Himalayas

The name of the mountains comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit. “Himalaya” means “Snowy abode” or “Kingdom of snows.”

Geography

The entire Himalayan mountain range consists of three distinctive stages:

• The first is the Pre-Himalaya (locally known as the Shivalik Range), the lowest of all, whose mountain peaks do not rise to more than 2000 meters.
• The second stage, the Dhaoladhar, Pir Panjal and several other smaller ranges, is called the Lesser Himalayas. The name is rather conventional, as the peaks already rise to solid heights – up to 4 kilometers.
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• Behind them are several fertile valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu and others), serving as a transition to the highest points of the planet – the Great Himalayas. Two great South Asian rivers, the Brahmaputra from the east and the Indus from the west, seem to encompass this majestic mountain range, originating on its slopes. In addition, the Himalayas also give life to India’s sacred river, the Ganges.

Records of the Himalayas

The Himalayas are a place of pilgrimage for the world’s strongest mountaineers, for whom conquering their peaks is a cherished life goal. Jomolungma was not conquered at once – since the beginning of the last century there have been many attempts to climb the “roof of the world”. The first one who managed to reach this goal was New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary in 1953, accompanied by a local guide – Sherpa Norgei Tenzing. The first successful Soviet expedition took place in 1982. In total, Everest has already been conquered about 3,700 times.

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

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Minerals

The Himalayas are rich in minerals. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, placer gold, arsenic ore and chromite ore. In the foothills and intermountain basins lie oil, combustible gases, lignite, potash and rock salt.

Climatic conditions

The Himalayas are the largest climatic divide in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes prevails, while to the south, tropical air masses prevail. Up to the southern slope of the Himalayas the summer equatorial monsoon penetrates. The winds reach there such strength that they make it difficult to climb the highest peaks, so it is possible to climb Jomolungma only in spring, during a short period of calm before the summer monsoon. On the northern slope throughout the year blowing winds of northern or western rhumb winds, coming from the continent supercooled in winter or strongly warmed in summer, but always dry. From northwest to southeast, the Himalayas extend roughly between 35°N and 28°N, and the summer monsoon hardly penetrates the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All of this creates large climatic differences within the Himalayas.

Most precipitation occurs 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 strip 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 annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m there is snow throughout the year.

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Natural waters

The high altitude and abundant precipitation favor the formation of powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snows cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of glacial tongues are of considerable absolute height. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reach no more than 5 km in length. But the farther east and more precipitation, the longer and lower the glaciers descend the slopes. On Jomolungma and Kanchenjunga the most powerful glaciation, the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main trunk. Zemu glacier on Kanchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 meters. The 19 km long Rongbuk Glacier slides down from Jomolungma and ends at an altitude of 5000 meters. The Gangotri Glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas reaches 26 km; one of the sources of the Ganges originates from it.

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Especially many rivers flow down the southern slope of the mountains. They begin in the glaciers of the Greater Himalayas and, crossing the Lesser Himalayas and the foothill zone, emerge into the plains. Some major rivers 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, glacier and snow, so the main maximum flow is in summer. In the eastern part, monsoon rains play a major role in feeding, while in the west, snow and ice from the high mountain zone play a major role. The narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas abound with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid snowmelt begins, to October, when the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down the mountains in torrential torrents, carrying away masses of debris that they deposit as they leave the Himalayan foothills. Monsoon rains are often the cause of severe flooding on mountain rivers, during which bridges are washed away, roads are destroyed and landslides occur.

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There are many lakes in the Himalayas, but among them there are none that can be compared to Alpine lakes in size and beauty. Some lakes, such as those in the Kashmir Basin, occupy only a portion of those tectonic depressions that used to be filled entirely. The Pir Panjal range is known for numerous glacial lakes formed in ancient kar sinkholes or in river valleys as a result of moraine undermining them.

Vegetation

On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal belts from tropical forests to high-altitude tundras are exceptionally pronounced. At the same time, the southern slope is characterized by significant differences in vegetation cover between the humid and hot eastern part and the drier and colder western part. Along the foot of the mountains from their eastern end to the flow of the Jamna River stretches a peculiar wetland strip with black muddy soils, called terai. The terai is characterized by jungle – dense tree and shrub thickets, in some places almost impassable because of lianas and consisting of soapwood, mimosas, bananas, stunted palms, bamboos. Among the terai are cleared and drained areas that are used for cultivation of various tropical crops.

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Above the therai on humid mountain slopes and along river valleys up to an altitude of 1000-1200 m grow evergreen tropical forests of high-stemmed palms, laurels, tree ferns and giant bamboos, with many lianas (including the rattan palm) and epiphytes. The drier areas are dominated by less dense forests of sal trees, which lose their leaves for the dry season, with rich undergrowth and herbaceous cover.

At altitudes above 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to intermingle with the warm-loving forms of tropical forest: pines, evergreen oaks, magnolias, maples, chestnuts. At an altitude of 2000 m subtropical forests are replaced by temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only rarely there are representatives of subtropical flora, such as magnolias, which bloom magnificently. Conifers, including silver fir, larch and juniper, dominate at the upper boundary of the forest. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. Many mosses and lichens cover the soil and tree trunks. Subalpine belt replacing the forests is a high-grass meadows and bushes, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and thinner in the transition to the alpine belt.

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

In the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas, because of less humidity, there is not such richness and diversity of vegetation, the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is no terai belt at all, the lower parts of the mountain slopes are covered with sparse xerophytic forests and shrub thickets, above there are some subtropical Mediterranean species like evergreen stone oak and golden-leaved olive, even higher up coniferous forests of pines and the magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) predominate. The shrubby undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but the meadow alpine vegetation is more diverse.

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Landscapes of the northern ranges of the Himalayas, facing towards Tibet, approach the desert mountain landscapes of Central Asia. The change in vegetation with altitude is less pronounced than on the southern slopes. Rare thickets of dry grasses and xerophytic shrubs spread from the bottoms of large river valleys up to snow-covered peaks. Woody vegetation is found only in some river valleys in the form of thickets of stunted poplars.

Animal life

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

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In the upper belt of the mountains and on the northern slopes, the fauna is closer in composition to the Tibetan fauna. The black Himalayan bear, wild goats and sheep, and yaks inhabit there. Rodents are especially abundant.

Population and environmental issues

Most of the population is concentrated in the middle belt of the southern slope and in the intra-mountain tectonic basins. There is a lot of cultivated land there. Rice is sown on the irrigated flat bottoms of the basins, and tea bush, citrus, and vines are grown on the terraced slopes. Alpine pastures are used for grazing sheep, yaks and other livestock.

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Due to the high altitude of the passes in the Himalayas, communication between the countries of the northern and southern slopes is much more difficult. 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 are completely impassable.

The inaccessibility of the area has played a favorable role in preserving the unique mountain landscapes of the Himalayas. Despite significant agricultural development of lowlands and hollows, intensive grazing on mountain slopes and the increasing influx of mountaineers from around the world, the Himalayas remain a refuge for valuable species of plants and animals. The World Cultural and Natural Heritage-listed national parks of India and Nepal – Nan-dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan – are true “treasures”.

Attractions

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

Spiritual and health tourism

Spiritual principles and the cult of healthy body are so closely intertwined in different directions of Indian philosophical schools that it is impossible to draw any visible division between them. Every year thousands of tourists come to the Indian Himalayas just to familiarize themselves with the Vedic sciences, the ancient postulates of the Yoga teachings, to improve their bodies according to the Ayurvedic canons of Panchakarma.

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The program of pilgrims necessarily includes visiting caves for deep meditation, waterfalls, ancient temples, ablution in the Ganges – the river sacred to Hindus. Those who are interested can have conversations with spiritual guides, get their advice and recommendations on spiritual and bodily purification. However, this topic is so vast and versatile that it requires a separate detailed description.

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

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Interesting facts

• About five to six centuries ago, a people called Sherpas migrated to the Himalayas. They know how to provide themselves with all the necessities of life in the high mountains, but, in addition, they are practically monopolists in the profession of guides. Because they are truly the best; the most knowledgeable and the most enduring.
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• Among the conquerors of Everest there are also “originals”. On May 25, 2008, the path to the summit was overcome by the oldest climber in the history of climbing – a native of Nepal Min Bahadur Shirchan, who at that time was 76 years old. There have been cases when the expeditions involved very young travelers The last record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who made the ascent in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him the youngest visitor to Jomolungma was considered the fifteen-year-old Sherpa Tembu Tsheri).
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• The development of tourism is not in favor of the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the garbage left by people. Moreover, the rivers that originate here may be heavily polluted in the future. The main trouble is that these rivers provide millions of people with drinking water.
• Shambhala is a mythical land in Tibet, about which many ancient texts tell. The followers of Buddha believe in its existence unconditionally. It fascinates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. The most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. Gumilev, in particular, had no doubts about the reality of Shambhala. 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 in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about it is the proof that we all need the belief that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of mankind, which owns the forces of light and wise. Even if that key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet discovered…

The Himalayas in art, literature and cinema

• Kim is a novel written by Joseph Kipling. It tells the story of a young boy who looks with delight at British imperialism while surviving the Great Game.
• Shangri-La, a fictional country located in the Himalayas, is described in the novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
• Tintin in Tibet is one of the anthologies by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé. Tintin, a journalist, investigates an airplane crash in the Himalayas.
• The movie Vertical Limit describes the events that take place on Mount Chogori.
• Several levels in Tomb Raider II and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend are located in the Himalayas.
• The movie Black Narcissus tells the story of an order of nuns who found a convent in the Himalayas.
• Kingdom of the Golden Dragons is a novel by Isabel Allende. 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 a brownie and a dragon traveling to the “Edge of Paradise”, a place in the Himalayas where dragons live.
• Expedition Everest is a themed roller coaster at the “Walt Disney World Recreation Center.”
• Seven Years in Tibet is a movie based on Heinrich Harrer’s autobiographical book of the same name, describing the story of an Austrian mountaineer’s adventures in Tibet during World War II.
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• G.I. Joe: The Movie – An animated film telling the story of the Cobra-La civilization that escaped in the Himalayas after the Ice Age.
• Far Cry 4 – A first-person shooter game set in a fictional region of the Himalayas, where a self-proclaimed king reigns supreme.