The Himalayas are the mountain range home to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak above sea level.
The range stretches across several countries in Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, India, China, and Pakistan. Everest stands on the Nepal–China border, with its summit reaching about 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) above sea level.
The Himalayas formed when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate. That collision continues today, so the mountains are still rising gradually and the region remains seismically active. The name Himalaya comes from Sanskrit words meaning “abode of snow.”
A common mix-up is confusing the Himalayas with the nearby Karakoram range, which contains K2, the world’s second-highest mountain. Everest is also not the tallest mountain when measured from base to summit; that distinction is often given to Mauna Kea, much of which lies underwater.