Himachal Pradesh, often referred to as the “Land of Gods,” is renowned for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant culture, and awe-inspiring glaciers that adorn the majestic peaks. These icy giants, known locally as “Himnads,” add ethereal beauty to the enchanting Himalayan region. Let’s embark on a virtual journey to explore some prominent glaciers that make Himachal Pradesh a haven for nature enthusiasts.
A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. Typically, glaciers exist and may even form in areas where:
- Mean Annual Temperatures: are close to the freezing point.
- Winter Precipitation: produces significant accumulations of snow.
- Temperatures Throughout the Year: do not result in the complete loss of the previous winter’s snow accumulation.
Glacial Presence in the Himalayas
Glaciers cover about 16.3 million sq. km. of the Earth's surface, with a significant concentration in the Himalayas. The majority of glaciers exist in the Main Himalayan range, with others occurring on offshoot ranges such as the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar.
Though the total number of glaciers is unknown, there are a total of 2554 glaciers documented in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Altogether, they cover an area of 4160.5 square kilometers and hold ice reserves of 387.3 cubic km. The highest number of glaciers are found in the Satluj basin (945) followed by the Chenab basin (681). However, the Chenab basin has larger glaciers than the Satluj basin.
Distribution of
Glaciers in Himachal Pradesh
S.No. |
Basin |
No. of Glaciers |
Area (sq. km) |
Ice reserve (cu.
km) |
1 |
Beas |
358 |
758.18 |
76.4 |
2 |
Ravi |
198 |
235.21 |
16.88 |
3 |
Chenab |
681 |
1704.7 |
187.66 |
4 |
Satluj |
945 |
1217.7 |
94.45 |
Major Concentrations of Glaciers in Himachal Pradesh
- Bara Banghal, lying amidst Kangra, Kullu, Chamba, and Lahaul valleys, feeding the river Ravi.
- In the zone of Lahaul Spiti and Kullu valley, feeding glacial tributaries of River Beas.
- Near the tri-junction of Kullu, Kinnaur, and Spiti; feeding the tributaries of River Beas and Satluj.
- Chandra valley in Lahaul.
Important Facts
- LONGEST GLACIER: Mayar glacier(L&S)
- LARGEST GLACIER: Bara Shigri glacier
- The Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) is a laboratory under the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) located near Manali, Himachal Pradesh. Established in 1969, its primary focus is on research in the field of snow and avalanches to provide avalanche control.
- In 1873, European traveler Andrew Wilson coined the phrase "The Valley of Glaciers" to describe Lahaul. Wilson also wrote the book Abode of God, which was first published in 1875.
Important Glaciers
Other Important Glaciers Some of the other important
glaciers are Ghhudong glacier (Chenab basin),), Sara Umga glacier (Beas basin),
Trichu glacier (Beas basin), etc.
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