Convergent Collision Boundary: Himalayas

Whew!  We have traveled a long way to visit all those different locations, but we still have one more.  We are heading to the tallest mountains in the world, to see an enormous example of convergent collision.  Himalayas, here we come!

http://kerdowney.com/2009/06/customize-your-travel-experience-in-the-himalayas/

At a convergent collision boundary, one continental plate moves towards another continental plate, and the two plates start to push against each other.  The crust at that boundary is pushed up as the two plates meld into one larger continent.  Although one plate does get stuffed under another, the continental crust is thick and buoyant and does not subduct as easily as ocean crust does.  That plate crumples, bends, breaks, and becomes very thick, creating mountains.

http://canarygeog.canaryzoo.com/Plate%20Tectonics%20Plate%20Tectonics.htm

The Himalayas are the tallest mountains in the world, one of the most visible and dramatic examples of plate tectonic force.  This immense mountain range stretches 2,900 kilometers along the border between India and Tibet.  It started forming between 40 and 50 million years ago, when the landmasses of India and Eurasia collided.  Because these continental landmasses have about the same rock density, one could not be subducted under the other, and the pressure of the forceful plates could only go up.  In 50 million years, Mount Everest has risen to heights of more than 9 kilometers, and it continues growing at a rate of more than 1 centimeter per year.  But scientists believe that the Eurasian Plate may now be stretching out rather than thrusting up, due to gravity.  Convergent collision causes earthquakes and large mountains.  Earthquake pose the greatest threat to the Himalayan region, in total killing more than 94,000 people in the past 50 years by building collapse and avalanches associated with Himalayan earthquakes.  One of the biggest earthquakes was the Kinnaur Earthquake. 
This earthquake struck in the early afternoon of January 19, 1975 and caused havoc in parts of the Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti regions of India. It is believed to have been caused by movements along a fault known as the Kaurik fault. This quake killed hundreds of people and caused severe damage to property.  A massive landslide was triggered off by this earthquake near Maling in the Spiti Valley. Another giant landslide blocked the Paro chu River near Sumdo. Many smaller occurrences of slope failure were caused by this earthquake, and as a result, communications remained disrupted for several days and helicopter services had to be brought into operation to bring relief to the affected areas.

http://kerdowney.com/2009/06/customize-your-travel-experience-in-the-himalayas/