NEPAL Ngozumpa Glacier -- 16 Apr 2005 -- Aerial view of the Ngozumpa Glacier in the Gokyo valley of the Khumbu Himalaya

NEPAL Trakarding Glacier -- 16 Apr 2005 -- An aerial view of Tsho Rolpa, a glacial lake high up on the Trakarding Glacier. It is remarkable as it is one of dozens known areas with a severe risk of 'glacial overburst' - when water coming from glacier melts builds up in a natural lake, like the Tsho Rolpa (Chhyugima Pokhari) pictured here (centre) and bursts through the moraine, flooding areas below. This case of glacial overburst threatens many kilometers of river valleys, mainly along the course of the Rolwaling River and the Tamakhosi River further west, etc. Amazingly, in the 1960s, this lake was not much larger than the avverage duck pond! Scientists have warned that rising temperatures from global warming may cause the demise of these Himalayan ice falls and glaciers. The small buildings in the foreground of the image are built by the Dutch and help to relieve pressure on the marraine dam of Tsho Rolpa -- Picture by Jonathan Mitchell/Atlas Photo Archive