Transhimalaya

The Transhimalaya, also known as the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, is a mountain range in the Tibetan Plateau. It is located north of the main Himalayan range and extends for over 1,600 kilometers. This range forms a significant geological and geographical divide within Tibet, separating the drainage basins of the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) to the south from the endorheic basins of the northern plateau. The Transhimalaya is characterized by its high-altitude desert and steppe environments, with peaks reaching over 7,000 meters. The Nyenchen Tanglha massif, the highest peak in the range, stands at 7,162 meters. The region is sparsely populated, primarily by nomadic herders. Geologically, the Transhimalaya is thought to have formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, similar to the Himalayas, but at an earlier stage of uplift. It plays a crucial role in the hydrology of the Tibetan Plateau and is an important area for understanding Tibetan geography and geology.