Himalayas

I feel the chilly wind tickle my rocky sides. The fluffy white clouds drift by and sometimes wrap around my head like a soft scarf. All year long, I wear a sparkling crown of bright white snow that glitters in the sunshine. From way up here, I can see the whole world stretched out below me like a giant, colorful map with green forests and winding blue rivers. I am so big and so old that I have watched the world change for millions and millions of years. I have stood here through sunshine and storms, always reaching higher and higher into the big blue sky. People look up at me with wonder in their eyes, feeling so small next to my great size. Hello. I am the Himalayas, the rooftop of the world.

Have you ever wondered how I grew so tall I could touch the sky. It happened a long, long, long time ago, even before the dinosaurs. Two giant pieces of land, like enormous puzzle pieces, were floating on the earth. They moved very, very slowly toward each other for millions of years. Then, with a big, slow bump, they pushed into one another. This giant push made the ground wrinkle up like a blanket being scrunched together, and it rose higher and higher. That’s how my tall peaks were born. For thousands of years, amazing people have lived on my slopes. They are called the Sherpa people, and they are strong and brave, knowing my secret paths and snowy trails better than anyone. Many adventurers dreamed of climbing to my highest point, but it was very hard. Then, two very brave men came. Their names were Tenzing Norgay, a brave Sherpa who grew up here, and Sir Edmund Hillary from a faraway land. On a very special day, May 29th, 1953, they worked together as a team and became the very first people to stand on my highest peak, Mount Everest. I was so proud to feel their happy footsteps on my snowy top, looking out at the world below.

I am more than just rock and snow. I am a home. Fluffy yaks with long, warm fur wander my hills, munching on grass. Sometimes, if you are very lucky and very quiet, you might see a beautiful, shy snow leopard with spotty fur that helps it hide in the snow. My peaks are so important for the whole world. When the sun warms my snowy crown, the snow melts and trickles down, forming little streams. These streams join together to become big, rushing rivers. These rivers travel far, far away, giving fresh water to people, farms, and other animals. The water helps flowers grow and gives everyone something to drink. I love watching people look up at me with big, hopeful eyes. I hope I inspire them to be brave, to explore, and to dream big dreams. Just like my peaks reach for the sky, you can always reach for your own special dreams. Never be afraid to climb your own mountain, no matter how high it seems.