The formation of the Himalayas: the impressive result of plate tectonics.
The Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the worldwas formed through a complex geological process that began, mainly due to the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. About 50 million years ago, the Indian tectonic plate began moving north, moving rapidly across the Tethys Ocean, a vast sea that separated India from Asia. This plate collided with the Eurasian plate, pushing underneath it.
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How this mountain range was formed
The collision between these two enormous plates was not a rapid event, but a process that unfolded over millions of years and continues to this day. When the Indian plate began to slide under the Eurasian plate, a part of the Earth’s crust rose, gradually forming the best-known mountain range in the world. This phenomenon led to the creation of peaks that today exceed 8,000 meters in height, such as Mount Everest and K2.
The process of formation of the Himalayas is still active. The tectonic plates continue to move, causing the mountain range to grow slowly but steadily. Every year, the mountain range rises a few millimeters, and the energy accumulated by this movement causes earthquakes in the region.
The structure of the Himalayas
The structure is not uniform: it is divided into several parallel ranges, which include the Great Himalaya, the Middle Himalaya and the Lower Himalaya. In addition to its physical grandeur, this mountain range has played a crucial role in Asia’s water systems, contributing to the formation of major rivers such as the Ganges and the Indus, which feed vast areas of this region.
In short, this gigantic mountain range is the result of a slow but unstoppable dance between tectonic plates that has shaped one of the most impressive natural wonders on Earth.
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