Formation of the Himalayas

Learning objectives

To explain the formation of mountains as a result of the theory of plate tectonics.
To illustrate the formation of a mountain chain. The Himalayas in this case.
To observe the effects of a lithospheric convergence.

The Himalayan mountain chain is an example of a continental collision. 40 million years ago, the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate. The enormous pressure forces resulting from this shock caused a gigantic mountain uplift. There are 3 000 km of the Himalayas with Mount Everest being the highest peak (8848m). Further north, behind the front line, the Eurasian plate is raised over 2.5 million km²(6 times the size of California - 10 times that of UK) forming the Tibetan Plateau with an average altitude of over 4000m.

This phenomena is one of a number of examples of the theory of the continental drift and plate tectonics model.