The mighty mountains of Himalayas have been a fascination for geologists and mountaineers alike. It is where the highest peak, Mount Everest, stands tall and elegant. Every year hundreds of mountaineers attempt to conquer the Mount Everest. But it seems the mountains are also raising their bar. They keep growing in size! Yes, the Himalayas are growing taller. Himalaya growth rate is more than one centimeter every year.
How do the Himalayas grow?
As we might remember from our school books, Himalayas were formed due to the collision of tectonic plates. About 70 million years back, the landmass which is now called India, was located far south. Due to continental drift, it started moving north and settled after colliding with the Eurasian plate. When the Indian and Eurasian plates bumped into each other, the landmass folded and rose up giving birth to the Himalayan Mountain ranges.
Himalaya growth rate reasons
The story doesn’t end there. The Indian plate is still trying to continue its northward trip, pushing the Tibetan plateau. This push is absorbed by the Tibetan plateau by forming a thrust along the Himalayan region. This thrust causes the mountains to rise up minutely. This is what causes the Himalaya Mountains to grow in height with every passing year.
So a person who plans a climb the Mount Everest after 20 years will have to do a little more huffing and puffing. Think of it, Mount Everest is not happy with its height, and is thinking of ways to grow taller!
For more interesting facts about earth, visit our Fascinating Facts section.
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