page_title: Ecology of the Himalayas
section_title: Midlands
hierarchical_section_title: Ecology of the Himalayas / Midlands
caption_attribution_description: Gangkhar Puensum from Cher-tang-la (Pronounced: shea-tang-la), Bhutan
context_page_description: The ecology of the Himalayas varies with climate, rainfall, altitude, and soils. The climate ranges from tropical at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations. The amount of yearly rainfall increases from west to east along the southern front of the range. This diversity of climate, altitude, rainfall and soil conditions supports a variety of distinct plant and animal species, such as the Nepal gray langur
context_section_description: This 'hilly' region (Pahad), averaging about 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) immediately north of the Mahabharat Range, rises to about 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) over a distance of 100 kilometres (62 mi) at the Main Central Thrust fault zone, where the Greater Himalaya begin.
  Above the broadleaf forests, between 3,000 and 4,000 meters (9,800 and 13,100 ft), are temperate coniferous forests, likewise split by the Gandaki River. The western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests are found below treeline in northern Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and western Nepal. The eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests are found in eastern Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh. Along the border between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, the eastern subalpine conifer forests mix with the northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. East Himalayan Fir, West Himalayan Spruce, and Himalayan Hemlock are some important trees of these forests. Rhododendrons are exceptionally diverse here, with over 60 species recorded in the northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests.
caption: Subalpine forest at Cher-tang La, Bhutan
exif: {}