dozhi, Migmar Trashi, Dozhi, Yonten. For a long time, climbing this peak was prohibited by the Chinese authorities. And only after the Chinese themselves climbed to its peak, did it become possible for foreign climbers to participate in the ascents.

The Shishabangma mountain range, in Chinese "Geosenzhanfeng", in Indian "Gosaintang" is located in China in Tibetan autonomous region a few kilometers from the Nepalese border. It consists of three peaks, two of which are higher than 8 kilometers. Shishabangma Main 8027 meters and Shishabangma Central 8008 meters. The ascent to the main peak is included in the “All 14 Eight-Thousanders of the World” program. In total there were 302 successful ascents of Shishabangu. Twenty-five people died trying to reach the summit. The mortality rate of ascents is about 8 percent.

As can be seen from the chronology of ascents to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, it took more than 40 years to conquer them. Moreover, according to the analysis of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the most dangerous of all are: Annapurna, K2, and Nanga Parbat. On the ascents of these three peaks, the Himalayas took the life of every fourth person who encroached on their inaccessibility.

And yet, despite all these deadly danger, there are people who have conquered all eight-thousanders. The first of them was Reinhold Messner, an Italian climber, a German by nationality from South Tyrol. And although already during the first ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1970, his brother Gunther died, and he himself lost seven toes; during the second ascent of Manaslu in 1972, his teammate died, this did not stop him. From 1970 to 1986, he climbed all 14 of Zamli's highest peaks one after another. Moreover, he climbed Everest twice, in 1978, together with Peter Habeler, along the classic route through the South Col, and in 1980, alone, along the northern route, and during the monsoon season. Both ascents did not use oxygen apparatus.

In total, there are now 32 people in the world who have conquered all 14 eight-thousanders, and these are probably not the last people who are waiting for the Himalayas.

Video: Himalaya Mountains. Where...

The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on earth. About a third of all animal species living here - more than in other areas of India - belong to protected areas.
Basic data:
The Himalayan mountain system is one of the natural landscapes that are destroyed more quickly. Due to economic activity Humans are rapidly reducing the area of ​​virgin corners of nature. Vacant lands are being developed, polluted and destroyed. Certain measures were taken to preserve this extremely valuable region, but obviously this was done too late. The cautious snow leopard (irbis), covered with beautiful thick yellow-gray spotted fur, light on the sides and white on the belly, became the object of hunting by hunters - sportsmen, poachers and fur traders.
Musk deer in the past lived everywhere in the Himalayan mountains. Musk, the secretion of the musk glands of male deer, has long been used in the perfume industry. As a result of active extermination, through human pursuit of profit, this animal found itself on the verge of extinction. In order to protect the musk deer, several reserves were organized, in particular, Kedernath and national park Sagarmatha.
Threatened species found in the Himalayas also include the brown bear, the white-breasted or Himalayan bear, the red panda and the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Black-necked cranes were discovered by zoologist and traveler N. M. Przhevalsky. The Marco Polo sheep is a subspecies of argali, one of the largest Himalayan sheep.
People practice ecological agriculture.
The Chinese, earlier than others, began to use musk - the secretion of the musk deer's musk gland - in the production of fragrances.
The Himalayas are the natural border between the Tibetan Plateau and India, Bhutan and Nepal, connecting in the northwest with the Hindu Kush ranges.
Do you know that…
96 of the 109 peaks higher than 7315 m belong to the Himalaya and Karakoram mountain systems.
Mount Qomolungma (Everest), whose height is 8848 m, is named after the English general George Everest (1790-1866), a geodesist and explorer of the topography of India.
The length of the horns of the horned goat, or markhor, living in the Himalayas (Capra falconeri) reaches 1.65 m.

Extent of the Himalayas is about 2500 km, the width in some places reaches 400 km. Himalayan mountains mainly located in Nepal and Bhutan, between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This mountain system is elongated, crosses several climatic zones, and has a rich fauna and flora.
Insects
The jungles in the foothills of the Himalayas provide a favorable environment for many different insects. In higher areas, most insects have a dark body color, which allows them to accumulate solar heat during the day. Butterflies are amazing for their ability to live at high altitudes, flying at an altitude of 4500 m above sea level.
Relief formation
formed about 70 million years ago as a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian crustal platforms with subsequent deformation and uplift. The rich Himalayan flora and fauna includes South Asian, African and Mediterranean species.
In the east of the Himalayas, species native to Western China can still be observed today, and European Mediterranean species are found in the western part. Fossils indicate that typical African animals once lived here.
Vegetation
The Himalayas are divided into four vegetation zones: tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine. All of them are located on different heights and are characterized by different amounts of precipitation. The Siwalik Mountains (Pre-Himalaya) are covered with tropical forests consisting mainly of bamboo, oaks and chestnuts. IN westward, with increasing altitude, the forests thin out, evergreen oaks, cedars and pines begin to dominate here.
At an altitude of 3700 m, the belt of alpine vegetation begins with its inherent rhododendrons and junipers.
Mammals
The uniqueness of the fauna of Tibet lies in the small number of species and the abundance of individuals, mainly ungulates - wild yaks, antelopes, mountain sheep. In cold, long winter conditions, many animals - foxes, martens, weasels, hares, marmots, pikas - dig deep holes. Typical inhabitants of the Himalayas are various types of mountain sheep. There are more of them here than in any other mountains in the world. A subspecies of the mountain sheep, the Marco Polo sheep, lives here. Hunters, harvesting its beautiful spiral horns, destroyed them almost completely. Another subspecies of argali lives here - the Tibetan argali, which can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations: both heat and winter cold. The following representatives of the bovid family also live in the Himalayas: the bearded goat, the mark-horned goat and the blue ram, the Himalayan goral, the tahr and the Takin, which is depicted on the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Himalayan tahr lives on rocky slopes in forested strands of mountains; females rise above the forest line in summer. Kak is the largest mammal in this region. Thanks to its long, felt-like fur, it survives in the highest and most inhospitable mountainous areas. Animals domesticated by mountaineers are reliable and hardy companions for humans. Brown and Himalayan bears feed on carrion and are very fond of sweet fruits and roots. Perhaps the legend of Bigfoot, the Yeti, was inspired by the paw prints of the Himalayan bear.
The snow leopard, covered with thick fur, is not afraid of frost. The Himalayan bear is a shy animal.
Birds
The Himalayan feathered fauna includes Asian, European and Indo-Chinese species. Local forests are inhabited by numerous woodpeckers. In the mountains, birds live even above the forest limit - among them the Himalayan snowcock.
Himalayas - real paradise for birds of prey. Himalayan or snowy vultures, bearded vultures and golden eagles, soaring high in the sky, look out for small animals and birds on the ground. The golden eagle occasionally attacks lambs and musk deer calves. Many local birds are characterized by bright, multi-colored colors. In the pheasant family, the Himalayan pheasants are the most distinguished by their plumage. The Himalayan pheasant lives in the eastern part of the Himalayas.
Himalayan vultures feed on the carcasses of deer and other large mammals.

The majestic Himalayas... A harsh land of pristine 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 mysteries of existence - all this can be found by a wanderer in the Himalayas. The top of the world is here and we invite you to learn more about it.

Where are the Himalayas located?

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

The Himalayas are located on the Eurasian continent, in the Asian part. They border on the Tibetan Plateau in the north and the Indo-Gangetic Plain in the south. 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 Siwalik Mountains. This mountain system contains many of the most high peaks in the world. The average height of the mountain ridges of the Himalayas is 6000 meters. The highest is the famous Mount Everest (otherwise known as Chomolungma, 8848 meters). And this, as we probably remember, - highest point of our planet.

The Himalayan ranges give rise to the most big rivers in southern Asia: Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra.

We already have the first data, namely, where the Himalayas are located. More specifically about countries with mountainous landscapes below.

Countries whose territories cover the Himalayas

Since the borders of countries are divided almost regardless of relief features, mountain ranges 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 piece of beautiful natural formation.

The area of ​​the entire mountain system is about 650 thousand square kilometers. At a distance from one another, many peoples live here. Natural conditions The conditions here are extremely harsh: cold at high altitudes, dangerous terrain. However, local residents are happy about their magnificent home.

The first secrets have already been revealed to us by the Himalayas: where they are, a country (even several) that has mountainous areas on its territory. More about 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 shrubby plants and meadows. The northern slopes are not so rich and diverse. 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 immeasurable quantities.

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 most rainfall on the planet. This happens because the mountains trap precipitation moving with air masses from the Indian Ocean, and it falls at their feet. At an altitude of 4500 meters above sea level in the Himalayas there is a zone of eternal snow.

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

Residents of the mountain system

Surprisingly, many people live in such harsh conditions as in the Himalayas. According to scientists, records of the first settlements 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 built 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 sedentary lifestyle engaged in subsistence farming where there were all the conditions for this: horizontal surface, water, more or less fertile soil, suitable climate. Modern inhabitants of the Himalayan valleys also provide for themselves with their own labor. Here is another phenomenon that amazed us in the Himalayas, where some of the oldest natural farming is located.

For more high areas The key occupation of the local population is transhumance. There is an opportunity to practice it almost everywhere up to the edge of the snow.

And we will look at some 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 (on average) mountain system in the world. 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 here never melts. 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 with such a cold climate in most mountain areas, Hindus are sure that they are the refuge of their god Shiva.

Mount Everest (Qomolungma) is the highest in the world (above sea level). She is associated with triumph. Extreme sports enthusiasts 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). Conquering them all is the dream of professional mountaineers.

This concludes our article about where the Himalayas are and what this mountain system is.

Conclusion

“The Abode of Snows”, the Himalayas are the mountains to which the prefix “most” is firmly attached. The highest, 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 unshakable and stern. However, brave travelers should try to become friends with the “heavenly Empire”. Yes, truly “under heaven”, because the sky is so close here!

 

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