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(THE GIST OF PIB) Roopkund Lake

(OCTOBER-2024)

Climate change is affecting Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand, causing it to shrink annually.

Roopkund, also known as the " lake of skeletons” is a glacial lake in Uttarakhand.
It is situated at 16,500 feet above sea level at the base of Mt. Trishul in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Measuring a mere 130 feet in width, the lake is encased in ice for the majority of the year.
It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush green meadows.

It is called the "lake of skeletons" as the glacial body conceals numbers of human skeletons, some with preserved flesh. These skeletons become visible when snow melts in the region.
These skeletal remains, dating back to around the 9th century AD, have led to various theories about the cause of death.
A 2019 study by scientists from India, the US, and Germany challenged the belief that the skeletons belonged to a single group that perished in a single event, instead suggesting they were genetically diverse individuals who died over a span of up to 1,000 years.