The mountains on either side looked unimpressive under its shadow, although standing alone, I think they would have had a similar effect.
True, I live in the mountains in Sri Lanka, but those mountains are green. They simply aren't high enough to sustain snow, and in no way are they old enough to instill the kind of awe that the Himalayas in Nepal do. I stared at Mount Machhapuchchhre and the others on either side with my jaw dropped. Of course they look beautiful, but there is also something extra special. I think it is the history so inherently present in seeing a structure that has been formed over millions of years practically within reach.
Mount Machhapuchchhre is in the Himilayas, settled within the Annapurna Mountain Range. From Australian camp, we could see a good chunk of the Annapurna Circuit, a two-week trek that visits the base of many of the tallest mountains in the Himalayas. In relation to Mount Everest, Australian Camp and the Annapurna Circuit are located further west, in central Nepal.
The Himalayas in Nepal are created by their environment. Over millions of years, one tectonic plate crashing into another has caused the land to be forced up. Think of a rug on your floor. When you slide it forward, it creates a ripple in the carpet. The rug has nowhere else to go but up. The same idea is true of these mountains, and the most amazing part is that it is still happening! Mount Everest, Mount Machhapuchchhre and the whole range of the Himalayas are growing taller every day, if only by the most miniscule amounts.
