About Parkachik Glacier:
- The Parkachik glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the Suru River valley, covering an area of 53 square km and is 14 km long.
- The Suru River valley is a part of the southern Zanskar Ranges in the western Himalayas.
- There are two main reasons for the rapid melting of the glacier.
- The first is global warming and increasing temperatures in the region.
- The second is that it is at a lower altitude than other glaciers in the Zanskar region.
Key facts about Zanskar Ranges
- Zanskar is a high altitude semi-desert lying on the Northern flank of the Great Himalayan Range.
- This mountain range acts as a climatic barrier protecting Ladakh and Zanskar from most of the monsoon, resulting in a pleasantly warm and dry climate in the summer.
- Flora: Much of Zanskar's vegetation is found in the lower reaches of the valleys, and consists of alpine and tundra species.
- Fauna: Among the wildlife that can be found in Zanskar are the marmot, bear, wolf, snow leopard, kiang, bharal, alpine Ibex, wild sheep and goats, and the lammergeier.
