All  about  Himalayas

Space View of Himalayas
(Photo from NASA)

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A Magnificent Monument of Nature

Being the world's highest mountain chain, the Himalayas is characterized by its great height, complex geologic structure, snowcapped peaks, large valley glaciers, deep river gorges, and rich vegetation.

Himalayas is a magnificent monument on the Earth. It represents the awe-inspiring power, beauty, and grandeur of Nature. It constitutes the greatest attraction to adventurers, climbers and trekkers throughout the world.

Geography:

The Himalayas extend from west to east for about 2,500 km in a curve, from the Pamit Knot in the northwest to the valley of the Brahmaputra River in the east. And with a width of 100 - 400 km. The Himalayas range covering an area of 612,021 sq. km. 

It passes through Nepal, Indian (5 States: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim), China (Tibet), Bhutan and Pakistan. 

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The Himalayas are divided into several parallel ranges from south to north:

- Sub Himalayas. (With an average altitude of 900 - 1,200 meters.)

- Lower Himalayas. (With an average altitude of 3,700 meters.)

- Great Himalayas. (A single range rising above 6,000 meters with nine of the 14 highest peaks in the world, including Mt Everest.)

- Tibetan Himalayas. (Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude 4,000 - 4,5900 meters, well known as the Roof of the World.)

The Karakoram Range in the northwest is also sometimes considered as part of the Himalayas system.

History:

The Himalayas are relatively young folded mountains. According the Theory of Continental Drift, there were several phases in the genesis history of the Himalayas:

About 250 million years ago, there was a single super continent (Pangea) on Earth. It was surrounded by a large ocean.

About 200 million years ago, the super continent (Pangea) started to split into different land masses and moved apart. An extensive sea (Tethys) stretched along the latitudinal area presently occupied by the Himalayas.

The two land masses, the Eurasian (Angara) and the Indian sub-continent (Gondwana) moved closer and closer,  then the collision happened and uplifted the highest & youngest mountain ranges on the Earth.

There were several phases in the Himalayas building process:

Phase I - Upper Cretaceous Period. About 70 million years ago, when the Gondwana plate and Angara plate began to converge and collide. The sea-bed was folded and raised into longitudinal ridges and valleys.

Phase II - Upper Eocene Period. About 65 million years ago,  the collision was much more powerful. The Tethys bed was raised high enough to cause the final retreat of the sea and its sedimentary deposits were elevated into mountain ranges and intervening basins into large river valleys. The Great and Tibetan Himalayas were uplifted.

Phase III - Middle Miocene Period. About 25 million years ago, the Lower Himalayas were formed.

Phase IV - About 2 million years ago, the fourth Himalayan paroxysm occurred. Along with further elevation of the Himalayas ranges, compression forces squeezed and pushed southwards, The Sub Himalayas also raised and folded.

Phase V - Only 600,000 years ago, the final phase more or less determined the present geomorphic form of the Himalayan system.

However the India Plate continuously moving north at the rate of about 2 cm per year. The Himalayas are still geologically active and structurally unstable. For this reason, earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in the entire Himalayan region.

The Himalayas region is an important model for the study of geology and continents tectonics.

Ecosystem:

Himalayas have had profound influences on the climate, environment and population distribution etc on the Earth. An example is showing here - a scientific synergy acquired by Terra sensors in March 2000:

True color image draped over surface topography of the Earth	Himalayas (white) divided the Tibet (World's Roof) and the India sub-continent. The growth of dense vegetation (darker greens) in the true color image.	High concentration of water vapor, or humidity, appeared just south of the Himalayas.
The lush landscape attracts about a billion people reside there. indicated by the reds and yellows in this false-color image.	industries produce a thick layer of haze, or aerosol particles (brown),	High levels of carbon monoxide (reds and yellows,)  But these pollutants were not allowed to spread northward to the Tibetan Plateau.

The Himalayas range is the originate of numerous glaciers and many important rivers in Asia.

There is great variation in the Himalayan soils. The dark brown soils are well suited for growing fruit trees. The wet, deep, upland soils with high humus content are good for growing tea. Himalayan vegetation is based on altitude and rainfall and can be classified into four groups:

Tropical zone - Up to 1,000 - 1,200 m (3,280 to 3,940 ft) . Tropical ever green forests, Rose, chestnut, bamboo, alder, pine, laurel, and palm etc.

Subtropical zone - Up to 2,200 m (7,220 ft). Deciduous forest with sal, oak, and magnolia temperate forests of cedar, birch, hazel, maple, and spruce

Alpine zone - 2,200 to 2,700 m ( 7,220 to 8,860 ft ). With juniper, rhododendron, mosses, lichens etc
Several kinds of flowering plants are found from 2,700 to 3,600 m (8,860 - 11,800 ft). Alpine meadows are found up to  5,000 m (16,400 feet).

Elephants, bison, and rhinoceroses inhabit the forested lower slopes of the Outer Himalayas.
The snow leopard, brown bear, red panda, and
The black bear, languor monkey, clouded leopard, and goat antelope live in the foothills. Tibetan yak are living above the tree line--above 3,050 m (10,000 ft).
Endangered animal species, such as the rhinoceros, musk deer, and Kashmir stag, or hangul are now under protection.
There are catfish in most Himalayan streams, and butterflies are extremely varied and beautiful.

While one are enjoying the miracle of the Nature, one must not forget how to protect the vulnerable ecosystem of the Himalayas.

Major Peaks of the Himalayas:

Mt. Everest

The Himalayas is the world's highest mountain range comprising all top ten of the world's highest peaks. In fact, the Himalayas includes 14 peaks more than 8,000 meters high and some 200 more than 6000 meters.

Listed here are the panoramic sequence from East to West of over 7,000 meters major peaks in Himalayas :

NAMCHA BARWA  HIMAL
China (Tibet)
Namcha Barwa - 7,782m (25,531ft)
Jailabaili Feng - 7,151 (23,460ft)

Bhutan/ China (Tibet)
Kula Kangri - 7,554m (24,783ft)

CHOMOLHARI
Bhutan
Jichu Drake
Chomolhari - 7,314m (23,995ft)

KANCHENJUNGA HIMAL
India/Mechi Zone, Nepal
Talung - 7,344m (24,094ft)
Kabru - 7,338m (24,074ft)
Pathibhara (The Pyramid) - 7.123m (23,369ft)
Gimmigela Chuli (Twin Peak) - 7,350m (24,113ft)
Kirat Chuli (Tent Peak) - 7,365m (24,163ft)
Kanchenjunga South - 8,474m (27,801ft)
Kanchenjunga West - 8,420m (27,624ft)
Kanchenjunga I(Main)
Height: 8,598 m (28,208ft)
Rank: 3
Latitude: 27 42 09 N
Longitude: 88 09 01 E
Yalung Kang - 8,505m (27,903ft)
Kangbachen - 7,903m (25,928ft)
Kumbhakarna or Jannu (Mystery Peak) - 7,710m (25,294ft)
Jongsang - 7,483m (24,550ft)
Dome - 7,442m (24,415ft)

JANAK HIMAL
Mechi Zone, Nepal
Janak Chuli (Outlier) - 7,035m (23,080ft)
Nupchu - 7,028m (23,057ft)

KUMBHAKARNA
Koshi Zone, Nepal
Makalu I
Height: 8,463 m (27,776 ft)
Rank: 5
Latitude: 27 53 23 N
Longitude: 87 05 20 E
Makalu II (Kangchugtse) - 7,678m (25,189ft)
Makalu South - 8,010m (26,279ft)
Baruntse - 7,220m (23,517ft)

MAHALANGUR (CHAMLAN) HIMAL
Koshi-Sagarmatha Zones, Nepal
Chamlang - 7,319m (23,983 ft)
Shantishikhar - 7,591m (24,904ft)

KHUMBU (Everest Region) HIMAL
Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal / China (Tibet)
Shartse - 7,459m (24,471ft)
Lhotse Shar - 8,383m (27,502ft)
Lhotse I
Height: 8,501 m (27,890 ft)
Rank: 4
Latitude: 27 57 45 N
Longitude: 86 56 03 E
Lhotse Intermediate - 8,410m (27,591ft)
Lhotse West I - 7,703m (25,272ft)
Lhotse West II - 7,569m (24,832ft)
Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha to the local Nepalis and Quomolongma to the Tibetans,)  The highest peak in the world.
Height: 8,850 m (29,035 ft)
Rank: 1 
Latitude: 27 59 17 N
Longitude: 86 55 31 E
Mt. Everest South - 8,754m (28,720ft)
Nuptse East - 7,815m ((25,639ft)
Nuptse I - 7,879m (25,850 ft)
Rank: 25
Latitude: 27 58 02 N
Longitude: 86 53 14
Nuptse West I - 7,795m (25,573ft)
Nuptse West II - 7,745m (25,409ft)
Changatse - 7,550m (24,770ft)
Peak 38 East - 7,502m (24,612ft)
Shar Tse II (Peak 38) - 7,591m (24,904ft)
Pumori - 7,145m (23,442 ft)
Hunchhi - 7,161m (23,493ft)
Gyachung Kang I - 7,952m (25,990 ft)
Gyachung Kang II - 7,035m (23,080ft)
Ngojumba Kang East (Ngoxumpga Ri) - 7,610m (24,966ft)
 Ngojumba Kang Central (Ngoxumpga Ri) - 7,646m (25,084ft)
 Ngojumba Kang West (Ngoxumpga Ri) - 7,806m (25,609ft)
Cho Oyu
Height: 8,201 m (26,906 ft)
Rank: 6
Latitude: 28 05 37 N
Longitude: 86 39 43 E
Cho Oyu North - 7,570m ((24,835ft)
Nganpai Gosum East - 7,110m (23,326ft)
Nganpai Gosum Central - 7,296m (23,936ft)
Nganpai Gosum West - 7,352m (24,120ft)

BARUN
Koshi-Sagarmatha Zones, Nepal
Barun Tea - 7,129m (23,388ft)

ROLWALING HIMAL
Sagarmatha-Janakpur Zones, Nepal
Melungtse - 7,181m (20,660 ft)
Gauri-Shankar - 7,134m (23,442 ft)

JUGAL HIMAL
Bagmati Zone, Nepal
Loengpo Gang (Big White Peak) - 7,083m (23,237ft)
Shisha Pangma (Xixabangma)
Height: 8,046m (26,397ft)
Rank: 13

LANGTANG HIMAL
Bagmati Zone, Nepal
 Langtang Ri - 7,205m (23,638ft)
Langtang Lirung - 7,246m (23,750 ft)

GANESH HIMAL
Bagmati Zone, Nepal
Ganesh I (Yangra) - 7,429m (24,373ft)
Ganesh III (Salasungo) - 7,110m ((23,326ft)
Ganesh IV (Pabil) - 7,102m ((23,300ft)
Ganesh II - 7,111m (23,329ft)

SHRINGI HIMAL
Gandaki Zone, Nepal
Gosainthan - 8,013m (26,291ft)
Shringi - 7,187m (23,579ft)

SERANG/YANGRA HIMAL
Gandaki Zone, Nepal
Chamar - 7,187m (23,579ft)

GORKHA/MANSIRI HIMAL
Gandaki Zone, Nepal
Himalchuli North - 7,371m (24,182ft)
Himalchuli West - 7,540m (24,737ft)
Himalchuli East - 7,893m (25,895ft)
Nagadi Chuli (Peak 29) - 7,871m (25,823ft)
Takura - 7,835m (25,705ft)
Manaslu East - 7,895m (25,901ft)
Manaslu North - 7,157m (23,480ft)
Manaslu
Height : 8,163 m (26,781 ft)
Rank : 8
Latitude: 28 32 58 N
Longitude: 84 33 43 E

PERI HIMAL
Gandaki Zone, Nepal
Himlung - 7,126m (23,378ft)
Nemjung - 7,140m (23,424ft)
Gyajikang - 7,038m (23,090ft)
Kanguru - 7,010m (22,998ft)
Ratna Chuli - 7,035m (23,080ft)

ANNAPURNA HIMAL
Gandaki Zone, Nepal
Annapurna-II - 7,937m (26,041 ft)
Annapurna-IV - 7,525m (24,666 ft)
Annapurna-III - 7,556m (24,767 ft) ?
 Gangapurna - 7,455m (24,457 ft) ?
Tarke Kang (Glacier Dome) - 7,193m (23,191 ft)
Glacier Dome West - 7,069m (23,191ft)
Khangshar Kang (Roc Noir) - 7,485m (24,556 ft)
Annapurna-I
Height : 8,091 m (26.545ft)
Rank : 10
Latitude: 28 35 45 N
Longitude: 83 49 20 E
Annapurna Fang - 7,647m (25,088ft)
Tilicho Peak - 7,134m (23,405ft)
Annapurna Dakshin (Annapurna South/Moditse) - 7,219m (23,683ft)
Baraha Shikhar (Fang) - 7,647m (25,089 ft)

NILGIRI HIMAL
Dhaulagiri Zone, Nepal
Nilgiri South - 7,061m (23,166 ft)
Nilgiri East - 7,134m (23,405ft)
Nilgiri West - 7,055m (23,146ft)

DHAULAGIRI HIMAL
Dhaulagiri Zone, Nepal
Dhaulagiri
Height : 8,167m (26,795 ft)
Rank : 7
Latitude: 28 41 46 N
Longitude: 83 29 43 E
Dhaulagiri-II - 7,751m (25,492 ft)
Dhaulagiri-III - 7,715m (25,312 ft)
Dhaulagiri-V - 7,618m (24,992 ft)
Dhaulagiri-IV - 7,661m (25,133 ft)
Gurja - 7,193m (23,599 ft)
Dhaulagiri-VI - 7,268m (23,844ft)
Churen Himal East - 7,371m (24,182ft)
Churen Himal West - 7,371m (24,182ft)
Putha Hiunchuli - 7,246m (23,772ft)

SAIPAL HIMAL
Seti Zone, Nepal
Saipal - 7,031m (23,067ft)

BYASRIKHI HIMAL
Mahakali Zone, Nepal
Api - 7,132m (23,398ft)
Api West - 7,100m (23,293ft)

China (Tibet)
Gurla Mandhata - 7,728m (25,355ft)

NANDA DEVI
India
Nanda Devi - 7,817m (25,646ft)

India/ China (Tibet)
Kamet - 7,758m (25,452ft)
Shillo - 7,025m (23,050ft)

KARAKORAM
India/Pakistan/China
Mt. K2 (Godwin Austen)
Height: 8,611m (28,250ft)
Rank : 2
Gasherbrum I
Height: 8,068m (26,470ft)
Rank: 11
Broad Peak
Height: 8,047m (26,400ft)
Rank: 12
Gasherbrum II
Height: 8,035m (26,360ft)
Rank: 14

Pakistan
Rakaposhi - 7,740m (25,550ft)
Nanga Parbat
Height: 8,125m (26,660 ft)
Rank: 9
Haramosh Peak - 7,397m (24,270ft)

HINDU KUSH
Pakistan/Afghanistan
Tirich Mir - 7,730m (25,363ft)
Istor-O-Nal - 7,398m (24,272ft)
Abi-Gamin - 7,360m (24,140ft)
Nun - 7,198m (23,610ft)

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