The Himalayas

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The Himalayas form the border between India and Tibet, and include Nepal. They began to form 40-50 million years ago as a result of the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, driven by tectonic processes. They continue to grow at a rate of 1 cm per year. With peaks as high as 8,854 meters above sea level, they are the highest continental mountains in the world.

To the north, the Tibetan plateau has an average elevation of 4,600 meters, while to the south, the Great Plains of India have an elevation of about 150 meters.

Although clouds are present in the stereo anaglyph image (view with red/blue glasses with the red lens over the left eye), the mountains are also visible in 3-D. For best results, stand a few feet from the screen. Slight movement of the head from side to side will cause the cloud portions of the image to move, while the snow on the mountains remains stationary.

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) observes the daylit Earth continuously from pole to pole, and views almost the entire globe every 9 days.

Data: MISR Level 1B2 Ellipsoid product, Path 139, Orbit 1716 (April 14, 2000) Blocks 65-75

Image credit: ASDC at NASA LaRC