The Formation of the Himalaya Mountains, Research Paper Example

Himalaya Mountains were formed in relatively recent times in the history of the earth and consequently, there are perceived to be young mountains. The implication of their recent formation is relative to other mountains such as the Indian Aravallis and the American Appalachian. These mountains are of the form of Fold Mountains as a result of their serial extension of parallel ridges and folds to a distance of 2500 kilometers long.

The applicable theory that best explains the formation of the mountain is the Continental Drift. This drift is dated back to 1912 which explains that the composition of the earth comprised a number of plates that were given the name of “tectonic plates”. These were the plates that were believed to hold the continents as well as the entire earth. With time, the continents amassed together leading to the formation of a solitary mass. From this point, the continents progressively “drifted” away from each other over an extended time period (Sundaranand, 2001).

The Formation of the Himalaya Mountains is also believed to be as a result of potential movement of the Indian peninsula and the Angaraland in the opposite direction approaching each other (Nandy, Dhyani & Samal, 2006).  An astonishing phenomenon is observable with the Himalaya Mountains in which case the granitic core is on a trend of a continuous rise leading to its exposure to the valleys, peaks along with gorges just like in other orogenic mountains such as Mt. Everest.

Another scholar named Wager however has a different theory behind the formation of the mountain. Wager attributes the formation of Himalaya Mountains to erosion coupled by isostatic uplift which is ideally applicable to a single phase. To features are evident in this theory, the mountain and secondly, erosion. Great erosion is consequential to erosion which was a possible occurrence in the eastern side of the Himalaya Mountain that is characterized by great erosions as well as heights. The eastern side is also characterized by high rainfall and deeper gorges and valleys 9 Chandra, 2008).

The great Himalayan belt that adjoins Tibet has gorges with characteristic massive erosion which was attributed to the formation of ridges and high peaks. Vertical movement is also believed to have key played a role in increasing the elevation of the mountain. Matter was believed to have moved upwards from the earth’s mantle in the Himalayas.

The Himalaya Mountains continues to rise despite the end of the phase associated with major upheaval although this development is much slower. The Himalaya Mountains has an annual rise of five millimeter attributed to a continuous movement to the north of the Indian plate at an annual rate of 2 centimeters. Consequently, the Himalaya Mountains have remained structurally unstable and also geologically active, a situation that has prompted frequent occurrence of earthquakes in the region neighboring the mountain (Aitken, 2003).

An important point of consideration is that, detection of the movement in plates along with uplifting process of the mountains through casual observation is not a possibility. The measurements of these unobservable movements have been facilitated by the use of a technology of Global Positioning System, GPS.

References

Aitken, B., (2003). Footloose in the Himalaya. Delhi: Permanent Black.

Chandra, B. R., (2008). Encyclopedia of the Himalayas. New Delhi:  Mittal Publications.

Nandy, S., Dhyani, P. & Samal, P.K., (2006). Resource Information Database of the Indian Himalaya. Almora: GBPIHED.

Sundaranand, S., (2001). Himalaya: Through the Lens of a Sadhu. Tapovan Kuti Prakashan