Uttarakhand’s Roopkund Lake AKA Skeleton Lake Is Shrinking; Forest Officials Concerned

Uttarakhand’s Roopkund Lake, which is also popularly known as the Skeleton Lake, has many forest officials worried. Situated around 16,500 ft above sea level, the lake is nestled near the base of Mt. Trishul near the Garhwal mountains. If reports are to go by, the lake is shrinking in size and climate change is believed to be the culprit. Here are all of the important details about this lake and how climate change is impacting it.

Uttarakhand’s Roopkund Lake Is Shrinking Due To Climate Change

According to an article which was recently published by The Times Of India or TOI, the lake is spread across an area of two acres and its depth is nine feet. However, the forest officials who were deployed there have reported that the lake is shrinking in size.

If reports are to go by, this is primarily because of the change in precipitation patterns. Instead of snow flurries that the area usually witnesses, it has started getting more rain. This is disrupting the natural balance of the region.

Owing to the rain, loose moraine slides into the lake and causes it to shrink. Moraine is soil, rocks and debris that a glacier carries with it and leaves behind. As per the TOI article, the lake is shrinking by 0.1 to 0.5 per cent every year.

Also Read: Now You Can View Mount Kailash From India, Uttarakhand Tourism Unveils ‘Mount Kailash Darshan From Indian Soil’ Pilgrimage

Did You Know Why Is It Called The Lake Of Skeletons?

Roopkund Lake earned its skeleton moniker when in 1942, naturally preserved human skeletons were found in the lake. There are hundreds of skeletons preserved in the ice around the region and they become visible when the ice melts.

There were many conspiracy theories as to how the skeletons came to be in such a place. However, many experts believe that this is not from one catastrophic event. Studies done have found that the skeletons are genetically diverse and many are even aged to have a difference of 1,000 years.

Also Read: Uttarakhand Authorities Demolish ‘Glacier Baba’ Temple To Preserve The Sanctity Of The Sacred Devi Kund Lake

Have you ever been near the Roopkund Lake? How do you think we can prevent it from shrinking? Let us know in the comments section below!

Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

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