Artificial glaciers

Scientists are growing artificial glaciers to provide water in the Himalayas.

This man-made glacier is known as an ice "stupa". It is created by freezing a steam of water from a vertical pipe during winter. The resulting ice cones don't melt until late spring. That's when farmers most need the water.

Natural glaciers in the Himalayas are shrinking more quickly that in any other areas.
Sonam Wankchuck is the engineer that came upwith the idea of the conical glacier that can reach heights of 50 meters. Build next to villages they provide a water supply lifeline.

The first ice stupas were build in 2013. They have helped turn areas of arid landscape into productive farmland.

source: wef