Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Nepal: History, Current Crisis, and Future

Kathmandu. Nepal has not only viewed the Himalayas as a natural resource or tourist attraction; the Himalayas are the basis of Nepal's civilization, rivers, agriculture, hydropower, culture, and life.

But the Himalayas, a heritage of cultural faith that provides water to millions, are becoming a source of destructive floods due to the pain of melting ice. As glaciers melt, water can accumulate in front of or beside them, forming glacial lakes. These lakes are usually held back by weak 'moraines' – natural dams of rock, soil, and ice.