Roopkund Lake : Shrinking
Climate change is affecting Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand, causing it to shrink annually.
- Roopkund, also known as the ” lake of skeletons” is a glacial lake in Uttarakhand.
- It is situated at 16,500 feet above sea level at the base of Mt. Trishul in the Garhwal Himalayas.
- Measuring a mere 130 feet in width, the lake is encased in ice for the majority of the year.
- It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush green meadows.
- It is called the “lake of skeletons” as the glacial body conceals numbers of human skeletons, some with preserved flesh.
- These skeletons become visible when snow melts in the region.
- These skeletal remains, dating back to around the 9th century AD, have led to various theories about the cause of death.
- A 2019 study by scientists from India, the US, and Germany challenged the belief that the skeletons belonged to a single group that perished in a single event, instead suggesting they were genetically diverse individuals who died over a span of up to 1,000 years.
