The ‘Lake of Skeletons’ is shrinking: Roopkund faces effects of climate change

If reports are to go by, Roopkund Lake, a popular trekking destination nestled at 16,500 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas, is showing alarming signs of shrinking. Known as the “lake of skeletons” due to the presence of hundreds of human remains that emerge when the snow melts, this mysterious lake is facing the impact of climate change, with concerns mounting among local forest officials and scientists.

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Roopkund’s eerie allure captured global attention back in 1942 when a forest official, HK Madhwal, stumbled upon human bones in its frozen waters. Since then, researchers have studied the site extensively, piecing together theories about the origin of the skeletons. A 2019 study involving scientists from India, the US, and Germany debunked earlier beliefs that the remains belonged to a single group that perished in a catastrophic event. Instead, the study revealed that the skeletons came from genetically diverse groups who died over a span of 1,000 years.

But now, concerns have shifted from the skeletons to the lake itself. As per forest officials, Roopkund is shrinking in both depth and width each year. The region usually gets snowfall along with the rain. But in recent years, there’s been more rain and less snow, causing soil and stones to slide into the lake, thus reducing its size. Could climate change and global warming be the reason for this? It looks like it.

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There’s been excessive rainfall this year as well, which has led to excessive silting in the lake. Experts are of the opinion that due to climate change, the Himalayas are experiencing both decreases and increases in snow precipitation. For a peri-glacial lake like Roopkund, this comes as bad news as less snowfall means more flow of loose moraine material into its waters. How long before the lake becomes a thing of the past?

Just like Rookpund, the Gangotri glacier is also facing a similar problem. Due to the change in climate, the erstwhile icy regions have started to see a lot of greenery. Less snow at the Gangotri glacier means less water that feeds the Bhagirathi river. Bhagirathi River is the main water source for the Ganges River. For any remedial steps, most of the time, the fragile landscape or the tricky weather comes in the way.

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As climate change continues to reshape the landscape of the Garhwal Himalayas, the future of Roopkund Lake remains uncertain.