IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Pensilungpa Glacier

6th August, 2021 Geography

Context

  • The Pensilungpa Glacier is retreating, and a recent study has attributed the retreat to an increase in the temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters.

 

Location

  • The Pensilungpa Glacier is located in Zanskar Range, Ladakh.
  • The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union territory of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh.
  • Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya.
  • The average height of the Zanskar Range is about 6,000 m. Its eastern part is known as Rupshu.
  • 23000 feet high peak Nunkun is within this range.
  • Marbal Pass and many other passes which connect Ladakh with Kashmir are in this area.
  • 13000 feet high Zojila Pass is in the extreme northwest of Zanskar range.
  • This range, is a branch of the Great Himalayan range of mountains.
  • Many rivers start in different branches of this range flow northward, and join the great Indus River.
  • These rivers include Hanle River, Khurna River, Zanskar River, Suru River (Indus), and Shingo River.
  • It also separates Kinnaur from Spiti in Himachal Pradesh.
  • The highest peaks of Himachal are in Zanskar range.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1743074