Himalayan environment and culture:
the Himalayan “dilemma”
Geog 3251 Mountain Geographysummer 2007 term A
Himalaya = dynamic region
• Geologically• Culturally• Politically
Geology
Nepal’s Maoist movement
A war for ice
•The northwestern part of the region evolved under Muslim influence•The southern flanks of the centre and east under Hindu influence, •The northern fringe under Buddhist influence.
Nepal’s ethnic diversity
Himalayan region extremely dynamic
• Geophysically: tectonic activity• Climatically: monsoon• Politically:
– Chinese-Nepalese border conflict– India-Nepal border conflict– Nepal’s maoist war
• Culturally: ethnic diversity
Two types of terraces
• Khet (irrigated terraces) - at lower altitudesslope inward
rice & wheat crops
• Bari (rainfed terraces) - at higher altitudes slope outwards maize and buckwheat
Bari