WIP · World in Pocket

Imja Tsho

Italy

Imja Tsho

Imja Tsho (or Imja Lake) is a glacial lake created after melt water began collecting at the foot of the Imja Glacier on the lower part of the glacier in the 1950s. A 2009 study described this lake of melt water as one of the fastest-growing in the Himalayas. Held in place by a terminal moraine, Imja

Tsho threatens downstream communities with the potential for a glacial outburst flood. Imja Tsho has been identified as one of the potentially dangerous lakes in Himalaya. It is located at 27° 53' 55" N latitude, 86° 55' 20" E longitude and an altitude of 5010 m in the Everest region of Nepal. The catchment of Imja Tsho occupies the northeastern part of the Dudh Koshi sub-basin. The lake is located on the lower part of the glacier at the toe of its mother glaciers (snout of Imja and Lhotse Shar Glaciers). The Lhotse Shar Glacier flows in a south-westerly direction. The Imja Glacier on the other hand is oriented in a north-westerly direction and has its terminus at about 5,100 m (16,700 ft). These two glaciers coalesce approximately 3.5 km above the terminus and flow westwards just beneath the trekking path of Imja Tse. The lake was first mapped in the form of a few ponds from a satellite...

Listen to the audio guide for Imja Tsho Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off

Nearby