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Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth - II
Higher than all of its neighbors, the land of Tibet is truly the Roof of the World. The plateau rises over 15,000 feet above sea level, and the surrounding mountain peaks often climb above 22,000 feet, soaring many thousands of feet above the lowlands of China, Central Asia, and India. Many of the world's highest mountains are found in the ranges around Tibet, especially within the spectacular Himalayas. Some of Asia's longest rivers originate on the Tibetan plateau, which is an important reservoir of water for all of Asia.
YN TAGH
ALL
TARIM
ALL
Faults across the Plateau Deep faults across the plateau are thought to coincide with old plate boundaries. Transform faults (strike-slip faults) exist where plates slide past each other, and are found in the Kun-lun mountains along the northern border of the plateau, in the Himalayas and Karakorum ranges, as well as along the 'Bri-chu and the Nyagchu rivers. Thrust faults occur where plates press against each other, and these exist in many regions of Tibet and in the Himalayas.
TIBET
KARAKORUM HIN
INDIAN PLATE
14 LAYAS
transform
fault
thrust fault
BAY OF BENGAL
TARIM
Earthquake Zones Continuing activity of the crust beneath Tibet is indicated by the frequency of earthquakes of large magnitude. Deeper quakes take place in the mountains P around the plateau, while the quakes on the plateau are shallow. In the past century, six large quakes have occurred, rated at least eight on the Mercali Scale, a condition where ground cracks on steep slopes, and towers and chimneys fall. The continuing pressure from the Indian plate is related to quakes across Asia.
TARIM A KUN-LUN
I 1 B
1927 an-chou..
1920 E T o 1 Ha-sa
1905
1951 o
1934
INDIA
BURMA
>
Bay of Bengal
zone of frequent quakes
| 1920
quake and year of occurrence
Ancient Tibet
294
