The Himalayas: Earth's Highest Mountain Range

Undisputed Roof of the World

The Himalayas are the highest mountain range on Earth, spanning five nations: Nepal, India, China (Tibet), Bhutan, Pakistan.

Key Peaks

• Mount Everest: 8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft) – highest above sea level
• K2 (Karakoram, often grouped): 8,611 m
• Kangchenjunga: 8,586 m
• Lhotse: 8,516 m
• Makalu: 8,485 m
• Over 100 peaks exceed 7,200 m

Geographic & Ecological Significance

• Source of Asia's great rivers (Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Mekong)
• Critical water tower for 1.5+ billion people
• Unique biodiversity: snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan tahr
• Cultural heartland for Buddhism, Hinduism, indigenous traditions

Formation

Ongoing collision of Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates (~50 mm/yr uplift). Still rising.