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Why are the Himalayas still being uplifted?

a. Because of ongoing continental collision between India and Eurasia
b. Because of a divergent plate boundary between India and Eurasia
c. Because of ongoing subduction of India beneath Eurasia
d. Because of ongoing subduction of Eurasia beneath India

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The Himalayas continue to be uplifted due to the ongoing push of the Indian Plate against the Eurasian Plate, which causes the crust to buckle and the mountains to rise.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Himalayas are still being uplifted because of the ongoing continental collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.

The Himalayas are rising due to the continental collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

The formation of mountain ranges like the Himalayas is the result of tectonic plate interactions. Specifically, the uplift of the Himalayas is a consequence of the Indian Plate continuously driving northward and colliding with the Eurasian Plate. This process began approximately 70 million years ago, and it continues to this day, with the forces of plate tectonics pushing these colossal land masses against each other. As they collide, immense pressure causes the earth's crust to buckle and fold, which in turn raises the elevation of the Himalayan ranges. This is an example of continent-continent convergent boundary dynamics.

Each year, the pressure from tectonic action may cause the Himalayas to rise by one to five millimeters. This ongoing process explains why the Himalayas are not only the highest mountain range in the world but also one that is actively increasing in elevation. Additionally, this tectonic activity is responsible for frequent destructive earthquakes and tremors in the region.

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