The Ngozumpa glacier, below the sixth highest mountain in the world Cho Oyu in Nepal, at 36 kilometres (22 mi), is the longest glacier in the Himalayas.[1][2] Ngozumpa Glacier is a large persistent body of ice. It flows slowly due to stresses induced by its weight.

Ngozumpa
The Ngozumpa glacier seen from the Ngozumpa Tse
Map showing the location of Ngozumpa
Map showing the location of Ngozumpa
Map showing the location of Ngozumpa
Map showing the location of Ngozumpa
TypeValley glacier
LocationNepal
Coordinates27°59′30″N 86°41′30″E / 27.99167°N 86.69167°E / 27.99167; 86.69167
Map
The core of Ngozumpa glacier, and emerging Spillway lake

Ngozumpa Spillway lake

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The Nepali Himalayas have been warming significantly over recent decades. Ngozumpa glacier is showing signs of shrinking and thinning, producing melt water. Some of this water pools on the surface where an enormous lake is growing. This lake, called Spillway, has the potential to be about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) long, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) wide and 100 metres (330 ft) deep.[3] In the future this might be a threat to the Sherpa villages down the valley.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The longest glacier in Nepal – Ngozumpa". icimod.org. icimod. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Glacial research frozen". Nepali Times, 30 December 2005 – 5 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  3. ^ Taking the pulse of Ngozumpa, Jonathan Amos, BBC News