Glaciers of the Lahaul-Spiti Valley

A glacier is a large body of dense ice which is under constant movement driven in part due to its own heavyweight. A glacier is formed when the accumulation of snow in the area exceeds the rate of outflow (mainly by the melting and sublimation of snow) has taken place over several decades, even centuries.

Glaciers in the Lahaul-Spiti Valley

• One of the best-known glaciers in the Lahaul-Spiti valley is the Bara Shigri glacier.
• The Bara Shigri glacier is the largest glacier in Himachal Pradesh and the second-longest glacier (after Gangotri) in India.
• Most parts of the glacier are located in the Chandra Valley of Lahaul. Himachal.
• Outflow from the glacier provides source water to the Chenab River.
• The Lahaul and Spiti are connected to the rest of Himachal Pradesh via the Rohtang Pass.
• Another glacier located in the region is the Dhaka Glacier. It is, however, a smaller glacier with limited outflow and significance.
• The Chhota Shigri Glacier, however, lies away from the Bara Shigri glacier.
• It is located on the northern slope of the main ridge of the Pir Panjal Range of the inner Himalayas which is located in the east of the Rohtang Pass.

Why is the Glacier in the news?

Mountaineers have discovered the wreckage of an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft which had gone missing over 51 years ago in the Dhaka glacier inside the Lahaul-Spiti district.

The aircraft had crashed in the year 1968 and led to the deaths of 100 defense personnel.