Tibet's Natural Environment and Wildlife The Tibetan plateau was formed around 70 million years ago when the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates collided. In simpler terms, the edge of the Indian subcontinent collided with the edge of present day China, creating the largest plateau on earth. Defined to the south by the high peaks of the Himalayas, the west by the Kunlun Mountains and to the east and north by other smaller ranges and the Taklamakan Desert, an average altitude of 4,500 meters (14,800 feet) makes the Tibetan plateau the highest geographic feature on the planet. With a total land area of 2,500,000 kilometers2 (970,000 miles2), the plateau presently spans more than six nations and three time zones. The plateau’s numerous mountain ranges and glaciers also make it the third largest ice storing region in the world. Indeed it is often referred to as the “Third Pole”. Many of Asia’s major rivers originate on the Tibetan plateau: the Salween, the Mekong, the Yellow River, the Yangtze, the Sutlej, the Bhramaputra, and the Ganges. These rivers, which include the Mother Rivers of China and India, are fed by the annual glacial melt from the mountains of the Tibetan plateau. The history, people, and traditions that are found on the plateau are as diverse as its landscapes, which range from arid deserts to rolling grasslands, lush forests, marshes, and fertile farmland. The diversity of landscapes and climates also makes for a fascinating diversity of wildlife. The Tibetan plateau is home to many unique species of plants and animals that are not to be found anywhere else. Grasslands For many travelers, grasslands and yaks are synonymous with Tibet. The grasslands are a small part of a large and fragile ecosystem made up of many creatures.The yak is the most well known inhabitant of
Tibet’s Natural Environment and Wildlife The Tibetan plateau was formed around 70 million years ago when the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates collided. In simpler terms, the edge of the Indian subcontinent collided with the edge of present day China, creating the largest plateau on
