Chacaltaya's Glacier No More (13-Aug-09)

Chacaltaya, Bolivia, August 13, 2009 - The 18,000 year old glacier which was home for more than 60 years

The 18,000 year old glacier which was home for more than 60 years to the world’s highest ski area, Chacaltaya in Bolivia, has now melted away completely due to global warming according to a report by Bloomberg.net.

The loss of the glacier has far greater significance than the end of skiing in Bolivia, the glaciers melt water helped power hydro-electric plants and provide water supplies to the 2 million residents of  capital La Paz below,

The final parts of the glacier have melted away five years sooner than scientists had predicted.

“ From the Andes to the Alps, glaciers have retreated twice as fast as a decade ago, says the University of Zurich’s World Glacier Monitoring Service.” report Bloomberg. 

Chacaltaya lost 80% of its bulk over the past two decades and sold its last ski ticket in 2003 before melting caused a list tower to collapse.