The Himalayan mountain range of Asia is the world's highest and includes the tallest mountains on earth including Mount Everest and K2. The Himalayas separate the Tibetan Plateau from the Indian subcontinent and stretch across six countries: Bhutan, India, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The name is derived from a Sanskrit word and means "abode of snow."
Climate and Geography
Due to the extreme altitude of the Himalayas, the region is characterized by high levels of snowfall and many areas remain permanently frozen. The over 15,000 glaciers among the rocky mountain peaks melt to form hundreds of glacial lakes. Melting waters create three of the world's major river systems and provide fresh water to over 1.3 billion people.
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Himalayas Travel
- Connecting Horizons: Himalayas
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Means "abode of snow"
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Region
Northern part of Indian sub-continentTravel Himalayas: Himalayas Information
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World's largest mountain range
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Over 100 mountains exceed 7200 meters
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Famous peaks
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Mount Everest is 29,035 feet tall
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Climate, flora and fauna vary with altitude
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One of the youngest mountain ranges on the planet
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Greatly affects the climate of surrounding areas
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Source of Indus Basin and Ganga-Brahmaputra BasinLocation of Himalayas: Facts about Himalayas
