Peru, Photo Essays

Climate Change Poses Challenge For Peru

September 6, 2011 By Emily Kirkland

A massive avalanche and flood produced by a melting glacier destroyed this valley in 1961, killing 15,000 people. Glacial meltwater often accumulates in lakes, held back only by rough rock dams. These can burst suddenly, with catastrophic results. Although the problem is now well-controlled in Peru, glacial floods pose major threats in Nepal, India and elsewhere.

2 Comments

Shirley Kirkland says:

An informative, interesting series of articles … with wonderful photos!

[…] In the past 30 years, Peru has lost 22 percent of its glacier area. Unless new ways to manage and store water can be found, Peruvians will face severe problems in the coming decades. Emily Kirkland shot these photos to document how Peruvians are adapting to climate change. […]

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