According to this story, from the BBC, recent photos of Everest are once again shining the spotlight on the impact of global climate change on the Himalaya, especially when they are compared to a similar photos taken back in 1921.
This past spring filmmaker and mountaineer David Breashears traveled to the North Side of Everest and took a photograph of the mountain standing in the exact same spot that George Mallory had when he took a similar photo 89 years earlier. The differences are startling, especially when you examine the health of the Rongbuk Glacier, which has retreated far up the valley.
These photos are especially worrisome for those living in the region, as the Himalaya are home to the largest sub-polar ice reserves in the world. They are also the source of water for the people who are indigenous to the area, who have seen this withering of the glaciers directly effect their daily lives. There is no indication that the trend will reverse anytime soon either.
Breashears has been traveling throughout Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan, taking similar photographs, and no matter were he goes, the story is the same. The glaciers are in retreat, and the impact is significant. If anything can be done about it is an entirely different issue.
Thanks to Daniel for sending this my way. Much appreciated my friend!
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Hard to imagine that a place so cold and so extreme would see such massive glacier melting. By the way, congrats on the new blog design – I was out for a week and just now saw it.
Thanks! Glad you like it! Welcome back. Hope you were doing something fun! 🙂
And you're right, it is hard to believe that these extreme places are being so affected. It puts things into context for sure.