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Himalayas (hĬmäl´əyəz, hĬməlā´əz)

Himalayas  (hĬmäl´əyəz, hĬməlā´əz)  [Sanskrit,=abode of snow], great Asian mountain system, extending c.1,500 mi (2,410 km) E from the Indus River in Pakistan through India, the Tibet region of China, Nepal, E India, and Bhutan to the southern bend of the Brahmaputra River in SE Tibet. For most of its length, the Himalayas comprise two nearly parallel ranges separated by a wide valley in which the Indus and Sutlej rivers flow westward and the Brahmaputra flows eastward. The northern range is called the Trans-Himalayas. The southern range has three parallel zones: the Great Himalayas, the perpetually snow-covered main range in which the highest peaks (average elevation 20,000 ft/6,100 m) are found; the Lesser Himalayas with 7,000 to 15,000 ft (2,130–4,570 m) elevations; and the southernmost Outer Himalayas, 2,000 to 5,000 ft (610–1,520 m) high. A relatively young and still growing system subject to severe earthquakes, the Himalayas' main axis was formed c.25 to 70 million years...

Himalayas

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Himalayas from the International Space Station, looking south from over the  Tibetan Plateau . The summits are Makalu [left (8,462 metres; 27,765 feet)], Everest [middle (8,848 metres; 29,035 feet)], Lhotse [middle (8,516 metres; 27,939 feet)] and Cho Oyu [right (8,201 metres; 26,906 feet)] -- at the heights often flown by commercial aircraft. The position of the Himalayas mountain range The 6,000 km plus journey of the Indian subcontinent  before its collision with Asia about 40 to 50 million years ago The  Taktshang  Monastery, also known as the "Tiger's Nest" The  Himalayas  are a  mountain range  in South  Asia , the highest in the world. The west end is in  Pakistan . They run through  Jammu and Kashmir , into the  Republic of India 's  Himachal Pradesh  and  Uttaranchal  states, Nepal , and the  Kingdoms  of  Sikkim , and  Bhutan . They end...

The Karakoram Range

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The Karakoram Range The Karakoram is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), Ladakh (India), and Xinjiang (China). It is actually the northwestern extension of the Himalaya. This range is home to many peaks over five miles in height, including K2 (Mount Godwin Austen), the second highest peak in the world (8,611 m/28,251 ft), and three other of the  Earth's fourteen 8,000-meter peaks  — Gasherbrum I at 8,068 m. (26,471 ft), Broad Peak at 8,047 m. (26,402 ft), and Gasherbrum II at 8,035 m. (26,363 ft). The range is about 311 miles in length, and is the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside the polar regions. The Siachen Glacier at 44 miles long and the Biafo Glacier at 39 miles long are the world's second and third longest glaciers outside the Arctic and Antarctic areas. About 28-50% of these mountains are glaciated, much more than the Himalayan average of only 8-12...

Karakoram

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This article is about the mountain range. For the ancient city in Mongolia, see  Karakorum . For the highway, see Karakoram Highway . Not to be confused with  Karakum . Karakoram Baltoro glacier  in the central Karakoram with 8000ers ,  Gasherbrum I  &  II . Highest point Peak K2 Elevation 8,611 m (28,251 ft) Coordinates 35°52′57″N   76°30′48″E Geography Highest  Karakoram  peaks as seen from International Space Station Countries Pakistan ,  India ,  China  and Afghanistan States/Provinces Gilgit–Baltistan ,  Ladakh , Xinjiang  and  Badakhshan Range coordinates 36°N   76°E Coordinates :  36°N   76°E Borders on Ladakh Range ,  Pamirs  and Hindu Raj  ( Hindu Kush ) UN map of Siachin Actual Ground Position Line  shown with yellow-colored dotted line The  Karakoram , or  Karakorum  is a large mountain range...