Covering over 17.2 million square miles, Asia is the largest continent on the planet. It constitutes one-third of the global dry land area and has one with the greatest population in the world. There are more than 4.5 billion people in Asia, or this constitutes about two-thirds of the global population. The continent is in the North-Eastern Hemisphere. It is divided into 48 countries. Besides the colorful culture, diverse population, biodiversity, the continent is home to some of the world’s tallest mountains and longest ranges.
Kunlun Mountains
The Kunlun Mountains, in the region of Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, China, has a length of 3,000 kilometers or 1,900 miles. The Liushi Shan, at an elevation of 7,167 meters, is the highest peak. The range stretches from the Gobi desert to Tarim Basin and is the Karakash and White Jade rivers source.
Tian Shan
With a length of 2, 900 km, the Tian Shan Mountains is the second-longest mountain range in Asia. It links the Pamir Mountains in the south to the north with the Altai Mountains and extends from China to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The Jengish chorus is the range’s highest peak.
Ural Mountains
With 2,640 kilometers length, the third-longest mountain range is the Ural Mountains that spread across the northern edge of Western Russia down through north-west Kazakhstan, with its tallest point is Mt. Narodnaya at 1895 meters. The range serves as a natural border between West Siberian land and East European plains.
Himalayan Mountains
Perhaps the most famous mountain range is the Himalayas, fourth on Asia’s longest mountain range. It is home to Mount Everest at 8,848 meters, the world’s tallest peak and with unique beauty, magnificent waterfalls, various medicinal plants, numerous species of birds, reptiles, and wild animals.
The 2,400 kilometers length of the range extends from Nepal to Bhutan, China, India, and Pakistan.
The Altai Mountains
The Altai Mountains in East-Central Asia near southern Siberia is an important habitat for the famous snow leopard. The range spreads over the areas of Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. The Irtysh and Ob rivers have their origin in these mountains. The highest peak is the Belukha Mountain at 4,506 meters.
The Zagros Mountains
This range forms the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq, which spreads across the entire western and southwestern Iranian plateau and ending at the Strait of Hormuz. The ZardKuhbakhtiari, at 4,548 meters, is the highest point. Many sub-ranges separate the mountains. The Zagros Mountain range organically has the same age as The Alps, is home to rich and complex flora, and widespread oak-dominated woodland.
The Hindu Kush Mountains
The Hindu Kush is one of Central Asia’s great mountain ranges that forms a part of the Alpine zone spreading across Eurasia from East to West. The Hindu Kush separates the Pamir range near the point where China’s borders, Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, and Afghanistan meet and merges into western Afghanistan minor ranges. Mount Tirich Mir is the highest peak rises to 25,230 feet (7,690 meters).
The Western Ghats
Also known as Sahyadri Hills, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalaya mountains. It has an average elevation of about 1 200 meters, and the range spreads along the western side of India. This range influences the Indian monsoon weather pattern. The region is also one of the eight world’s ‘hotspots’ of biological diversity as the mountains are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora-fauna, amphibian, bird, reptile, and fish species.
The Eastern Ghats
On the other hand, the Eastern Ghats or also known as Purva Ghat, or MahendraPravata, are a range of mountains along India’s eastern coast. The Jindhagada Peak, at 1,690 meters, is the highest point in the range. Four rivers in India, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri, flow across the Eastern Ghats so, the Eastern Ghats are sometimes referred to as “Estuaries of India,” being an excellent habitat for varied flora and fauna, including Asiatic elephant, leopards, and tigers.
Pamir Mountains
Pamir range has an ocean of white and blue mountains. The name means “The Roof of the World.” This mountain range in Central Asia with an elevation of 7,000 meters and higher. The Pamir Mountains are at the junction of the Himalayas with the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and the Hindu Kush ranges. The Ismoil Somoni Peak is the highest point at an elevation of 7,495m.