The Himalayas ATTENTION TO PROTECT

The Himalayas ATTENTION TO PROTECT  

International Mountain Day 2012

Er. Priti Sharma Environmentalist

The United Nations General Assembly has announced 11 December as the “International Mountain Day”. It is celebrated every year with a different theme coherent to consistent mountain development.

International Mountain Day extends us with an opportunity to join along with our friends and peers from the Hindu Kush-Himalayas and the entire world to increase awareness about the significance of mountains and to establish partnerships that will enable bring positive surge in the world of mountains.

How it is celebrated?

Different activities are conducted on International Mountain Day. These aim to enhance awareness and knowledge about the contribution of mountains and mountainous regions amongst the public at large and other professionals. A few examples of events are: Symposia, book fairs, themed lectures for students; workshops and press releases. Mountaineering and explorations organizations may conduct lectures and seminars on or around December 11.

Background

With the goal to inculcate awareness and trigger action on issues relating to consistent mountain development in 2002 The International Year of Mountains was observed. It was headed by Food and Agriculture Organization. At the headquarters of UN “The International Year of Mountains” was launched in NY on 11th December 2001.

International Mountain Day extends us with an opportunity to join along with our friends and peers from the Hindu Kush-Himalayas and the entire world to increase awareness about the significance of mountains and to establish partnerships that will enable bring positive surge in the world of mountains.

Some of the highest mountains in the world are located in northern India. These are part of the Himalaya mountains. Being the world's highest mountain chain, the Himalayas is characterized by its great height, complex geologic structure, snowcapped peaks, large valley glaciers, deep river gorges, and rich vegetation.

They were given the name Himalaya which means "home of snow", because snow never melts on their high peaks.

The Himalayas form the planet's highest mountain region, containing 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world. Among these peaks are the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest (8848 m), which is on the Nepal-Tibet border; the second highest peak, K2 or Mount Godwin Austen (8,611 m), located on the border between China and Jammu and Kashmir, the third highest peak, Kanchanjunga (8,598 m) on the Nepal-India border.

The Himalayas can be classified in a variety of ways. From south to north, the mountains can be grouped into four parallel, longitudinal mountain belts,

Shivaliks (Outer Himalayas or Sub-Himalayas)
Himachal ( Lower Himalayas)
Himadri ( Higher Himalayas)
Trans-Himalayas (Tibetan Himalayas)

From west to east the Himalayas are divided broadly into three mountainous regions - the Western Himalayas, the Central Himalayas and the Eastern Himalayas.

Major Himalayan Hill Stations include Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Dharamsala, Ladakh, Simla, Nainital, Kullu, Manali, Dalhousie, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Amarnath, Gangtok, Kailas Mansarovar, Vaishno Devi, Patni Top etc.
 

The Himalayas is the world's highest mountain range comprising all top ten of the world's highest peaks. In fact, the Himalayas includes 14 peaks more than 8,000 meters high and some 200 more than 6000 meters.