50 million years old The Himalayas is the youngest and highest mountain range on the planet and is still rising. Ascending of the Himalayas is an ongoing geological process and the most visible form of dramatic tectonic plate collision.
The colossal mountain range that stretches 2,900 km along the border between India and Tibet is steadfastly rising more than 1 cm in a year.
How has the mighty mountain born?
Himalaya have formed as a result of the collision between the Indian plate and Eurasian plate about 40 to 50 million years ago. India was a large island situated off the Australian coast, about 200 million years ago. When Pangaea broke apart Indian plate began to forge northward at a rate of 9 meters in a century and collided with the Eurasian plate. As the landmass of two techno plate has the same rock density thus one could not sub-ducted under the other. The pressure of the impinging plates relieved by thrusting skyward, forming the jagged Himalayan peaks and splendid mountain ranges.
Why do the Himalayas continue to rise?
*The Indian plate is still advancing towards the Eurasian plate to get hem-in with the Asian continent and the Tibetan landmass is pressing on the Indian plate to buckle up above the Indian plate. But equal rock density doesn’t let either of the continental plates be sub-ducted. The friction laid continental crust to thicken due to folding and faulting and the compressional forces are pushing the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau upward. The thickness of the continental crust here is around 75 km. The thickening of the continental crust marked the end of the volcanic activity in the region as any magma moving upwards would solidify before it could reach the surface what makes the underneath crust more robust.
*Mountain building is a geological process, a geologist has named this mechanism as ‘glacial buzzsaw’. Buzzsaw effect is based on glacier erosion and frost cracking action that occurs after a subsequent growth of the mountain that gives its height a check. Most mountains on our planet are limited to 1.5 km elevation above the regional snowline but Himalayan peaks are discrepancy and are extended to R2-3 km above the regional snowline. Himalayan-Korakram range defies the Buzzsaw mechanism and keeps on ascending, wearing the glorious batch of highest mountain ranges of the earth. The high crests of these ranges tower over 8000m and most of the peaks are above 7,000m elevation. The mean annual temperature of -10 degree Celsius protects the glaciers from melting.
The fact is produced by (IISER) Indian Institute of Science and Research.
Though the rise of Mount Everest has shrunk after the 2015 earthquake that had hit the region with 7.8 magnitudes but still stands taller with 29,031.7 feet height.
These are the reason the highest mountain Himalayas continues to evolve.
Wow. This is wonderful. I’ve heard a lot about the Himalayas mountains but I am just getting to know how it was formed and the fact that it is still increasing in height (even though in a slow rate). Any wonder why the place is so famous? The glaciers add to the beauty of such natural endowment. I wouldn’t say I want to be at the peak of the mountains, but anyone that gets up there, I will be elated to be standing below to welcome him or her.
A vacation to the Himalayas would be a dream come true. Marvelous.
Really informative.
Your knowledge is admirable.
Every one know Great Himalayas perhaps do not have such remarkable points l also have not.
Thanks.
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