Gangotri Glacier, Himalayan glacier in Uttarkashi district, India
Gangotri is a glacier in Uttarkashi district, India, that stretches 30 kilometers and ranges between 2 and 4 kilometers in width. The ice is fed by three tributaries, Raktvarn, Chaturangi and Kirti, which descend from different elevations into the main body.
The glacier has been measured since 1780, and records show a constant retreat of the ice over time. Between 1936 and 1996, the front withdrew at an average of 19 meters per year.
The glacier terminus is called Gomukh, meaning cow's mouth, referring to the shape in which the ice opens to release the river. Pilgrims gather here to pray at the water's edge and collect what they believe to be sacred water.
The trek to the glacier passes through Devgadh, Chirbasa and Bhojwasa, with overnight stays possible only in Bhojwasa. Hikers should prepare for cold temperatures and thin air at high altitude.
Multiple meltwater lakes form on the glacier surface where the ice starts to melt from sun exposure. These pools feed streams that carve their way through the ice and drain toward the river.
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