Himalaya

Abstract

The Himalaya, or “abode of snow” in the ancient Sanskrit language are the highest mountains on our planet, and as such constitute a huge repository of snow and ice, the meltwaters of which nourish many millions of Asian people. The Himalayan mountains are subdivided into the Western or Punjab Himalaya, the Central Garhwal or Kumaun Himalaya, and the Eastern Himalaya. Each one of these Himalayan divisions is further subdivided in separate ranges or groups of ranges, all of which are now located on a new digital elevation model derived from ASTER satellite imagery in Figures 1–3.