The Himalayas are one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. They are located in Asia, extending over 2,400 kilometres through Pakistan, India, China, Nepal and Bhutan.They basically consist of two almost parallel ranges of mountains.
These ranges are separated by a long, broad valley, which contains the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers.The northern range of mountains is called the Trans-Himalayas. It includes K2, the world's second highest mountain,which was first climbed in 1954.The southern range is divided into three groups: the Great, Lesser and Outer Himalayas.
The Great Himalayas, which are permanently covered with snow, are the highest.They include Mount Everest,the world's highest peak at 8,848 metres,which was first climbed in 1953. (16)The Lesser and Outer Himalayas ,which reach maximum heights of about 4,500 and 1,500 metres respectively, lie further south.
