Glaciers in Himachal Pradesh

byAakash
There are several number glaciers in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Some of them are the prime feeders of the rivers that originate in or pass through Himachal Pradesh, While others are known for surrounding beauty and stunning scenic views.
In Himachal Pradesh, 'Shigri' is the local language term used loosely for glaciers or icecaps.

Glaciers in Himachal Pradesh

Introduction

Glaciers (ग्‍लैसियर) are the large accumulations of thickened crystalline ice masses on the Earth's surface. Glaciers form when 'snow' sits in one location for long enough to transform into dense hard 'ice'. This usually occurs in mountainous areas that have both cold temperatures and high precipitation. Glaciers are powerful erosional agents that sculpt the Earth's surface.
  • Glaciers cover about 10% of the surface of the Earth 
  • Antarctica is home to 91% of the world's glacial ice.
  • Antarctica's glaciers along with Greelands's glaciers account for 99% of the world's glacial ice.
  • Glaciers are also often termed as 'rivers of ice'.
  • The academic study of glaciers is called Glaciology.
  • Glaciers exist on every major continent except for Australia continent.
  • The largest glacier in the World: Lambert Glacier, Antarctica (400 km long, 80 km wide and 2.5 km deep)
  • The largest glacier in Asia: Siachen Glacier, India (2nd-largest glacier in the world)
  • Glaciers store 70-75% of the world's freshwater.

Glaciers are categorized majorly into two categories:

Alpine Glacier: Also called Mountain Glaciers. Alpine glaciers form in mountainous areas either at high elevations or near cool and wet coastal areas. A common type of alpine glacier is a valley glacier which is confined to a long, narrow valley located in mountainous areas.

Continental Glaciers: Also known as Icesheet Glacier or Icecaps. They are massive sheets of thickened ice that spreads over a significantly large geographical area. Unlike Alpine glaciers, they are characteristically simply flat and tabular.

Prominent and sizable glaciers of Himachal Pradesh

Bara Shigri Glacier

Bara Shigri, also called Bada Shigri, is the largest glacier in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is called located in the Chandra valley of Lahaul region of Lahaul-Spiti district. The glacier is about 25 km long and 3 km wide.

Chandra Glacier

Chandra Glacier is part of the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. Chandra Glacier is the main feeder of Chandra Taal (or Chandra Lake) which is the source of the river Chandra, one of the two main tributaries of Chenab or Chandrabhaga.

Chandra Naun Glacier (or Chandra Nahan Glacier)

Chandra Nahan glacier is part of the tehsil Rohru of the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Pabbar River originates from the Chandra Naun (also spelled Chandra Nahan) Glacier and is mainly fed by the Chandra Nahan lake which is created by the glacier.

Bhadal Glacier

Bhadal Glacier is part of the Bara Bangal area of the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The river Bhadal, one of the tributaries of river Ravi, is fed by the Bhadal glacier and its smaller tributary glaciers.

District-wise distribution of glaciers in Himachal Pradesh

District

Glacier(s)

Lahaul-Spiti

⭐ Bada Shigri;

⭐ Chota Shigri;

Pacha Glacier;

⭐ The Lady of Keylong Glacier;

Kulti Glacier;

Shipting Glacier;

Ding Karmo Glacier;

Tapn Glacier;

⭐ Gyephang Glacier;

Shili Glacier;

Shamundri Glacier;

Boluang Glacier;

Taragiri Glacier;

⭐ Chandra Glacier;

Bhaga Glacier;

Kugti Glacier;

Lainghar Glacier;

Doksha Glacier;

Nilkanth Glacier;

Milang Glacier;

Mukkila Glacier;

Miyar Glacier;

Gora Glacier;

Takdung Glacier;

Sonapani Glacier;

Tharong Glacier;

Karpat Glacier.

Kangra

⭐ Bhadal Glacier;    

Rai Ghar Glacier

Kullu

⭐ Beas Kung Glacier;

⭐ Parvati Glacier;

Dudhon Glacier.

Shimla

⭐ Chandra Naun (or Chandra Nahan) Glacier.

References

  • Thumbnail Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Timothy A. Gonsalves.
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