Zemu is the largest glacier in the Eastern Himalayas, located on the eastern slope of the Sinhalil Range, northeast of Kanchenjunga , in the Indian state of Sikkim . The length of the Zemu glacier is 25 km, the area is 116.8 km² [1] .
| Zemu | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Type of | mountain |
| Square | 116.8 km² |
| Length | 25 km |
| Location | |
| A country |
|
| Region | Sikkim |
The glacier begins directly on the eastern slope of the Kanchenjunga massif at an altitude of over 5,000 m and moves to the northeast, taking on its left a tributary - the Twins glacier ( English Twins glacier ), and on the right the Simvu glacier ( English Simvu glacier ). After a few kilometers, he turns east, taking another major left tributary, the Tent Peak , which begins at the eponymous peak of the Singalil Ridge. Having taken the right tributary of the Siniocholu , the Zemu glacier ends at a distance of about 15 km east of the Sinhalil ridge. From under it flows the Zemu River, the first large right tributary of the Tista River, the main waterway of Sikkim. In the south, with the Zemu Pass (5861 m), the glacier is separated from the Tongshiong Glacier, which has a drain into the basin of the Talung River, another large right tributary of the Tista.
The upper reaches of the Zemu glacier are located in the territory of the Kanchenjunga National Park . The glacier itself is a relatively popular destination for multi-day hiking trips.
The glacier and its surrounding areas were first explored and mapped by the German geographer Karl Vin during the second German expedition to Kanchenjunga in September-October 1931 [2] [3] .
In 1937, in the area of the Zemu Pass, the future leader of the British expedition to conquer Everest , Henry Cecil John Hunt , observed human-like traces. One of the porters of the expedition informed him that the traces belonged to the yeti [4] .
Like all Sikkim glaciers, the Zemu glacier is melting and its length is shrinking. In January 2008, there were reports of an increase in melting rates, which caused concern for the Sikkim government, since the glacier is an important source of fresh water for the state. In addition, the strength of seasonal floods has increased in recent years. So, in December 2007, two bridges were demolished by floods. A government commission was formed, which was entrusted with submitting conclusions by the end of 2008 [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Press release on Sikkim glaciers (unavailable link) . Archived July 21, 2011.
- ↑ RICHARD FINSTERWALDER. ON THE MAP OF THE ZEMU GLACIER // The Himalayan Journal. - 1935. - Vol. 07.
- ↑ PAUL BAUER. THE FIGHT FOR KANGCHENJUNGA, 1931 // The Himalayan Journal. - 1932. - Vol. 04.
- ↑ Band, George 'Hunt, (Henry Cecil) John, Baron Hunt (1910–1998)' (subscription required) (unavailable link) . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press (September 2004; online edition, May 2006). doi : 10.1093 / ref: odnb / 71265 . Date of treatment January 16, 2008. Archived March 21, 2012.