The Great Himalayas and its Highest Peaks
Himalayas are the highest and third longest (next to Andes and Rockies) mountain range of the world. In sanskrit Himalayas literally means 'the abode of snow'. Since most parts of the range are lying 5000 m above mean sea level they have been always covered by the snow. Most of the world highest peaks are lying in this great mountain kingdom. It separates India from northern part of Asia and stretches from Indus river valley on west and Brahmaputra river valley on east. The total length of this great mountain range is about 2,300 km and average width (north to south) comes as 250 km. Most of the annual rains are coming from South-West monsoon period between June and September months of every year.
The Great Himalayas
Himalayas were created by the continental movement which occurred about 50 million years ago. It is said that a part of continent of Africa began to separate and move towards north and pressed against the Eurasian continental plate and gave rise to this great vertical land mass called Himalayas. With the thousands of glaciers and snow capped mountain ranges Himalayas have been the source of many great rivers and lakes (glacier is a large ice mass which moves slowly along the slopes of mountain ranges)
Mount Everest
Some of the World Highest Peaks of Himalayas
Himalayas comprise most of the world highest peaks. In fact this mountain kingdom is the home for the world top ten highest peaks and 200 other peaks which rise above 6000 m above sea level. In Karakorum range itself there are more than 100 world highest peaks. Some of the most important highest peaks of the range are Mount Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Nanga parbat and Annapurna.
Mount Everest
This is the world highest peak with great altitude of 29,035 ft (8,850 m) above sea level. It has different names as it is also called as Sangarmata in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet. However the peak is named after Sir George Everest who was a British surveyor general of India. It is standing on the frontiers of India, Nepal and Tibet.
Karakoram(K2)
It was first explored by an English photographer, Austin Godwin and called by his name also. It's standing as the second highest peak of the world with an altitude of 8,611 m (28,250 ft) above msl. 'Chogo Ri' is the other name of the peak which literally means the 'Great Mountains'
Kanchenjunga
It's the third highest peak of the world with a height of 8586 m (28,169 ft) above msl. Though it stands as the third one, it has still remained unexplored. Many mountain climbers felt as it is more dangerous than Mount Everest and other mountain peaks to explore it.
Lhotse
This is the fourth highest peak of the range with an altitude of 8516 m and located near south of Mount Everest.
Makalu
This is the fifth hihest peak of the world with an altitude of 8,463 m above msl and it is located in Tibet.
Cho Oyu
It stands as the sixth highest of the world with the height of 8,201 m above msl. It's located in Tibet about 28 km away from Mount Everest.
Dhaulgiri
This is the mountain peak which is located on the border of Nepal and Tibet and rising 8,167 m above msl. It's the seventh highest peak of the world which is provided with many glaciers, sharp ridges and ice falls.
Manaslu
This is the 8th highest peak of the world with an altitude of 8156 m above sea level. Manaslu means, in sanskrit, 'Mountain of the Spirit'
Nangaparbat
Nangaparbat is the ninth highest peak of the world with an altitude of 8,126 m (26,660 ft) above msl. It has sharp edges and remains dangerous to explore it. There were many tragedies happened in this region while mountain climbers trying to explore it.
Annapurna
It stands as the 10 th highest peak of the world with an altitude of 8,091 m. It comprises five other peaks in the region and is home for many glaciers
- DIFFERENT TYPES OF HIMALAYAN FORESTS AND VARIETY OF MAMMAL AND BIRD SPECIES LIVING IN IT
Types of Himalayan Forests The great Himalayas can be divided into three mountainous regions of Eastern, Central and Western Himalayas. The forests in these three regions are classified according to various...