Himalayan environment and culture: the Himalayan “dilemma”

Himalayan environment and culture: the Himalayan dilemmaGeog 3251 Mountain Geographysummer 2007 term A

Himalaya = dynamic regionGeologicallyCulturallyPolitically

Geology

Nepals Maoist movement

A war for ice

The northwestern part of the region evolved under Muslim influenceThe southern flanks of the centre and east under Hindu influence, The northern fringe under Buddhist influence.

Nepals ethnic diversity

Himalayan region extremely dynamic Geophysically: tectonic activityClimatically: monsoonPolitically:Chinese-Nepalese border conflictIndia-Nepal border conflictNepals maoist warCulturally: ethnic diversity

Two types of terracesKhet (irrigated terraces) - at lower altitudesslope inward rice & wheat crops

Bari (rainfed terraces) - at higher altitudes slope outwards maize and buckwheat

Bari