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Himalayas

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Coordinates: 27°59′N 86°55′E / 27.983°N 86.917°E / 27.983; 86.917
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This article is about a mountain range. For other uses, see Himalaya (disambiguation).

The Himalayas
The arc of the Himalayas showing the eight-thousanders (in red); Indo-Gangetic Plain; Tibetan plateau; rivers Indus, Ganges, and Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra; and the two anchors of the range (in yellow)
Highest point
PeakMount Everest, Nepal/China
Elevation8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft)
Coordinates27°59′N 86°55′E / 27.983°N 86.917°E / 27.983; 86.917
Dimensions
Length2,400 km (1,500 mi)
Area595,000 km2 (230,000 sq mi)
Geography
Map of the Himalayan-Hindu Kush region
Countries
[a]
ContinentAsia
Geology
OrogenyAlpine orogeny
Rock ageCretaceous to Cenozoic
Rock types

The Himalayas, or Himalaya (/ˌhɪməˈleɪ.ə, hɪˈmɑːləjə/ HIM-ə-LAY-ə, hih-MAH-lə-yə)[b] is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has several peaks exceeding an elevation of 8,000 m (26,000 ft) including Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth. The mountain range runs for 2,400 km (1,500 mi) as an arc from west-northwest to east-southeast at the northern end of the Indian subcontinent.

The Himalayas occupy an area of 595,000 km2 (230,000 sq mi) across six countries–Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The sovereignty of the range in the Kashmir region is disputed among India, Pakistan, and China. It is bordered by the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges on the northwest, Tibetan Plateau in the north, and by the Indo-Gangetic Plain in the south. Its western anchor Nanga Parbat lies south of the northernmost bend of the Indus river and its eastern anchor Namcha Barwa lies to the west of the great bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The Himalayas consists of four parallel mountain ranges: the Sivalik Hills on the south; the Lower Himalayas; the Great Himalayas, which is the highest and central range; and the Tibetan Himalayas on the north. The range varies in width from 350 km (220 mi) in the north-west to 150 km (93 mi) in the south-east.

The Himalayan range is one of the youngest mountain ranges on Earth and is made up of uplifted sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. It was formed more than 10 mya due to the subduction of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian Plate along the convergent boundary. Due to the continuous movement of the Indian plate, the Himalayas keep rising every year, making them geologically and seismically active. The mountains consist of large glaciers, which are remnants of the last ice age, and give rise to some of the world's major rivers such as the Indus, Ganges, and Tsangpo–Brahmaputra. Their combined drainage basin is home to nearly 600 million people including 52.8 million living in the vicinity of the Himalayas. The region is also home to many endorheic lakes.

The Himalayas have a major impact on the climate of the Indian subcontinent. It blocks the cold winds from Central Asia, and plays a significant roles in influencing the monsoons. The vast size, varying altitude range, and complex topography of the Himalayas result in a wide range of climates, from humid and subtropical to cold and dry desert conditions. The mountains have profoundly shaped the cultures of South Asia and Tibet. Many Himalayan peaks are considered sacred across various Indian and Tibetan religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. Hence, the summits of several peaks in the region such as Gangkhar Puensum, Machapuchare, and Kailash have been off-limits to climbers.

Etymology

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The name of the range is derived from the Sanskrit word Himālay (हिमालय) meaning 'abode of snow'.[4][5][6] It is a combination of the words him (हिम) meaning 'frost/cold' and ālay (आलय) meaning 'dwelling/house'.[7][8] The name of the range is mentioned as Himavat (Sanskrit: हिमवत्) in older literature such as the Indian epic Mahabharata, which is the personification of the Hindu deity Himavan.[9] The mountain range is known as Himālaya in Hindi and Nepali (both written हिमालय),[10] Himalaya (ཧི་མ་ལ་ཡ་) in Tibetan,[11] Himāliya (سلسلہ کوہ ہمالیہ) in Urdu,[12] Himaloy (হিমালয়) in Bengali,[13] and Ximalaya (simplified Chinese: 喜马拉雅; traditional Chinese: 喜馬拉雅; pinyin: Xǐmǎlāyǎ) in Chinese.[14] It was mentioned as Himmaleh in western literature such as Emily Dickinson's poetry and Henry David Thoreau's essays.[15][16]

Geography and topography

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Political map of the Himalayan region.
See also: List of Himalayan peaks and passes and Himalayan Rim

The Himalayas run as an arc for 2,400 km (1,500 mi) from west-northwest to east-southeast at the northern end of the Indian subcontinent, separating the Indo-Gangetic Plains from the Tibetan Plateau. It is bordered by the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges on the northwest, which extend into Central Asia.[1][17] Its western anchor Nanga Parbat lies south of the northernmost bend of the Indus river in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and its eastern anchor Namcha Barwa lies to the west of the great eastern bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The Himalayas occupies an area of 595,000 km2 (230,000 sq mi) across six countries–Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The sovereignty of the range in the Kashmir region is disputed amongst India, Pakistan, and China. The range varies in width from 350 km (220 mi) in the north-west to 150 km (93 mi) in the south-east.[1][18] The range has several peaks exceeding an elevation of 8,000 m (26,000 ft) including Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth at 8,848 m (29,029 ft).[19]

Sub-ranges

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Geologic map showing the regions and major features of the Himalayas.

The Himalayas consist of four parallel mountain ranges from south to north: the Sivalik Hills on the south; the Lower Himalayas; the Great Himalayas, which is the highest and central range; and the Tibetan Himalayas on the north.[20][21]

The Sivalik Hills form the lowest sub-Himalayan range and extends for about 1,600 km (990 mi) from the Teesta River in the Indian state of Sikkim to northern Pakistan. The name derives from Sanskrit meaning "Belonging to Shiva", which was originally used to denote the 320 km (200 mi) stretch from Haridwar to the Beas River. The range is about 16 km (9.9 mi) wide on average and the elevation ranges from 900–1,200 m (3,000–3,900 ft). It rises along the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is often separated from the higher northern sub-ranges by valleys. The eastern portion of the range is called Churia Range in Nepal.[22][23]

The Lower or Lesser Himalaya (also known as Himachal) is the lower middle sub-section of the Himalayas. It extends almost along the entire length of the Himalayas and is about 75 km (47 mi) wide. It is mostly composed of rocky surfaces and has an average elevation of 3,700–4,500 m (12,100–14,800 ft).[22][24] The Greater Himalayas (also known as Himadri) form the highest section of the Himalayas and extend for about 2,300 km (1,400 mi) from northern Pakistan to northern Arunachal Pradesh in India. The sub-range has an average elevation of more than 6,100 m (20,000 ft) and contains many of the world’s tallest peaks, including Everest. It is mainly composed of granite rocks.[22][25] The Tibetan Himalayas (also known as Tethys) form the northern most sub-range of the Himalayas in Tibet.[21][26]

Divisions

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A view of the Western Himalayas.

Longitudinally, the range is broadly divided into three regions–western, central, and eastern.[27] The Western Himalayas form the westernmost section of the range and extend for about 560 km (350 mi) from the bend of the Indus River along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region in the north-west to the Satlej river basin in India in the south-east. Most of the region lies in the Kashmir territory disputed between India and Pakistan with certain portions of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The Indus forms the division between the Western Himalayas and the Karakoram range to the north. The Western Himalayas include the Zanskar, Pir Panjal Ranges, and parts of the Sivalik and Great Himalayas. The western anchor Nanga Parbat is the highest point in the region at 8,126 m (26,660 ft).[28] It is also referred Punjab, Kashmir or Himachal Himalyas from west to east locally.[27][29]

The central Himalayas or Kumaon extend for about 320 km (200 mi) along the state of Uttarakhand in northern India from the Sutlej River in the east to the Kali River in the west. The region comprises parts of Sivalik and Great Himalayas. At lower elevations below 2,400 m (7,900 ft), the region has a temperate climate and consists of permanent settlements. At elevations higher than 4,300 m (14,100 ft), permanent snow caps cover the Great Himalayas with the highest peaks being Nanda Devi at 7,817 m (25,646 ft) and Kamet at 7,756 m (25,446 ft). The region is also the source of major streams of the Ganges river system.[30]

Part of the Eastern Himalayas showing the eight-thousanders.

The Eastern Himalayas form the eastern most stretch of the range and consist of the states of parts of Tibet in China, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, parts of other North East Indian states and north West Bengal in India, entirety of Bhutan, mountain regions of central and eastern Nepal, and most of the western lowlands in Nepal.[31] The eastern Himalayas broadly consists of two regions–the western Nepal Himalayas and the eastern Assam Himalayas.[1][29] The Nepal Himalayas forms the centre of the Himalayan curve and extend for 800 km (500 mi) between the Kali and Teesta Rivers. The Great Himalayas in the region form the highest part of the entire Himalayas and consist of many of the eight-thousanders including Everest, Kanchenjunga at 8,586 m (28,169 ft), and Makalu at 8,463 m (27,766 ft). These mountains host large glaciers that form the source of various rivers of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system. The high altitude regions are uninhabitable with few mountain passes inbetween that serve as crossovers with the human settlements in the lower valleys.[32]

The Assam Himalaya forms the eastern most sub-section that extends eastward for 720 km (450 mi) from the Indian state of Sikkim through Bhutan and north-east India past the Dihang River to the India-Tibet border. The highest peak is the eastern anchor Namcha Barwa at 7,756 m (25,446 ft). The region is the source of many of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra River and consists of major mountain passes such as Nathu La, and Jelep La.[33] Beyond the Dihang valley, the mountains extend as Purvanchal mountain range across the eastern boundary of India.[29]

Geology

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Main article: Geology of the Himalayas
The 6,000 km-plus journey of the India landmass before its collision with the Eurasian Plate more than 10 mya.

The Himalayan range is one of the youngest mountain ranges on the planet and consists of uplifted sedimentary and metamorphic rock. According to the modern theory of plate tectonics, it was formed as a result of a continental collision and orogeny along the convergent boundary between the India and Eurasian Plates. During the Jurassic period (201 to 145 mya), the Tethys Ocean formed the southern border of then existent Eurasian landmass. When the super-continent Gondwana broke up nearly 180 mya, the Indo-Australian plate slowly drifted northwards towards Eurasia for 130-140 million years.[34] The Indian Plate broke up with the Australian Plate about 100 mya.[35] The Tethys ocean constricted as the Indian plate moved gradually upward. As both the plates were made of continental crusts, which were less denser than oceanic crusts, the increased compressive forces resulted in folding of the underlying rock bed.[36] The thrust faults created between the folds resulted in granite and basalt rocks from the Earth's mantle protruding through the crust. During the paleogene period (about 50 mya), the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate after it completely closed the Tethys ocean gap.[34][37]

The Indian plate continued to subduct under the Eurasian plate over the next 30 million years that resulted in the formation of the Tibetan plateau. During miocene (20 mya), the increasing collision between the plates resulted in the top layer of metamorphic rocks getting peeled, which moved southwards to form nappes with trenches in between. As the mountains received rainfall, the waters flowing down the mountains eroded and steepened the southern slopes. The silt deposited by these rivers and streams in the trough between the Himalayas and the Deccan plateau formed the Indo-Gangetic Plain. About 0.6 mya in the pleistocene period, the Himalayas rose higher and became the highest mountains on Earth. In the northern Great Himalayas, new gneiss and granite formations emerged on crystalline rocks that gave rise to the higher peaks.[34][38]

The summit of Mount Everest is made of unmetamorphosed marine ordovician limestone with fossil trilobites, crinoids, and ostracods from the Tethys ocean.[39] The upliftment of the Himalayas occurred gradually and as the Great Himalayas became higher, they became a climatic barrier and blocked the winds, which resulted in lesser precipitation on the upper slopes. The lower slopes continued to be eroded by the rivers, which flowed in the gaps between the mountains and the folded lower Shivalik Hills and the Lesser Himalayas were formed due to the downwarping of the intermediate lands. Minor streams ran between the faults within the mountains until they joined the major river systems in the plains. Intermediate valleys such as Kashmir and Kathmandu were formed from temporary lakes that were formed during pleistocene, which dried up later.[34][40]

the movement of the Indian plate into the Asian plate makes the region seismically active. Earthquakes in the Himalayan region (1900-2016).

The Himalayan region is made up of five geological zones– the Sub-Himalayan Zone bound by the Main Frontal Thrust and the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT); the Lesser Himalayan Zone between the MBT and the Main Central Thrust (MCT); the Higher Himalayan Zone beyond the MCT; the Tethyan Zone, separated by the South Tibetan Detachment System; and the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone, where the Indian plate is subducted below the Asian plate.[41] The Arakan Yoma highlands in Myanmar and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal were also formed as a result of the same tectonic processes that formed the Himalayas.[42] The Indian plate continues to be driven horizontally at the Tibetan Plateau at about 67 mm (2.6 in) per year, forcing it to continue to move upwards. About 20 mm (0.79 in) per year is absorbed by thrusting along the Himalaya southern front, which leads to the Himalayas rising by about 5 mm (0.20 in) per year.[43] This makes the Himalayan region geologically active and the movement of the Indian plate into the Asian plate makes the region seismically active, leading to earthquakes from time to time.[44][45]

The northern slopes of the Himalayas have a thicker soil cover than the southern slopes due to presence of lesser number of rivers and streams. These soils are loamy and are dark brown in colour, and are covered with forests in the lowlands and grassland meadows in the mid altitudes. The composition and texture of the soils in the Himalayas also vary across regions. In the Eastern Himalayas, the wet soils has a high humus content conducive for growing tea. Podzolic soils occur in the eastern range of the Indus basin between the Indus and Shyok Rivers. The Ladakh region is generally dry with saline soil while fertile alluvial soils occur in select river valleys such as the Kashmir valley. The higher elevations consist of rock fragements and lithosols with very low humus content.[34]

Hydrology

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Glaciers

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Icefall on Khumbu Glacier

The Himalayas and the Central Asian mountain ranges consist of the third-largest deposit of ice and snow in the world, after the Antarctic and Arctic regions.[46] It is often referred to as the "Third Pole" as it encompasses about 15,000 glaciers, which store about 12,000 km3 (2,900 cu mi) of fresh water.[47][48] The South Col and Khumbu Glacier in the Mount Everest region are amongst the world's highest glaciers.[49] The Gangotri which is 32 km (20 mi) long and is one of the largest glaciers, is one of the sources of the Ganges. The Himalayan glaciers show considerable variation in the rate of descent. The Khumbu moves about 1 ft (0.30 m) daily compared to certain other glaciers which move about 6 ft (1.8 m) per day.[50]

During the last ice age, there was a connected ice stream of glaciers between Kangchenjunga in the east and Nanga Parbat in the west.[51] The glaciers joined with the ice stream network in the Karakoram in the west, the Tibetan inland ice in the north, and came to an end below an elevation of 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft) in the south. While the current valley glaciers of the Himalaya reach at most 20–32 km (12–20 mi) in length, several of the main valley glaciers were 60–112 km (37–70 mi) long during the ice age.[52][53] The glacier snowline (the altitude where accumulation and ablation of a glacier are balanced) was about 1,400–1,660 m (4,590–5,450 ft) lower than it is today. Thus, the climate would have been at least 7.0–8.3 °C (12.6–14.9 °F) colder than it is today.[54]

Since the late 20th century, scientists have reported a notable increase in the rate of glacier retreat across the region as a result of climate change.[55][56] The rate of retreat varies across regions depending on the local conditions. Since 1975, a marked increase in the loss of glacial mass from 5–13 Gt/yr to 16–24 Gt/yr has been observed with an estimated 13% overall decrease in glacial coverage in the Himalayas.[47][57][58][59] The resulting climate variations and changes in hydrology could affect the livelihoods of the people in the Himalayas and the plains below.[60]

Rivers

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Confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers in the Himalayas.

Despite its greater size, the Himalayas does not form a water divide across its span because of the multiple river systems that cut across the range. While the mountains were formed gradually, the rivers concurrently cut across deeper gorges ranging from 1,500–5,000 m (4,900–16,400 ft) in depth and 10–50 km (6.2–31.1 mi) in width. The actual water divide lies to the north of the Himalayas with rivers flowing down both the sides of the mountains. Some of the major river systems and their drainage system outdate the formation of the mountains itself. The water divide is formed by the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges on the west and the Ladakh Range on the east, separating the Indus system from Central Asia. On the east, Kailas and Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains separate the Brahmaputra river system from the Tibetan rivers to the north. There are 19 major rivers in the Himalayas which form part of the two major river systems of Ganges-Brahmaputra, which follow an easterly course and Indus, which follows a north-westerly course.[50]

  • The Indus Basin extends from the western section of the range and has a catchment area of nearly 450,000 km2 (170,000 sq mi). The river rises near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet and flows westward joining the Zanskar and Shyok Rivers. The five major tributaries of Indus–Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej join the Indus in the Punjab region spread across India and Pakistan. These five rivers constitute a watershed area of about 132,000 km2 (51,000 sq mi). The river system drains across the Himalayan region in Kashmir, before spreading through the Punjab Plains and later forms the Indus Delta near the India-Pakistan border before joining the Arabian sea.[61][62]
Bhagirathi, one of the head streams of Ganges at Gangotri.
  • The Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin extends from the north-eastern part of the Himalayas till its eastern edge. The system has an average discharge of 30,770 m2 (331,200 sq ft), which is the third greatest of the world’s river systems and forms the largest alluvial deposits in the world with nearly 1.84 billion tonnes of silt deposited every year. The Ganges is formed by five head streams of which the major ones are the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi arising at Gangotri in Uttarakhand.[63] Other Himalayan rivers that form the major tributaries of the Ganges include Yamuna, Ramganga, Ghaghara, Rapti, Gandaki, Bagmati, and Kosi, which together drain about 218,000 km2 (84,000 sq mi) of area. The Brahmaputra arises in the Tibetan region flowing eastwards before making a turn towards south into India. The Teesta, Raidak, Manas form the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra and together drain 184,000 km2 (71,000 sq mi) of catchment area.[50][64] The Ganges and Brahmaputra join together before forming the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta spread across India and Bangladesh for nearly 60,000 km2 (23,000 sq mi) is the largest in the world.[65]

The northern slopes of Gyala Peri and the peaks beyond the Tsangpo drain into the Irrawaddy River, which originates in eastern Tibet and flows south through Myanmar to drain into the Andaman Sea. The Salween, Mekong, Yangtze, and Yellow Rivers all originate from parts of the Tibetan Plateau, north of the great water divide. These are considered distinct from the Himalayan watershed and are known as circum-Himalayan rivers.[66]

Lakes

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See also: List of Alpine lakes in India
Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim

The Himalayan region has multiple lakes across various elevations including endorheic freshwater and saline lakes. The geology of the lakes vary across geographies depending on various factors such as altitude, climate, water source, and lithology. Tarns are high altitude mountain lakes situated above 5,500 m (18,000 ft) and are formed primarily by the snow-melt of the glaciers. The lower altitude lakes are replenished by a combination of rains, underground springs, and streams. Large lakes in the Himalayan basin were formed in the holocene period, when water pooled in the faults and the water supply was subsequently cut off.[67][68]

There are more than 4500 high altitude lakes of which about 12 large lakes contribute to more than 75% of the total lake area in the Indian Himalayas.[67] Pangong Lake spread across India and China is the highest saline lake in the world at an altitude of 4,350 m (14,270 ft) and amongst the largest in the region with a surface area of 700 km2 (270 sq mi).[69] Spread across 189 km2 (73 sq mi), Wular Lake is amongst the largest fresh water lakes in Asia.[70] Other large lakes include Tso Moriri, and Tso Kar in Ladakh, Nilnag, and Tarsar Lake, in Jammu and Kashmir, Gurudongmar, Chholhamu, and Tsomgo Lakes in Sikkim, Tilicho, Rara, Phoksundo, and Gokyo Lakes in Nepal.[67][71][72] Some of the Himalayan lakes present the danger of a glacial lake outburst flood as they have grown considerably over the last 50 years due to glacial melting.[73] While these lakes support a range of ecosystems and local communities, many of them remain poorly studied in terms of their hydrology and biodiversity.[67][74]

Climate

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Main article: Ecology of the Himalayas

Due to its location and size, the Himalayas acts as a climatic barrier which affects the weather conditions of the Indian subcontinent and the regions north of the range.[75] The mountains are spread across more than eight degrees of latitude and hence includes a wide range of climatic zones including sub-tropical, temperate, and semi-arid. The climate in a region is determined by factors such as altitude, latitude, and the impact on monsoon.[76] There are generally five seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn or post-monsoon, winter, and spring.[77] The summer in April-May is followed by monsoon rains from June to September. The post monsoon season is largely devoid of rain and snow before beginning of cold winters in December-January with intermediate spring before the summer.[75] There are localised wind pressure systems at high altitudes resulting in heavy winds.[78]

Temperature

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Map showing various climatic zones in the Indian subcontinent.

Due to its high altitude, the range blocks the flow of cold winds from the north into the Indian subcontinent.[75][79] This causes the tropical zone to extend farther north in South Asia than anywhere else in the world. The temperatures are more pronounced in the Brahmaputra valley in the eastern section as it lies at a lower latitude and due to the latent heat of the forced air from the Bay of Bengal which condenses before moving past the Namcha Barwa, the eastern anchor of the Himalayas.[80][76] Due to this, the permanent snow line is among the highest in the world, at typically around 5,500 m (18,000 ft) while several equatorial mountains such as in New Guinea, the Rwenzoris, and Colombia, have a snow line at 900 m (3,000 ft) lower.[81][82]

As the physical features of mountains are irregular, with broken jagged contours, there can be wide variations in temperature over short distances. The temperature at a location is dependent on the season, orientation and bearing with respect to the Sun, and the mass of the mountain. As the Sun is the major contributor to the temperature, it is often directly proportional to the received radiation from the Sun with faces receiving more sunlight having a higher heat buildup. In narrow valleys between steep mountain faces, the weather conditions may differ significantly on both the margins. The mountains act as heat islands and heavier mountains absorb and retain more heat than the surroundings, and therefore influences the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature from the winter minimum to the summer maximum.[83] However, soil temperatures mostly remain the same on both the sides of a mountain at altitudes higher than 4,500 m (14,800 ft).[84]

Temperatures in the Himalayas reduce by 2 °C (36 °F) for every 300 m (980 ft) increase of altitude.[76][85] Higher altitudes invariably experience low temperatures. In the Eastern Himalayas, Darjeeling at an altitude of 1,945 m (6,381 ft) has an average minimum temperature of 11 °C (52 °F) during the month of May, while the same has been recorded as −22 °C (−8 °F) at an altitude of 5,000 m (16,000 ft) on the Everest. At lower altitudes, the temperature is pleasantly warm during the summers. During winters, the low-pressure weather systems from the west cause heavy snowfall.[75]

Precipitation

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Map of India showing the onset of summer and winter monsoon.

There are two periods of precipitation with most of the rainfall occurring during the post summer season and moderate amount during the winter storms.[75] The Himalayan range obstructs the path of the south west monsoon winds, causing heavy precipitation on the slopes and the plains below.[79] The effect of Himalayas on the hydroclimate impacts millions in the plains as the variability in monsoon rainfall is the main factor behind wet and dry years.[86][87] As the Himalayas force the monsoon winds to give up most of the moisture before ascending up, the winds became dry once its reaches the north of the mountains. This results in the dry and windy cold desert climate in the Tibetan Himalayas and the plateau beyond.[75] It also played a role in the formation of Central Asian deserts such as the Taklamakan and Gobi.[88]

The monsoon is triggered by the different rates of heating and cooling between the Indian Ocean and Central Asia, which create large differences in the atmospheric pressure prevailing above each. As the Central Asian landmass heats up during the summer compared to the ocean below, the difference in pressure creates a thermal low. The moist air from the ocean is pushed inwards towards the low pressure system causing the monsoon winds. It results in precipitation along the slopes due to the orographic effect as the air rises along the mountains and condenses.[78][89] The monsoon begins at the end of May in the eastern fringes of the range and moves upwards towards the west in June and July. There is heavy precipitation in the east which reduces progressively towards the west as the air becomes drier. Cherrapunji in Eastern Himalayas is one of the wettest places on Earth with an annual precipitation of 428 in (10,900 mm).[90]

The average annual rainfall varies from 120 in (3,000 mm) in the Eastern Himalayas to about 120 in (3,000 mm) in the Kumaon region. The northern extremes of the Great Himalayas in Kashmir and Ladakh receive only 3–6 in (76–152 mm) of rainfall per year.[75] During the winter season, a high pressure system develops over Central Asia, which results in winds flowing towards the Himalayas. However, due to the presence of less water bodies in the Central Asian region, the moisture content is low.[78] As the condensation occurs at higher altitudes in the north, there is more precipitation in the Great Himalayas in the west during the winter rains and the precipitation reduces towards the east. In January, the Kumaon region receives about 3 in (76 mm) of rainfall compared to about 1 in (25 mm) in the Eastern Himalayas.[75]

Climate change

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Loss of glacier mass in the Himalayas since the 20th century.

The Himalayan region has a highly sensitive ecosystem and is amongst the most affected regions due to climate change. Since the late 20th century, scientists have reported a notable increase in the rate of glacier retreat and changes occurring at a far rapid rate.[55][56][91] As per a 2019 assessment, the Himalayan region, which had experienced a temperature rise of 0.1 °C (32.2 °F) per decade was warming at an increased rate of 0.1 °C (32.2 °F) per decade over the past half a century. The average warm days and nights had also increased by 1.2 days and 1.7 nights per decade while the average cold days and nights had declined by 0.5 and 1 respectively. This has also prolonged the length of the growing season by 4.25 days per decade.[92]

The climate change might results in erratic rainfall, varying temperatures, and natural disasters like landslides, and floods.[93][94] The increasing glacier melt had been followed by an increase in the number of glacial lakes, some of which may be prone to dangerous floods. The region is expected to encounter continued increase in average annual temperature and 81% of the region's permafrost is projected to be lost by the end of the century.[95] The increased warming and melting of snow is projected to accelerate the regional river flows until 2060 after which it would decline due to reduction in ice caps and glacier mass. As the precipitation is projected to increase concurrently, the annual river flows would be largely unaffected for the Eastern Himalayan rivers fed by monsoons, but would reduce the flows in the Western Himalayan rivers.[96][97][98]

Glacial lakes in Bhutan formed by increasing glacier melt, some of which may be prone to dangerous floods.

Almost a billion people live on either side of the mountain and are prone to impact of the climate change. This includes the people who live in the mountains, who are more vulnerable due to temperature variations and other biota.[91] Countries in the Himalayan region including Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are amongst the most vulnerable countries in the Global South due to climate change.[99][100][101] The temperature rise increases the incidence of tropical diseases such as malaria, and dengue further north. The extreme weather events might cause physical harm directly and indirectly due to lack of access and contamination of drinking water, pollution, exposure to chemicals, and destruction of crops, and drought.[102][103][104] The climate change also impact the flora and fauna of the region. Changes might decrease the territory available for local wildlife and reduction in prey for the predators. This puts the animals in conflict with humans as humans might encroach animal territories and the animals might venture into human habitats for search of food, which might exacerbate the economic loss of the local population.[105]

The Himalayan nations are signatories of the Paris agreement, aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation.[106][107] The actions are aimed at reducing emissions, increase the usage of renewable energy, and sustainable environmental practices.[108] As the local population increasingly experience the impact of the changes in climate such as variations in temperature and precipitation, and change in vegetation, they are forced to adapt for the same. This has led to increased awareness on the impact of climate change, and adaptations such as change in crop cycles, introduction of drought resistant crops, and plantation of new trees.[109] This has also led to the construction of more dams, canals, and other water structures, to prevent flooding and aid in agriculture. New plantations on barren lands to prevent landslides, and construction of fire lines made of litter and mud to prevent forest fires have been undertaken.[110][111] However, lack of funding, awareness, access to technology, and government policy are barriers for the same.[110]

Flora and fauna

[edit]

The Himalayan region belongs to the Indomalayan realm.[112] The flora and fauna of the Himalayas vary broadly across regions depending on the climate and geology.[72] The Himalayas are home to multiple biodiversity hotspots, and is home to an estimated 35,000+ species of plants and 200+ species of animals. An average of 35 new species have been found every year since 1998.[113]

Flora

[edit]
Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests in Bhutan.
Himalayan shrub and meadows in Nepal.

There are four types of vegetation found in the region tropical and subtropical, temperate, coniferous, and grasslands. Tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests are mostly constricted to the high temperature and humid regions in Eastern and Central Himalayas, and pockets of Kashmir in the west. There are about 4,000 species of Angiosperms with major vegetation include Dipterocarpus, and Ceylon ironwood on porous soils at elevations below 2,400 m (7,900 ft) and oak, and Indian horse chestnut on lithosol between 1,100–1,700 m (3,600–5,600 ft). Himalayan subtropical pine forests with Himalayan screw pine trees occur above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) and Alder, and bamboo are found on terrains with higher gradient. Temperate forest occur at altitudes between 1,400–3,400 m (4,600–11,200 ft) while moving from south-east to north-west towards higher latitude. Eastern and Western Himalayan broadleaf forests consisting of sal trees dominate the ecosystem.[114]

At higher altitudes, Eastern and Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests consisting of various conifers occur. Chir pine is the dominant species which occurs at elevations from 800–900 m (2,600–3,000 ft). Other species include Deodar cedar, which grows at altitudes of 1,900–2,700 m (6,200–8,900 ft), blue pine and morinda spruce between 2,200–3,000 m (7,200–9,800 ft). At higher altitudes, alpine shrubs and meadows occur above the trees. The Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows extend between 3,200–4,200 m (10,500–13,800 ft) and the Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows occur at altitudes of 3,600–4,500 m (11,800–14,800 ft). Major vegetation include Juniperus, Rhododendron on rocky terrain facing the Sun, various flowering plants at high elevations, and mosses, and lichens in humid, shaded areas.[114][115]

Interspersed Grasslands occur at certain regions, with thorns and semi-desert vegetation at low precipitation areas in the Western Himalayas.[114] The high altitude mountainous areas are mostly barren or, at the most, sparsely sprinkled with stunted bushes.[74] The Himalayas are home to various medicinal plants such as Abies pindrow used to treat bronchitis, Andrachne cordifolia used for snake bites, and Callicarpa arborea used for skin diseases. Nearly a fifth of the plant species in the Himalayas are used for medicinal purposes.[116][117] Climate change, illegal deforestation, and introduction of non native species have had an effect on the flora of the range. The increase in temperature has resulted in shifting of various species to higher elevations, and early flowering and fruiting.[118]

Fauna

[edit]
Snow leopard
Himalayan tahr

Many of the animal species are from the tropics, which have adapted to the various conditions across the Himalayan range. Some of the species of the Eastern Himalayas are similar to those found in East and South East Asia, while the animals of the Western Himalayas has characteristics of species from Central Asia and Mediterranean region. Fossils of species such as giraffe, and hippopotamus have been found in the foothills, suggesting the presence of African species some time ago. Large mammals such as Indian elephant, and Indian rhinoceros are confined to the densely forested moist ecosystems in the Eastern and Central Himalayas. Many of the animal species found in the region are unique and endemic or nearly endemic to the region.[119]

Other large animal species found in the Himalayas include Asiatic black bear, clouded leopard, and herbivores such as bharal, Himalayan tahr, takin, Himalayan serow, Himalayan musk deer, and Himalayan goral. Animals found at higher altitudes include brown bear, and the elusive snow leopard, which mainly feed on bharal. The red panda is found in the mixed deciduous and conifer forests of the Eastern Himalayas and the Himalayan water shrew are found on the river banks. The forests of the foothills are inhabited by several different primates, including the endangered Gee's golden langur and the Kashmir gray langur, within highly restricted ranges in the east and west of the Himalayas, respectively. The yaks are large domesticated cattle found in the region.[74][119]

More than 800 species of birds have been recorded with a large number of species restricted to the Eastern Himalayas. Amongst the bird species found include magpies such as black-rumped magpie and blue magpie, titmice, choughs, whistling thrushes, and redstarts. Raptors include bearded vulture, black-eared kite, and Himalayan griffon. Snow partridge and Cornish chough are found at altitudes above 5,700 m (18,700 ft).[119] The Himalayan lakes also serve as breeding grounds for species such as black-necked crane and bar-headed goose.[67] There are multiple species of reptiles including Japalura lizards, blind snakes, and insects such as butterflies. Several fresh water fish such as Glyptothorax are found in the Himalayan waters. The extremes of high altitude favor the presence of extremophile organisms, which include various species of insects such as spiders, and mites.[119][120]

Conservation

[edit]
Further information: Protected areas in India, Protected areas in Nepal, Protected areas in Pakistan, and Protected areas in Bhutan

The Himalayan fauna include endemic plants and animals and critically endangered or endangered species such as Indian elephant, Indian rhinoceros, musk deer and hangul.[119] There are more than 7,000 endemic plants and 1.9% of global endemic vertebrates in the region. As of 2022, there are 575 protected areas established by the nations in the Himalayan-Hindu Kush region, which account for 40% of the land area and 8.5% of the global protected area. There are also four biodiversity hotspots, 12 ecoregions, 348 key biodiversity areas, and six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region.[121][122]

Demographics

[edit]

The Himalayan region with the associated Indo-Gangetic Plain and Tibetan plateau is home to more than a billion people.[91] In 2011, the population in the Himalayan region was estimated to be about 52.8 million with the combined drainage basin of the Himalayan rivers home to nearly 600 million.[123][124] Of this, 7.96 million (15.1% of the total Himalayan population) live in Eastern Himalayas, 19.22 million in Central Himalayas (36.4%), and 25.59 million reside in Western Himalayas (48.5%). The population of the Himalayas has grown considerably over the last five decades from 19.9 million in 1961 with the annual growth rate (3.31%) more than three times higher than the world average (1.1%) during the same period.[123]

The Silk Road and connecting routes in the 1st century CE.

The earliest tribes in the Himalayas might have originated from Dravidian people from the south of the Indian subcontinent as evidenced by the presence of Dravidian languages. The major human migration towards the Himalayan region occurred in 2000 BCE when Aryans came from Central Asia and progressively settled along the plains to the south. Information on the Aryan culture in the region is found in Hindu literature such as the Vedas, and Puranas. Since the second century BCE, the Silk Road in China was connected to the Indian subcontinent by various routes running along the Himalayan region. The northern side of the Himalayas was under the influence of various Tibetan kingdoms across history. In the middle ages, the southern side came under the influence of various Rajput kings and later under the Mughal rule. Nepal was ruled by various kingdoms from both the Indian and Tibetan regions, until it was conquered by the Gurkha kingdom in the early 18th century. Most of the southern region came under the British influence in the 18th century till the independence of the constituent states in the mid 20th century.[125]

Ethnicity and languages

[edit]
Language families of South Asia.

The long history along with various outside influences have resulted in the mixture of various traditions and existence of wide range of ethnicity in the region. People speak various languages belonging to four principal language families–Indo-European, Tibeto-Burman, Austroasiatic, and Dravidian, with the majority of the languages belonging to the first two categories. The Tibetan Himalayas are inhabited by Tibetan people, who speak Tibeto-Burman languages. The Great Himalayas are mostly inhabited by nomadic groups and tribes, with most of the population in Lesser Himalayas, and Shivalik Hills. People towards the Great Himalayas in the north parts mostly speak Tibeto-Burman, while populations in the lower ranges on the southern slopes speak Indo-European languages.[126]

The inhabitants of the Western Himalayas include the Kashmiri people, who speak Kashmiri in the Vale of Kashmir and the Gujjar and Gaddi people, who speak Gujari and Gaddi respectively in the lower altitudes of Jammu and Himachal Pradesh in India. The last two are pastoral and nomadic people, who own flocks of cattle and migrate across the slopes based on seasons. Various ethnic people such as Ladakhi, Balti, and Dard live on the north of the Great Himalayas along the Indus basin in the Kashmir and Ladakh regions spread across India, Pakistan, and China. The Dard speak Dard, which is part of Indo-European languages, while the Balti and Lakadkhi people speak Balti, and Ladakhi, which are part of Tibeto-Burman. In the Kumaon region in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India, Indo-European speakers such as the Kanet and Khasi reside in the lower altitudes along with descendants of migrants from Tibet, who speak Tibeto-Burman languages, in the Kalpa and Lahul-Spiti regions.[126][127]

In the Central Himalayas in Nepal, the Pahari people, who speak an Indo-European language Pahari, form the majority. People of various ethnicity such as Newar, Tamang, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, Bhutia, Lepcha, and Kirat, who speak Tibeto-Burman languages, are spread across the mountainous regions of Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of North East India. The Newar and Kirat peoples are largely from the Kathmandu valley, and the Magars and Tamangs are spread across the region. The Gurung and Sherpa peoples live along the slopes of Annapurna and Everest respectively. The Lepcha people reside in Sikkim and western Bhutan while the Bhutia are found in eastern Bhutan. The Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh along the eastern edge is home to various Tibeto-Burman speaking ethnic groups such as Abor, Aka, Apatani, Dafla, Khamti people, Khowa, Mishmi, Momba, Miri, and Singpho, who mostly practice shifting cultivation.[126][127]

Culture and religion

[edit]
The Harmukh mountain, north of Kashmir valley, is sacred in Hinduism.

Himalayas have had a profound impact on the culture of the people in the region. The Himalayan region is occupied by people of various religions and several places in the Himalayas are of religious significance in, Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Sikhism. Hindus form the majority of the low highlands and plains in Northern India and Nepal. People in high altitude region of Ladakh, Bhutan, and North East India follow Buddhism while Islam is dominant in the western region of the Himalayas and the Kashmir valley. Tibetan religions are followed in the northern Himalayas and various ethnicities in North East India follow indigenous religions.[127]

For the Hindus, Himalaya is a personification Himavat, the king of all mountains and the father of goddess Parvati.[128] It is also considered to be the birthplace of goddess Ganga, the personification of river Ganges.[129] It is considered as one of the 68 places hosting a Svayambhu form of Lingam, a form of Shiva. Himalaya is mentioned as the source of medicinal plants in Ayurveda, and is the name of the one of the 84 asanas in Siddha yoga.[130] Major Hindu pilgrimage centers include the Chota Char Dham–Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath.[131][132] Thousands trek to the Amarnath Temple in Sind Valley, where an ice stalagmite formation in the Amarnath Peak is revered as a form of Shiva.[133][134][135] Pashupatinath is a sacred site in Shaivism.[136] Muktinath is considered sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists and is considered one of the Shakta pithas and part of Char Dham of Nepal. It houses saligrama stones, considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu by Hindus and Gawo Jagpa by Buddhists.[137]

Taktsang monastery in Bhutan

For the Buddhists, Paro Taktsang is a religious site where Padmasambhava is said to have established Buddhism in Bhutan.[138][139] A number of Vajrayana Buddhist sites and monasteries are situated in the Himalayas.[140][141] In Jainism, Mount Ashtapada of the Himalayan mountain range is a sacred place where Rishabhanatha, the first Jain tirthankara, attained liberation. It is believed that after Rishabhanatha attained nirvana, his son Bharata constructed three stupas and 24 shrines of the Tirthankaras with their idols in the Himalayas.[142][143]

The Himalayan people's diversity shows through their architecture, their languages, and dialects, their beliefs and rituals, and clothing. The shapes and materials of the people's homes reflect their practical needs and beliefs. The handwoven textiles of the region display colors and patterns unique to their ethnic backgrounds. Some Himalayan ethnicities give great importance to jewelry such as the Rai and Limbu, where women wear big gold earrings and nose rings to show their wealth through their jewelry.[144]

Economy

[edit]
Terrace farming in the foothills.

The Himalayas contributes to the economy of the hilly region and the plains below. As the range stretches across various ecological zones, the economy of various regions of the Himalayas depends on the availability of resources. The Himalayan mountain range and its associated forests have extensive natural resources.[145] The fertile alluvium deposited by the Himalayan rivers have contributed to some the most fertile and arable lands. [146] Fruits such as apple, pear, peach, cherry, and grape are grown in fertile river valleys and lake beds. The climate also supports extensive cultivation of nuts such as walnut, and almond. Tea and spices are grown on the hills of Eastern Himalayas, which has the conducive climate and soil. The forests provide various natural resources, which form the livelihood of various ethnic tribes in the region.[145][116]

Nainital, a hill station in the Lower Himalayas.

Due to the higher rate of flow of the Himalayan rivers, they have been dammed at multiple places for development of irrigation facilities and generation of hydroelectricity. Many of the nomadic and pastoral tribes rear livestock along the ranges of the Himalayas. They migrate to higher altitudes for grazing during the post spring season, when new pastures form and return to lower altitudes during the winters. The region is also rich in minerals, thought access has been an issue. In the Western Himalays, coal is found in Jammu region, bauxite, copper, and iron ore in Kashmir valley, borax and sulfur in Ladakh, and semi precious stones such as sapphire in Zanskar range. The Eastern Himalayas consist of deposits of gypsum, mica, graphite, coal, and various metal ores.[145]

There are a number of hill stations and religious centers on the lower ranges of the Himalayas and hence tourism is an important economic activity in the region.[147][148] Due to the presence of major peaks, mountaineering has become a major source of income and employment in the Central Himalayan region. However, the increased inflow of tourists and the associated infrastructure projects have resulted in pressure on the fragile ecosystem and depletion of the natural resources.[149][150][151] Sustainable tourism has been mooted as an alternative in the recent years.[152][153] The increasing growth of population has resulted in reduction in forest cover for agriculture, and other requirements such as firewood and timber.[145]

Transportation

[edit]
Srinagar-Leh highway (NH1) connects the Vale of Kashmir with Ladakh in India.
Kalka-Shimla Railway is one of the two Mountain Railways of India operating in the Himalayan region.

Mountain trails with crossovers at mountain passes were the earlier means of travel and communication within the Himalayas. Since the late 20th century, road construction began in the region, which enabled transportation with the mountain valleys from both the sides of the Himalayas.[145] The Karakoram Highway connects the Pakistan administered Kashmir with Xinjiang region in China in the northwestern part of the Himalayas.[154] The Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 5) stretches from the Indo-Pakistan border in the west to the India-China border in the east, before crossing over to Tibet at Shipka Pass. Other major roads in the western Himalayas include the Manali-Leh Highway connecting Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh, Srinagar-Leh highway (NH1) connecting the Vale of Kashmir with Ladakh through Khardung pass, and the Jammu–Srinagar Highway (NH 44) connecting Kashmir with rest of India through the Pir Panjal Range.[145][155][156]

In the eastern part in Nepal, the East-West Highway runs along the entire country in the east-west direction along the lower Himalayas. The Kathmandu–Terai Expressway connects the Kathmandu valley with Pokhara, the Arniko Highway connects Kathmandu with China through the Kodari pass and the Tribhuvan Highway links Kathmandu with the NH 28 on the Indian side.[145][155][157] The Indian state of Sikkim is connected to Tiber via through mountain passes at Jelep La and Nathu La.[158] Several motorable highways connect the North East Indian states with the rest of India.[145][155]

The majority of the railway lines in the region are on the Indian side, operated by Indian Railways.[159] There are two narrow gauge railway mountain railway lines‐Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in West Bengal opened in 1881, and Kalka-Shimla Railway in Himachal Pradesh operating since 1903.[160] There is a narrow gauge railway line between Raxaul in Indian state of Bihar and Amlekhganj in Nepal.[161] Other railway lines include Jammu–Baramulla line in the Indian Kashmir region and Kangra Valley Railway in the Kumaon region.[145]

Multiple airstrips have been constructed on both the sides of the Himalayas for both civilian and military purposes. The major international airports in the Himalayas are the Kathmandu airport in the Kathmandu valley and Srinagar airport in the Vale of Kashmir. There are several other airports and airstrips, which support regional and limited international flights.[145] These include some of the world's highest and dangerous airports such as Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Nepal, and Paro Airport in Bhutan.[162][163] Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh is the oldest airstrip in the world.[164]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Sovereignty over the range is contested in several places, most notably in the Kashmir region.[1][2]
  2. ^ Sanskrit: [ɦɪmaːlɐjɐ]; from Sanskrit himá 'snow, frost' and ā-laya 'dwelling, abode'),[3]

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Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Aitken, Bill, Footloose in the Himalaya, Delhi, Permanent Black, 2003. ISBN 81-7824-052-1.
  • Berreman, Gerald Duane, Hindus of the Himalayas: Ethnography and Change, 2nd rev. ed., Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • Edmundson, Henry, Tales from the Himalaya, Vajra Books, Kathmandu, 2019. ISBN 978-9937-9330-3-2.
  • Fisher, James F., Sherpas: Reflections on Change in Himalayan Nepal, 1990. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1990. ISBN 0-520-06941-2.
  • Gansser, Augusto, Gruschke, Andreas, Olschak, Blanche C., Himalayas. Growing Mountains, Living Myths, Migrating Peoples, New York, Oxford: Facts On File, 1987. ISBN 0-8160-1994-0 and New Delhi: Bookwise, 1987.
  • Hunt, John, Ascent of Everest, London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1956. ISBN 0-89886-361-9.
  • Isserman, Maurice and Weaver, Stewart, Fallen Giants: The History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes. Yale University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-300-11501-7.
  • Ives, Jack D. and Messerli, Bruno, The Himalayan Dilemma: Reconciling Development and Conservation. London / New York, Routledge, 1989. ISBN 0-415-01157-4.
  • Lall, J.S. (ed.) in association with Moddie, A.D., The Himalaya, Aspects of Change. Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1981. ISBN 0-19-561254-X.
  • Nandy, S.N., Dhyani, P.P. and Samal, P.K., Resource Information Database of the Indian Himalaya, Almora, GBPIHED, 2006.
  • Swami Sundaranand, Himalaya: Through the Lens of a Sadhu. Published by Tapovan Kuti Prakashan (2001). ISBN 81-901326-0-1.
  • Swami Tapovan Maharaj, Wanderings in the Himalayas, English Edition, Madras, Chinmaya Publication Trust, 1960. Translated by T.N. Kesava Pillai.
  • Tilman, H. W., Mount Everest, 1938, Cambridge University Press, 1948.
  • Turner, Bethan, et al. Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2010: Himalaya and Vicinity. Denver, United States Geological Survey, 2013.
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