10 Freezing Facts About Himalayas

The Himalayas, great mountain system of Asia, forming a barrier between the Plateau of Tibet to the north and the alluvial plains of the Indian subcontinent to the south. The Himalayas include the highest mountains in the world, with more than 110 peaks rising to elevations of 24,000 feet (7,300 metres) or more above sea level.

Many of the mountain peaks are sacred to the people who live in the surrounding areas. Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims go there and pray to God.

For most general travellers, it is an impossible mission to conquer the highest peak of the world in the Himalayas, but it will be one of the most unforgettable journeys when you visit the forests, the villages, and the mountains of the Himalaya.

Here are some freezing facts about the Himalayas.

1. The Highest Mountain Range in the World.

A monstrous mountain range, the Himalayas has 30 peaks that tower over 24,000 feet and average about 200 miles in width. In fact, the Himalaya cover about 0.4 per cent of the surface area of the Earth!

2. It’s Also The Most Restless Set Of Mountains.

The Indo-Australian plate is presently moving at 67 mm per year, and in the next 10 million years, it is calculated to travel about 1,500 km into Asia. No other mountain range is moving this fast.

3. Himalaya Mountains is the home to some rare animals, like Snow Leopard, Himalaya Wild Yak, Musk Dear, Himalayan Tahr, and some other endangered species.

In total, there are over 300 mammal species and thousands of birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians living harmoniously in the Himalayas. Due to the different climate in different regions of the Himalaya Mountains, such as the subtropical regions and alpine regions, the animals are different.

4. Covers Many Countries.

Though a major part of the Himalayan ranges lies in India, it is spread across other countries, namely Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Tibet Autonomous Region, and the People’s Republic of China.

5. Danger on Mount Everest.

Around 150 people have died during their expeditions to the peaks of Mount Everest. Frigid climate and unstable terrain make a climb to the peak dangerous and thrilling. With a death rate of 9 per cent, the climb is not for the faint of heart.

6. The Rivers Originating From The Himalayas Are Older Than The Peaks.

The rivers flowing from the Himalayas are older than the Himalayan peaks. The Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, and Yarlung rivers originate from the Himalayas to form the three major rivers in the Asian continent.

7. Featured in many movies as well.

The Himalayan Mountains have featured in many movies, including “Seven Years in Tibet” (1997), “Everest” (1998 and 2015), “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” (1995), and many more.

8. Himalayan Population is humongous.

There are over 50 million people living in the entire range of the Himalayas in northeast India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. The population of the Himalayas includes Aryans, Mongoloids, and Negroids. Furthermore, there are about 600 million people living in the basins formed by the rivers rising in the Himalayas, such as the Indus, the Ganges, and the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra.

9. Tales of Yeti.

Tales of missing people and deaths in the Himalayan trails are often connected with Yeti. The legend has it that he is a wild snowman who creates a lot of disturbances and also kills people. However, Yeti has more or less become like a ghost without any scientific evidence.

10. Below Sea Level.

Scientific research says that the Himalayas were formed out of the separation of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate. Interestingly, the marine limestone at the base of Mount Everest proved that the Himalayas were below the sea level some 50 million years ago.