How long is himalayas

Other Ranges: To go to pages for other ranges either click on the map above, or on range names in the hierarchy snapshot below, which show the parent, siblings, and children of the Himalaya. Sub-peaks are excluded from this list. List may not be complete, since only summits in the PBC Database are included. Mount Everest Snow clouds formed by intense wind are common sights on the massive rocky pyramid of Mount Everest.

Lhotse Mt. Everest on the left and Lhotse on the right in this view from the route to Everest basecamp. November, Photo by Richard Carey. Click here for larger-size photo. Himalaya means "abode of snow" with an estimated 15, glaciers throughout the range.

The Himalaya form an arc 2,km long that separates the Indian subcontinent in the south from the Tibetan Plateau in the north. The Himalaya has helped develop the cultures of South Asia and many Himalayan peaks are sacred for both Hindus and Buddhists. Probably the most important is Mount Kailash 6,m located in Tibet, this peak is an abode of the Hindi God Shiva and is also revered by Buddhists.

It is forbidden to climb Kailash however pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailasa on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune.

Extending for almost 2, km across Bhutan, China, India and Nepal, the Eastern Himalayan sub-region is home to the world's tallest peaks, including Mt Everest, and houses the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar caps.

The region also feeds 3 of the world's great rivers: The Ganges, Indus and Yangtze, providing water to over a billion people across Asia. The Himalayas forms a 2, km long barrier that seperates the lowlands of the Indian subcontinent from the high, dry Tibetan Plateau. As a result tropical and subtropical forest, temperate forest, savanna, tundra, rich alpine meadows and the world's highest ice covered peaks can all be found within the region.

This incredible diversity of climate, altitude, rainfall, and soil conditions generates the unique diversity of flora and fauna assemblages found in the region. The Eastern Himalayas are one of the most biologically rich areas on Earth, home to a staggering 10, species of plant, species of bird, species of mammal, species of freshwater fish, species of reptile and species of amphibian. It is also home to some of the world's most iconic species on Earth including tigers, rhinos, elephants, and the illusive snow leopard.

Just as the Eastern Himalayas are renowned for the rich biodiversity of the region, they are equally celebrated for the incredible diversity of cultures and people. With more than 40 languages, the region is home to a mosaic of cultures and faiths that have lived closely with nature for centuries, with many remaining intrinsically entwined today. The Eastern Himalayas is facing a range of serious threats to the biodiversity, environments and human livelihoods of the region.

These include habitat loss through deforestation, degradation and fragmentation; species loss through habitat loss, wildlife poaching and human-wildlife conflict; and climate change, which threatens to exacerbate the impacts from all of these threats.

Through our Living Himalayas Initiative we are working closely with the governments and people of Bhutan, India and Nepal to conserve and reconnect the region's natural landscapes.