6 Fascinating Facts About The Himalayas

This young range was formed when India crashed into Asia’s mainland

One of the most stunning facts about the Himalayas is that the highest mountain range is also one of the youngest mountain ranges on the planet. During the Upper Cretaceous, around 70 million years ago, the Indian subcontinent was moving north at a pace of about 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) a year. 50 million years later, it started colliding with the Asian mainland.

This event literally pushed the sedimentary rocks settled on the ocean floor upwards to create the Himalayas. This also means that the peaks of the highest mountains consist of marine limestone which was once located at the bottom of this ancient ocean!