Himalayan mountaintops hold ancient ocean fossils
The towering Himalayas conceal ancient marine fossils, revealing a dramatic past when these peaks were once a vast ocean floor, a testament to Earth's dynamic geological forces.
Imagine finding seashells on Mount Everest! Scientists have discovered fossils of ancient marine creatures like ammonites and trilobites embedded in the rocks of the Himalayas. This incredible phenomenon is due to Earth's powerful plate tectonics. Around 50 to 55 million years ago, the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate, pushing up the ancient Tethys Ocean floor. Over millions of years, these marine sediments transformed into the world's highest peaks, still rising about 1 centimeter annually. This discovery vividly illustrates continental drift, showing how our planet's surface constantly reshapes itself.