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Fighting climate change in the shadow of Mount Everest
News
Scientists have warned that climate change and consequent melting of glaciers could lead to swelling of Himalayan lakes like Imja and lead to a catastrophe
Important Facts:
About Lake Imja
- Located at a height of nearly 5,000m in eastern Nepal, Imja lake is a glacial lake.
- The lake is fed primarily by the Imja glacier. In the 1960s, melt water began collecting at the foot of the glacier, creating Imja Lake.
Concerns over Lake Imja:
- The Imja glacial lake is the fastest growing lake in the Himalaya and has been identified as one of the potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Nepal Himalaya.
- As the glacier has been melting faster due to global warming, the lake’s water levels are on constant rise. This threatens downstream communities with the potential for a glacial outburst flood.
Steps taken:
The Government of Nepal and Nepal’s Army, with support from the Global Environment Facility and UN Development Programme, have built a canal system to relieve pressure on the lake. In 2016, the lake was lowered by 3.5 meters by draining more than 5 million cubic meters of water.
