Himillayas Essay, Research Paper

The Himalayas are the highest mountain system in the world. They

consist of several parallel mountain ranges that extend in a 1,500 mile curve

across southern Asia from the Pamirs, west of the great bend of the Indus

River, eastward to the great bend of the Brahmaputra River. Himalaya means

the House of Snow, or Snowy Range. The Himalayas form a barrier that

separates northern India from the plateau of Tibet, in China. In this report I

will be covering the climate, topography, culture, religion, and economy in

this mountain system. Since the Himalayas extend for 1,500 miles they pass

through more than one country. I will be concentrating on the Himalayas in

India, China, and Nepal. All of the Geographical aspects in this report will be

concentrated in these three regions the mountains stretch through and divide.

Almost every kind of climate imaginable can be found in the Himalayas

because of the great difference in altitude in different parts of the range. In

southern Tibet Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world shuts out

moisture-bearing winds from India. Sudden blizzards and snow storms are

very common in this region of China. Unstable winds sweep through this

region all year round. January temperatures average 24 degrees F. July

temperatures average 58 degrees F. The climate in this region of the

Himalayas is the most unbearable.

The Himalayas i cover much of Nepal. In this area as well the

mountains have long harsh winters and short, cool summers. This area is

about 12,000 feet above sea level and snow falls heavily in this area. In the

northern India the Himalayas curve from northern most India to northeastern

India. In this region of the mountains the climate does not change for the most

part. Depending on the altitude the climate remains cold in the winter and the

temperatures drop below freezing. Not other area in India has such a cold

season. Snow continues to fall throughout the cold season during this time

especially as the altitude increases.

The surface features of the Himalayas are beautiful. They consist of

high snow covered peaks and high passes that are among the highest in the

world. Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world in Tibet is a incredible

sight to see. This area is often called the roof of the world. In the Himalaya

region of Nepal steep river valleys cut through the glaciers and snow of the

Himalayas. Forest cover the mountains up to the altitude of about 12,000 feet

above sea level. In this area only grasses, lichens, and moss can grow in the

cold, dry air above this altitude. In the northern part of India the topography

of the Himalayas continues to be incredible. The Himalayas in India are as

much as 200 miles wide in some places. It includes India?s tallest mountain,

Kanchenjunga which is 28,208 feet high. In the foothills of these areas many

kinds of wildlife, including tigers, monkeys, rhinoceroses. and several species

of deer dwell.

The culture of the people who live in the Himalayas is very interesting.

The people of Tibet are the most incredible. The stretch of the Himalayas in

Tibet is the highest in the world. Most people would consider the living

traditions in this area unbearable but the people of Tibet are incredible

spiritual people. Tibetans speak dialect related to the Burmese language. The

people who live in northern Tibet in the Himalayas are mostly nomads. They

live in tents of yak hair. Tibetans tend to weave there own clothing. The dress

for men and women consist of a long robe with long sleeves and a high collar.

The wealthy can afford to wear silk robes. Although polygamy is practiced in

Tibet most of the people in this region can only afford to have one wife. Some

brothers share a wife and work together to support the family.

In the northern part of India in the region of the Himalayas the

population is very small. Most of the people in who live in the Himalaya

region of India are the Indo-Aryans. These people are decedents of the

Mongoloid people who also live in the Himalaya region of India. The

language spoken by most of the people in this area is Indo-European. Most of

these people live in small villages because of the harsh climate in this area.

In the Nepal region of the Himalayas the people who live in this area

are of Tibetan descent. These people live in small villages that consist of

two-story houses made of stone and or mud-brick. The Himalayas cover

about 80% of Nepal so the Nepalese are well adapted to the harsh climate

and rocky land of the Himalayas. The Sherpas and the Gurkhas are the two

Nepalese groups. The Sherpas, a Himalayan people, have won fame as guides

and porters for mountain-climbing expeditions. Sherpa men and women can

carry heavy loads up to high altitudes. The people of Nepal also practice

polygyny and polyandry as well. The official language of this area is Nepali.

Because the Himalayas stretch through such a vast area of land and

regions it has many different types of people. The people of these regions

follow many different religions as well. The Tibetans are the most intensely

religious of the groups. The people turn prayer wheels and recite prayers on

the streets. The people in this region of the Himalayas religious rites are a

important phase of life. The nobles have chapels or shrines in there homes.

They follow a religious branch of Buddhism called Lamaism. The religion

recognizes two grand Lamas. The Puncheon Lama is regarded as the leading

spiritual authority in Tibet. The Dally Lama is looked upon as the ruler of the

land. About one-fith of the people in Tibet are monks. Many of them live in

the region of the Himalayas. They live together in large complexes to save

money.

In the northern India region of the Himalayas the religion of choice is

also Buddhism. Although 83% of the rest of India practices Hinduism the

people of northern India in Himalayan region still practice Buddhism which

used to be India?s chief religion in accent times. Today, less than 1% practice

Buddhism. Another religion practiced in the Himalayan region is Sikhism

which began in 1500 as a movement to combine Islam which is India?s other

leading religion with Buddhism.

In the Himalayan region of Nepal the people practice both Hinduism

and Buddhism. Because Nepalese are of Tibetan descent Buddhism is

practiced and is very popular. After all Buddha, the founder of Buddhism,

was born in Nepal about 563 B.C. However, the Nepalese have combined the

beliefs of both religions into there beliefs. Many people of Nepal also worship

local gods and spirits and consult shamans who are magical healers in times

of illness.

The topography and climate of the Himalayas to not give any

advantage for advancements in economic power in these regions. Most of the

people in northern Tibet are nomads who are shepards and herders who roam

about in the upland region. Because of the violent climate in the Himalayas it

is almost impossible to farm so the economy is very weak in this area. Most

of the farming done in Tibet is in the low valleys of the mountains

The Economy of Nepal almost depends entirely on farming. But in the

northern region of the Himalayas this is very difficult. The only are land can

be farmed in the Himalayas is the low altitude valleys in which the climate is

not as harsh. Nepal has received large amounts of money from other countries

to help its economy. Money spent from visitors from other countries has

helped improve economic conditions in this region. The people in the

Himalayas of Nepal make small sums of money by being guides for mountain

climbing expeditions. But over all there is few economic opportunities for

people in this area.

In the northern India region of the Himalayas the economy is not much

better. As I said before it is almost impossible to excel in the Himalayas

agriculturally and most of India?s business comes from agriculture. Again in

the low valleys of the Himalayas farming can be done as well as mining. But

in the high altitudes of the mountains conditions are not permeable. Other

than a large Manufacturing center in Amritsar near the Himalayas there is not

much economic action in this region of India.

The Himalayas are truly a cite to see. The are the biggest and the

longest mountain system in the world. They stretch across more than four

different nations. That is why many different types of cultures and people in

this large region who I hope I have covered in my report. The climate of the

Himalayas is extremely violent and unstable. The winters are deathly cold and

the summers are not what we would consider a summer. It?s topography is

amazing with its snow covered peaks and high passes and beautiful river

valleys. It has a extremely diverse cultures and Religions because of the mass

amount of area it covers. But it is very hard to make a living because of its

unstable climate. I have learned allot in writing this report and I hope you

enjoyed reading it as much I as I did completing it.