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Wondrous Beauty of the Himalayas! |
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The Himalaya is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent
from the Tibetan Plateau. By extension, it is also the name of the massive
mountain system which includes the Himalaya proper, the Karakoram, the Hindu
Kush, and a host of minor ranges extending from the Pamir Knot. Together, the
Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest and home to all 14 of the
world's highest peaks, the Eight-thousanders, including Mount Everest. To
comprehend the enormous scale of Himalayan peaks, consider that Aconcagua at
22,841 feet (6962 m) is the highest mountain in the Andes, while there are over
thirty peaks in the Himalaya exceeding 25,000 feet (7620 m).
Etymologically Himalaya means "abode of snow" in Sanskrit ( from hima "snow",
and aalaya "abode"). The correct name for the range is Himalaya, though the
plural Himalayas is often used.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 July 2010 )
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