The Indian peninsula drifted towards the north and collided with the much larger Eurasian plate. As a result of this , the sedimentary rocks which were accumulated in the geosyclines ,known as Tethys , got folded and formed the mountain systems of West Asia and Himalaya.

Formation of the Himalayas

The Himalayas are the world's highest mountain range, stretching more than 2400 km across Asia. The formation of the Himalayas began millions of years ago and was a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Indian Plate Movement

The Indian Plate, which was then a separate landmass, started moving towards the north and began colliding with the Eurasian Plate around 50 million years ago. The Indian Plate moved at a rate of around 5 cm per year, and as it collided with the Eurasian Plate, the sediments on the ocean floor were pushed up, forming a range of mountains.

Crustal Shortening and Thickening

As the Indian Plate continued to move north, the collision caused the crust to shorten and thicken, which led to the formation of the Himalayan mountain range. The two plates are still colliding, and the Himalayas continue to rise at a rate of around 5 mm per year.

Geological Structure of the Himalayas

The Himalayas are composed mainly of sedimentary rocks and are divided into four main geological zones. These zones are the Sub-Himalayas, Lesser Himalayas, Greater Himalayas, and the Tethys Himalayas. The Sub-Himalayas are composed of rocks that were deposited on the Indian Plate before it collided with the Eurasian Plate. The Lesser Himalayas consist of rocks that were deformed during the collision, and the Greater Himalayas are composed mainly of metamorphic rocks that were formed as the Indian Plate was pushed beneath the Eurasian Plate. The Tethys Himalayas are located in the northernmost part of the Himalayas and are composed of sedimentary rocks that were deposited in an ancient ocean called the Tethys Sea.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Himalayas were formed as a result of the collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Indian Plate moved north and collided with the Eurasian Plate, causing the crust to shorten and thicken, which led to the formation of the Himalayan mountain range. The Himalayas are composed mainly of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and are divided into four main geological zones.