Roopkund, Glacial lake in Chamoli district, India
Roopkund is a glacial lake in Chamoli district at 5,029 meters (16,499 feet) altitude in the Himalayas. The circular body of water measures roughly 40 meters (130 feet) across and reaches three meters (10 feet) in depth.
A forest ranger discovered hundreds of human skeletons at the shore in 1942, first mistaken for war victims. Later research showed these remains dated from different periods between the 7th and 20th centuries.
Local legends connect the lake to Raja Jasdhaval, who perished with his pregnant wife and attendants during a pilgrimage to the Nanda Devi shrine.
The lake stays frozen throughout winter, and bones become visible in spring when ice melts. The trek to reach it takes several days and requires acclimatization to altitude.
Genetic tests on the skeletons revealed three distinct ancestry groups from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the eastern Mediterranean. Researchers believe the people died at different times from weather events such as hailstorms.
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