Everest Geography

The Khumbu region of Nepal with a gradient of lowest elevation of 600 metres (2,000 ft) (Tuintar) to Everest 8850m/29030ft above sea level have been subjected to deformational processes for the past ∼55 million years, creating regular failure planes. These planes can be due to a weaker lithology or prior faulting or shearing of the bedrock. As India continues its generally northward movement, this interplay of processes shapes the mountain belt resulting in a network of steep glacial headwalls with active erosion. The seismic hazard is ever-present throughout the Himalayas and heightens the risk of mass movements and avalanches that can threaten the lives and livelihoods of residents and visitors alike .The Mt. Everest watershed, enhancing the potential for impacts to infrastructure, agriculture, and the lives of residents. Though now stable, this human adaptation to a changing environment highlights the ongoing threat to infrastructure and ecosystem stability presented by unstable high-relief Himalaya.