French scientists report that glaciers in the Karakoram Mountain Range in Asia are growing, not shrinking as previously suspected.
Karakoram Range is a great mountains system, extending close to 500 km from the eastern part of Afghanistan in a southeasterly direction along the watershed between Central and South Asia. The area was recognized as one with a great concentration of highest mountains in the world and the longest glaciers outside the high latitudes.
General research indicated that glaciers in the Himalayas were decreasing and in fact they could be gone before the year of 2035. However, the French suggested that ice sheet in Karakoram became thicker in the last few years, but the credible explanation for this statement could not be yet provided due to little knowledge about the glaciers in this region.
Nevertheless, it is the fact that the Himalaya's glaciers are the main source of water for over billion people who live in the region. The need for further research has been stressed by the French scientists.
Source: Morgunbladið