Introduction The Himalayas, often referred to as the “Third Pole”, host the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. They are the lifeline of several major rivers in South Asia, including the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries, which support over 1.5 billion people. In recent decades, these glaciers have been shrinking at an…
Introduction Water has been one of the most critical natural resources shaping human civilization, particularly in South Asia, where rivers have historically supported dense populations, agriculture, and trade. Among these rivers, the Indus system has been of paramount importance, sustaining millions of people across present-day India and Pakistan. However, the political partition of the Indian…
Introduction The Himalayas, often referred to as the “Water Towers of Asia,” are home to the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. These glaciers, stretching across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, act as perennial reservoirs of freshwater. India, in particular, depends heavily on Himalayan glaciers, which feed its major river systems—the Indus, Ganga,…
Introduction The Himalayas, often referred to as the “Third Pole,” are home to the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. These glaciers are vital for sustaining perennial rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, and Brahmaputra. However, in recent decades, the Himalayan glaciers have been retreating at an alarming rate, threatening not only…