Glaciers of Himalayas

Basics

• What is a Glacier?
  • Glaciers are a bulk of ice moving under its own weight.
  • It forms in areas where the amassing of snow goes beyond its ablation over many years. 
  • They are sensitive indicators of changing climate.
• Condition for Formation
  • Mean annual temperatures close to the freezing point.
  • Winter precipitation produces significant accumulations of snow.
  • Temperatures throughout the rest of the year should not result in the complete loss of the previous winter’s snow accumulation.

Major Glaciers in Himalayas

1. Gangotri Glacier
   • Location – Uttarakhand
   • Significance – Origin of Ganga’s headwater Bhagirathi River.
   • Part of the Garhwal Himalayas.
2. Siachen Glacier
   • Location – Nubra valley, Karakoram range 
   • Significance – World’s highest battleground and disputed between India and Pakistan.
3. Hispar Glacier
   • Location – Karakoram Mountain range of Gilgit-Baltistan.
   • It meets with the Biafo Glacier and forms the longest Glacial system in a non-polar region.
   • The Hispar River, a tributary of the Hunza River, rises from the meltwater of the glacier.
4. Biafo Glacier
   • Location – The Biafo Glacier is a 67 km long glacier situated in the Karakoram mountain range in the Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
   • Located between the Hispar and Baltoro glaciers.
   • Occupies the Gori Ganga River valley, which was formed by the convergence of nine glaciers.
5. Pindari Glacier
   • Location – Pindari is a 90-kilometre round-trip walk located to the south of the Nanda Devi in northeast Uttarakhand.
   • The source of the Pindar River is located in the upper ranges of the Kumaon Mountains.
6. Zemu Glacier
   • Location – Located near the foot of Kanchenjunga, Sikkim.
   • Part of the Eastern Himalayas.
   • Source of Teesta River.
7. Baltoro Glacier
   • Location – Karakoram range, west of the Siachen glacier
   • Source of Shigar River, a tributary of the Indus
8. Milam Glacier
   • Location – Uttarakhand tehsil of Munsiyari, Pithoragarh district, around 15 kilometres northeast of Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand. 
   • It is India’s sixth-largest glacier
   • Source of the Goriganga River.