Wanderlust World Wanderlust World - Estimated Formation: Around 40-30 million years ago
- Formation Process: The collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate initiated the formation of the Himalayas. As the Indian Plate moved northward, it subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate, causing thickening of the crust.
- Location: This early phase of the Himalayan orogeny resulted in the formation of mountains in what is now the Lesser and Higher Himalayas.
Stage 2: The Greater Himalayas
- Estimated Formation: Around 25-20 million years ago
- Formation Process: As the Indian Plate continued to subduct beneath the Eurasian Plate, the collision intensified, leading to further crustal thickening and uplift.
- Location: This phase of the Himalayan orogeny gave rise to the towering ranges of the Greater Himalayas, which include peaks like Mount Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga.
Stage 3: The Siwalik Hills or The Sub-Himalayas
- Estimated Formation: Around 10-5 million years ago
- Formation Process: With ongoing collision and subduction, the sediments derived from the erosion of the Himalayas were deposited and folded to form the foothills of the Himalayas, known as the Siwalik Hills or the Sub-Himalayas.
- Location: These foothills primarily consist of sedimentary rocks and extend along the southern front of the Himalayas, covering regions like the Terai in Nepal and northern India.