The Himalayas - Threatened Environment
1.0 Introduction
The Himalayas are the longest and most well known mountain range in the world. It is located just north the Indian sub-continent. It is also home to some of the highest points in the world above sea level, Mt. Everest, standing at 8,848 metres above sea level and K2 standing at 8,611 metres.The main Himalayan range runs from the Indus river valley in the west, to the Brahmaputra river valley in the east, forming a range with a length of 2,400 km long, which varies in width from 400 km in the west to 150 km in the east.
1.1 Habitat
As a general analysis the Himalayas are cold. The climate on either side of the range varies as the range obstructs the movement of cold continental air from the north into India and causes southwesterly monsoon winds to peter out before crossing the range. This means there is a plethora of precipitation on the Indian side and it is dry and arid on the Tibetan side. The annual rainfall in the southern slopes is around 60 inches while in the west there is 120 inches of rainfall annually. Interestingly, throughout the Himalayas the altitude of different slopes does not always determine the climate of the area, for example, the eastern slopes are generally warmer than the western slopes as they are at lower latitude but are at similar altitude.
1.2 Formation
The Himalayan mountain range formed in a drawn out performance 30 to 50 million years ago. It occurred as the Indian plate pressed against the Eurasian continental plate pushing the Himalayas up creating the amazing sight we see today.
1.3 Flora and Fauna
There are many animals that have survived the harsh climate of the Himalayas however, there is little vegetation in the higher ranges due to lack of oxygen, exceedingly low temperatures and rocky and barren terrain.
1.3.1 Fauna
Here are two interesting species that call the Himalayas home.
The Snow Leopard
The Snow Leopard is a moderately large cat native to the Himalayan ranges of
The Himalayas are the longest and most well known mountain range in the world. It is located just north the Indian sub-continent. It is also home to some of the highest points in the world above sea level, Mt. Everest, standing at 8,848 metres above sea level and K2 standing at 8,611 metres.The main Himalayan range runs from the Indus river valley in the west, to the Brahmaputra river valley in the east, forming a range with a length of 2,400 km long, which varies in width from 400 km in the west to 150 km in the east.
1.1 Habitat
As a general analysis the Himalayas are cold. The climate on either side of the range varies as the range obstructs the movement of cold continental air from the north into India and causes southwesterly monsoon winds to peter out before crossing the range. This means there is a plethora of precipitation on the Indian side and it is dry and arid on the Tibetan side. The annual rainfall in the southern slopes is around 60 inches while in the west there is 120 inches of rainfall annually. Interestingly, throughout the Himalayas the altitude of different slopes does not always determine the climate of the area, for example, the eastern slopes are generally warmer than the western slopes as they are at lower latitude but are at similar altitude.
1.2 Formation
The Himalayan mountain range formed in a drawn out performance 30 to 50 million years ago. It occurred as the Indian plate pressed against the Eurasian continental plate pushing the Himalayas up creating the amazing sight we see today.
1.3 Flora and Fauna
There are many animals that have survived the harsh climate of the Himalayas however, there is little vegetation in the higher ranges due to lack of oxygen, exceedingly low temperatures and rocky and barren terrain.
1.3.1 Fauna
Here are two interesting species that call the Himalayas home.
The Snow Leopard
The Snow Leopard is a moderately large cat native to the Himalayan ranges of