Tsho Rolpa Glacial Lake Monitoring

About the Tsho Rolpa Glacial Lake

The Tsho Rolpa glacial lake, located in the Rolwaling Valley of Nepal at 27°51′N and 86°29′E, is one of the country's largest and most dangerous glacial lakes. Situated in the Dolakha District, it has rapidly developed over the last five decades due to the accelerated melting of the Trakarding Glacier, which feeds it and is retreating at a rate of 20 meters per year. The lake is approximately 3.45 km long and 0.5 km wide, with a surface area of 1.83 km² and a water volume of 85.94 million cubic meters. The lake is the source of the Rolwaling River, which flows for about 26 km before joining the Tamakoshi River. The entire valley has a total catchment area of 307 km², and villages like Naa and Beding are located downstream.