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Sheep and goats cross the frozen PharaLaRtse (‘Crossroads Pass Peak’, aka Baralacha La), a pass that connects Lahaul and Spiti to Ladakh and Zangskar (4,830 m). The two headstreams of the Chenab, Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) and Bhaga (‘Sun’s Son’), rise nearby.
Sheep and goats cross the frozen PharaLaRtse (‘Crossroads Pass Peak’, aka Baralacha La), a pass that connects Lahaul and Spiti to Ladakh and Zangskar (4,830 m). The two headstreams of the Chenab, Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) and Bhaga (‘Sun’s Son’), rise nearby.
The Lake that Vanished (The Chandra Trilogy: I)
Read the fascinating story in the thread below! @yale_himalaya @SOAS_SAI @SocietyVisAnth @NamitaGokhale_ @sshneiderman @DalrympleWill @CMS_UHI @MtnResearch @UBC_Himalaya @ShaneWinser @icimod @UNmountains @ChrisClarkofBC
Read the fascinating story in the thread below! @yale_himalaya @SOAS_SAI @SocietyVisAnth @NamitaGokhale_ @sshneiderman @DalrympleWill @CMS_UHI @MtnResearch @UBC_Himalaya @ShaneWinser @icimod @UNmountains @ChrisClarkofBC
The Lake that Vanished (Caption)
The river Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) originates southeast of Baralacha La. Its first major tributary (or rather its main headstream) emanates from the 17-km-long glacier of Samudratapu (‘Sea Island’) or Samundari (‘Belonging to the Sea’)... (1/4)
The river Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) originates southeast of Baralacha La. Its first major tributary (or rather its main headstream) emanates from the 17-km-long glacier of Samudratapu (‘Sea Island’) or Samundari (‘Belonging to the Sea’)... (1/4)
The Lake that Vanished (Caption)
[contd.] .... - probably a reference to the unusual relict shorelines and deltas in the landscape. These are associated with a 14-km-long glacial palaeolake that occupied the valley during the Last Glacial, before it breached an ice dam... (2/4)
[contd.] .... - probably a reference to the unusual relict shorelines and deltas in the landscape. These are associated with a 14-km-long glacial palaeolake that occupied the valley during the Last Glacial, before it breached an ice dam... (2/4)
The Lake that Vanished (Caption)
[contd.] .... formed across the valley by an overgrown glacier (Batal) at its downstream end. The event led to a catastrophic flood downstream, between 36.9 ± 8.4 and 43.4 ± 10.3 thousand years ago... (3/4)
[contd.] .... formed across the valley by an overgrown glacier (Batal) at its downstream end. The event led to a catastrophic flood downstream, between 36.9 ± 8.4 and 43.4 ± 10.3 thousand years ago... (3/4)
The Lake that Vanished (Caption)
[contd.] ... This picture shows a section of the upper Chandra valley (4,050 m) that was occupied by the expansive palaeolake. (4/4)
[contd.] ... This picture shows a section of the upper Chandra valley (4,050 m) that was occupied by the expansive palaeolake. (4/4)
Moon Lake (The Chandra Trilogy: II)
Off the left bank of the river Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) lies Chandra Tal, the ‘Moon Lake’ (4,282 m), an oblong lake dammed between the ridge of a Last Glacial lateral moraine and a mountain front... (1/2)
Off the left bank of the river Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) lies Chandra Tal, the ‘Moon Lake’ (4,282 m), an oblong lake dammed between the ridge of a Last Glacial lateral moraine and a mountain front... (1/2)
Moon Lake (Caption)
[contd] ... The lake drains into the Chandra river. Large sheep herds, owned by Gaddi pastoralists from the lower southwestern valleys of Kullu, Kangra and Chamba, graze the lakeshore pastures every summer.
[contd] ... The lake drains into the Chandra river. Large sheep herds, owned by Gaddi pastoralists from the lower southwestern valleys of Kullu, Kangra and Chamba, graze the lakeshore pastures every summer.
Legacy of the Moon’s Daughter (The Chandra Trilogy: III)
Here, at an altitude of 3,941 m, the river Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) takes a sharp right turn toward the west. The 27-km-long Bara Shigri (‘Big Glacier’) glacier exits into the valley from the southern side... (1/6)
Here, at an altitude of 3,941 m, the river Chandra (‘Moon’s Daughter’) takes a sharp right turn toward the west. The 27-km-long Bara Shigri (‘Big Glacier’) glacier exits into the valley from the southern side... (1/6)
Legacy of the Moon’s Daughter (Caption)
[contd] ... (see the trough on the right hand side). At this point, the valley is about 2 km wide. In 1918, the Punjab Government noted, “Floods are not common in Lahul, but in 1836 the Shigri glacier burst its bounds and... (2/6)
[contd] ... (see the trough on the right hand side). At this point, the valley is about 2 km wide. In 1918, the Punjab Government noted, “Floods are not common in Lahul, but in 1836 the Shigri glacier burst its bounds and... (2/6)
Legacy of the Moon’s Daughter (Caption)
[contd] " ... dammed the Chandra river so high that (as the story runs) guards were posted on the Kunzom pass to watch lest the water should flow over into Spiti! There are at any rate traces of a large lake formed at the time... (3/6)
[contd] " ... dammed the Chandra river so high that (as the story runs) guards were posted on the Kunzom pass to watch lest the water should flow over into Spiti! There are at any rate traces of a large lake formed at the time... (3/6)
Legacy of the Moon’s Daughter (Caption)
[contd] "... and the glacier has ever since lain athwart the old trade route, and is the most formidable and convincing obstacle to trade between Spiti and Kulu.” This record (of a glacier surge that led to the impoundment of water... (4/6)
[contd] "... and the glacier has ever since lain athwart the old trade route, and is the most formidable and convincing obstacle to trade between Spiti and Kulu.” This record (of a glacier surge that led to the impoundment of water... (4/6)
Legacy of the Moon’s Daughter (Caption)
[contd] ... behind an ice dam that was eventually breached) corresponds with anecdotal evidence (often presented as a folk rhyme) of a devastating flood (near the end of the Little Ice Age) that swept away the now-deserted... (5/6)
[contd] ... behind an ice dam that was eventually breached) corresponds with anecdotal evidence (often presented as a folk rhyme) of a devastating flood (near the end of the Little Ice Age) that swept away the now-deserted... (5/6)
Legacy of the Moon’s Daughter (Caption)
[contd] ... hamlets of Sheeti and Dooti on the left bank of the Chandra, opposite Sissu, over 50 km downstream. (6/6) End of thread.
[contd] ... hamlets of Sheeti and Dooti on the left bank of the Chandra, opposite Sissu, over 50 km downstream. (6/6) End of thread.
