How would you describe the Himalayas 40 million years ago?

1 Answer
Feb 13, 2016

They didn't exist.

Explanation:

40 million years ago the continent of India was still drifting north towards Asia. About 10 million years ago, it collided with Asia and the mountains were pushed up as convergent plate boundaries.

Timeline of when the two plates converged:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Himalaya

Here's another image that may help you visualize the process:

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/rose-center-for-earth-and-space/david-s.-and-ruth-l.-gottesman-hall-of-planet-earth/why-are-there-ocean-basins-continents-and-mountains/mountain-building/modeling-mountain-building/formation-of-the-himalayas