Southern Asia Is Far More Mountainous Than Northern Asia

Southern Asia dominates global topography:

• Himalaya-Karakoram-Hindu Kush-Pamir-Tien Shan complex: Contains all 14 peaks >8,000m, including Everest (8,848 m).
• Tibetan Plateau ("Roof of the World"): Average elevation 4,500 m.
• Active collision zone (Indian-Eurasian plates).

Northern Asia (Siberia, Russian Far East) is predominantly vast plains, plateaus, and low mountains:

• Ural Mountains (north-south divide Europe/Asia): Max 1,895 m (Mt. Narodnaya).
• Altai Mountains (Mongolia/Russia border): Max 4,506 m (Belukha).
• Verkhoyansk, Chersky, Sikhote-Alin ranges: Generally <2,500 m.
• West Siberian Plain: One of world's largest lowlands.

Southern Asia's mountains are higher, more extensive, and tectonically younger.