Home of two of the world's highest peaks—Mount Everest and K2—the Himalayas are both revered and feared by mountaineers around the world. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Himalaya mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South Asia who live in its shadow. Special sections also decribe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.