The Himalayan Mountains are known as the "roof of the world," where Earth's highest peaks pierce the sky at altitudes of over 29,000 feet and rising. The fertile valleys of the Himalayas are home to about 40 million people and its glacier-fed rivers provide freshwater to an estimated 750 million more. The spectacular dimensions of the Himalayan Mountains give this region a mystical quality – it is a place of awesome beauty, rich culture and powerful legend. Layer upon layer of ancient strata, plunging caverns and snow-covered summits tell the story of the Himalayas' tumultuous past. They may also hold secrets about the origin of mankind and the creatures that inhabited the earth before us.

The Himalayan Mountains are located in the heart of South Asia. Scientists believe they were first formed back when dinosaurs dominated the planet. At that time, the landmass that is now India drifted from the Southern Hemisphere across the equator to collide with the Asian continent. The collision of these two landmasses pushed the earth's crust upward, forming the Himalayan range.

The Himalayas include 14 of the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest, which stand at over 29,035 feet. To put this into perspective, consider that commercial airliners fly at 30,000 feet. From the highest of the Himalayan summits, you can actually see the curvature of the earth. And the Himalayas are still growing, rising about 5 millimeters (.2 inches) per year.

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