Report: Most Of Kashmir's Small Glaciers Now Completely Gone - Larger Ice Fields Shrinking Rapidly

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Srinagar, Oct 1: Owing to global warming, most of the small glaciers in Indian administered Kashmir have totally melted down while the big glaciers in most of the areas have decreased in size. According to a report released by international humanitarian group, Actionaid International, many of the areas in Kashmir have seen a complete disappearance of small glaciers.

The head of ActionAid's Kashmir chapter, Arjimand Talib, said, "The global warming has affected the Kashmir glaciers too and due to the increase in the temperature, the small glaciers in many parts of Kashmir have disappeared while the bigger ones have been reduced in size". He said that the testimonies of people living in various parts of Kashmir substantiate to the fact that the glaciers in Kashmir are either disappearing or decreasing in size.

The head of Kashimr chapter of Actionaid International said that even the small glaciers in Srinagar and upper reaches have disappeared. "In other areas like central Kashmir, the height (averaging 15-20ft) of the small glaciers has reduced to over one-fourth of the original height", he said.

Barely 20 years ago, the snow line in Kashmir valley's east was just above areas like Pahalgam and Sonmarg (3200m). "Currently the line has receded to Shiashnag area which is at an altitude of 5000m only. Same is true of the Pirpanjal mountain range in the west where the snow line was above Kongwatan and Zaznar (3000-3500m)". "Most of the glaciers of the Great Himalayan range from Harmuk to Drungdrung including Thajiwas, Kolahoi, Machoie, Kangrez, Shafat have receded far back (4000-5000m) during the last 50 years".

EDIT

http://newsblaze.com/story/20071001085508kash.nb/newsblaze/KASHMIR1/Kashmir.html

[XemaSab]

1. .

All I see turns to brown, as the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land
Trying to find, trying to find where Ive been.

:headbang:

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2. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!!!

:smoke: