The Roof of the World in Central Asia is a high elevation region with unique cultures and Mount Everest. It was formed by India’s collision with Asia, and includes Tibet, India, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. The harsh environment made it unattractive to colonize, but it became valuable for tactical reasons in the 20th century.
The Roof of the World is an area of very high overall elevation in Central Asia. It is sometimes referred to as “Upper Asia” and is generally considered the highest area in the world, not least because it is home to Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. This region has become famous as a cultural site and very unique cultures and peoples have emerged from the area.
This region consists of mountains and very high plateaus that were created by India’s slow collision with the tectonic plate that houses the rest of Asia. When India presses into Asia, it causes warping and folding, leading to an area of high elevation where the two plates meet. The elevation gives the Roof of the World a truly unique climate and perspective, and visitors to the region often express awe when taken to view its peaks.
Several countries are included in the region, including Tibet, India, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan. The high altitude has provided some very unique challenges for indigenous peoples, who must make a living off land that is often barren and difficult to work. Residents rely heavily on pack animals such as yaks, along with durable farm animals such as goats, and despite the hardships of life in Upper Asia, they have developed rich and colorful cultures with distinctive artistic traditions.
Historically, the Roof of the World was considered very intimidating by people unfamiliar with the area. Even in the summer months, the mountain passes can be difficult to navigate, especially for incumbent traders trying to get goods across Asia with pack animals. Bandits were a known problem in the area, and freak storms, generally bad weather, and dismal conditions made traveling in the area extremely unpleasant, though harshly beautiful.
The hostile environment of this mountainous region of Asia also made it largely unattractive to residents of nearby areas, who saw no reason to attempt to colonize or subdue the area as long as they had access to fertile plains. In the 20th century, however, parts of the Roof of the World began to be seen as potentially valuable sites from a tactical perspective by nations such as Russia and China, and numerous, often unsuccessful, raids were made into the area in an attempt to gain a point of control. ‘support.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
