The Himalayas are one of the most famous mountain ranges on the planet. There are many amazing facts about the Himalayas which would require a huge amount of space, but here we have some of the interesting ones.
Located in Asia, they have been the main subject of religion, spirituality, science, and literature for eons.
One of the reasons they are so mysterious is because of their unique location and history.
Given that they are in a fairly remote part of Asia, its portrayals in the media as well as other such factors, the interest in these mountain ranges is never-ending.
Listed out in the points below are ten amazing facts about the mighty Himalayas.
10. The Himalayas Are the Largest Mountain Ranges in the World
The Himalayas are the tallest mountain ranges on the planet.
It stretches across many countries. It is home to some of the tallest peaks in the world, for example, Mount Everest and K2. There are no other mountain ranges on land that is comparable to the Himalayas.
It may not be the longest mountain ranges but it is definitely the tallest and largest mountain ranges in the world. The longest mountain range in the world is the Andes in South America. The Himalayan ranges stretch across an arc of 2,400 km. Asia’s longest mountain ranges touch India, China, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.
9. If It Weren’t For the Himalayas, India Would Have Been a Vast Cold Desert, Just Like Tibet
The Himalayan mountain ranges protect the Indian subcontinent from the frozen winds and weather patterns from places like Tibet and Siberia. It acts as a powerful climate control system for India.
In other words, the Himalayas are essentially one giant barrier that is holding back the cold winds from the northern and central parts of Asia and keeping the Indian subcontinent safe and warm. If it weren’t for the Himalayas, much of the Indian subcontinent would have been a vast cold desert. It also acts as a major monsoon system. It is, in fact, one of the world’s major monsoon and rainfall control systems.
8. Mount Everest, the Tallest Peak, Is Located In the Himalayas
The tallest peak in the world, Mount Everest, is located in the Himalayas.
Situated in the border region of Nepal, just next to Tibet, it has a height of about 8,848 meters above sea level.
The exact location of Mount Everest is in the border area of Nepal and China. The region is fairly remote and requires one to engage in some travel before they can reach the base of this tall peak’s base.
Annually, several mountain climbers and adventure enthusiasts try to climb Mount Everest. Over 200 people have lost their lives trying to climb Mount Everest. Over 50 tallest mountains in the world are located in the Himalayan mountain ranges.
7. The Rivers Of North India Originate In the Himalayas and Are Perennial Ones
There are many rivers that flow throughout north India, such as Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, etc.
All of these rivers have their origins in the Himalayas.
The source of these rivers is from the glaciers, which melt consistently, giving it a steady source of water. It is for this reason that they are called perennial, which is just another way of saying that they flow continuously. In contrast, the rivers of Southern India are called ‘seasonal’ rivers, because they flow only during the monsoon and a short while after that, beyond which they run dry until the next monsoon season.
Also, the exact location of the river may be either in China, India or Pakistan. Then again, there are many other countries whose tributaries contribute to the many mighty rivers that originate from the Himalayas as well. These rivers have given rise to several ancient civilizations.
In the same manner, many of China’s rivers also originate in the Himalayas as well. Brahmaputra River is one of the major rivers in Asia whose origin is from the Himalayas. It flows through China, India, and Bangladesh.
6. The Himalayas Are Rich in Natural Resources
The vast mountains of the Himalayas are a rich treasure trove of natural resources.
From iron and gold to oil and natural gas, the Himalayas are one of the richest places for these resources in the world. The bed of Indus River is rich in alluvial gold. Similarly, Sapphire is found in the Zaskar Range. Other natural minerals such as copper, bauxite, iron, sulfur, and coal are found around the Himalayas.
In addition to this, there is a vast amount of potential for hydroelectric power as well in these regions, given that there are many rivers that flow through the region.
5. The World’s Highest Railway Bridge Is Located in the Himalayas
The world’s highest bridge is located in the Himalayas. It is a railway bridge that was constructed by the Indian railways, called Chenab Bridge.
The height of the bridge is about 1,178 meters above sea level and is still under construction. It is not clear as to when the bridge will be constructed, as there have been issues with construction, political issues, various delays, etc. The bridge will probably be completed around the end of 2019. Then again, it might get extended longer, depending on how everything works out. This might become one of the most dangerous railway bridges in the world.
If operational, the Chenab Bridge would connect Bakkal and Kauri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Due to the rugged and difficult terrains of the Himalayas, the construction of the Chenab Bridge has been slow and difficult.
4. The Name Literally Means ‘Place of Snow’
The name of the Himalayas has its origins in Sanskrit. Sanskrit scriptures contain the mentions of Himalayas. There are references to its derivations from Tamizh and has meanings in Tamizh dictionary. Tamizh is an Indian language.
It literally means “Place of Snow” or “Abode of Snow” where “Hima” means ‘Snow’ and “Alaya” refers to “Abode” or “Place”
3. The Himalayas Was Once the Bottom of the Ocean
The Himalayas weren’t always a tall mountain range.
On the contrary, there was a time when the Himalayas were at the bottom of the ocean. This ocean could have probably been the Tethys Ocean. This existed between the ancient continents of Gondwana and Laurasia.
They only became a mountain when the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate, causing the seabed to rise. The Himalayan Mountains are in fact, what used to be the bottom of the sea bed, a very long time ago.
2. The Himalayas May Soon Become the Second Tallest Mountain Range
Although the Himalayas are the tallest mountain range in the world, it may not always be that way in the future.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains of the United States is steadily growing by a very small amount each year. The story of the two mountains is the same as that of the Himalayas. Both are being caused by the collision of two continental plates.
Currently, the changes are minuscule and difficult to notice. But, the long term changes will clearly be apparent eventually. According to researchers, the Sierra Nevada Mountains are growing by about a millimeter each year.
Although this will probably happen millions of years into the future, the fact is that it is happening right now, along with the vast Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges of the USA. The biggest mystery today is that how did the Sierra Nevada Mountains come to that spot.
It could be possible that not just the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but any other mountain in the world could grow larger than the Himalayas.
1. The Fabled Yeti Is Said To Live In the Himalayas
If you have ever read fables, you will probably be familiar with the Yeti or the Abominable Snowman.
While its existence is still unconfirmed, the fact is that the place it is supposed to live in is the Himalayas. According to the local folklore, especially among the Sherpa where the Yeti has its origin and description. According to the community, Yeti lives at an average altitude of 12,000 feet. The legend describes the “ape like-man” as a figure of danger.
Nobody knows whether it is real or just a myth, but the fact that something like that could exist is really interesting. In the 19th century, Yeti became a popular culture in the Western hemisphere. There are several stories and theories regarding the existence of these mysterious being.
Conclusion
As a whole, it is unbelievably true that the vast and mighty Himalayan mountains are one of the most amazing and mysterious regions on the planet.
There is so much to learn about and even more to speculate about the great Himalayas.