Situated in the Himalayas at around 10,500 feet, the Gangotri Glacier is the source of the holy River Ganges.  Its headwaters pour from an ice cave on the glacier and flow for more than 1,500 miles to the Bay of Bengal.

Among more than 7,000 Himalayan glaciers, Gangotri is one of the largest, measuring approximately 18 miles long and 1-3.5 miles wide.

As massive as this might seem, a recent United Nations climate report indicates that the Himalayan glaciers, the source of Asia's biggest rivers, are melting more quickly each year and could disappear within only a few decades.  Rivers in the region, including the Ganges may become seasonal rivers, which has serious ramifications for poverty and the economies in the region, warns the report issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The River Ganges is considered sacred in Hinduism and is said to flow through the hair of Shiva, a principal deity in that religion.  Hindus believe that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and facilitates the attainment of salvation.  They often travel from distant places to distribute the ashes of their kin in its waters.  In addition, the Ganges provides water for drinking and farming for more than 500 million people.

Tracing the retreat of the Gangotri Glacier (1780-2001) - Image courtesy of Wikipedia