Space-shuttle view to north of two fluvial megafans in the Himalayan foreland basin, the Himalayas, and the Tibetan Plateau.  Note the low relief, poor drainage, and large lakes in Tibet.

Space-shuttle view to west of the Himalayan foreland basin (left), the Himalayas (snow-covered mountains), and the Tibetan Plateau (low relief plateau with large lakes).

Oblique space-shuttle view to NE of Qinghai lake in the NE corner of the Tibetan Plateau.  Closed sedimentary basins in Tibet are largely related to structural processes (uplift of ranges and elimination of drainage outlets) and arid climate.

Growth strata in Tertiary sedimentary rocks of eastern Tibet.  Stratal dip and thickness decrease upsection.  See Horton et al. (2002, GSA Bulletin).

Tibetans (including a Buddhist monk) and ancient lacustrine strata (hammer for scale).

Snow covered peak and river valley, east-central Tibet.