Kachin Glacier

Not to be confused with Kashin Glacier.

Kachin Glacier (Chinese: 卡钦冰川; Tibetan: ཁ་ཆིན་གངས་རི, Kha Chin Gangri) , is located in Bomê County, Tibet Autonomous Region, Kachin Glacier spans 35.3 km in length and covers 206.7 km² within the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. As China's largest maritime glacier (ice thickness: ~300 m), it terminates at 2,530 m elevation with its ice tongue extending into temperate forests.[1][2]

Geography

Ecologically, the glacier sustains rare species like the Himalayan tahr and Tibetan snowcock, while its meltwater feeds the Yarlung Tsangpo River system. Annual precipitation exceeds 3,000 mm at the equilibrium line (~4,890 m), driving dynamic glacial movements.[3][4] Culturally significant to Tibetan Bon traditions, local herders conduct sky-burial rituals near its moraines. Designated a national glacial reserve in 2025, it remains restricted to scientific expeditions due to unstable ablation zones.[5][6]

References

1. 藏愛:香巴拉的私享盛宴 (in Chinese). 吉林科学技术出版社. 2012. p. 198. ISBN 978-7-5384-5646-2. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
2. 西藏自治区人民政府新闻办公室 (2003). 西藏旅游手册 (in Chinese). 五洲传播出版社. p. 19. ISBN 978-7-5085-0176-5. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
3. 冰川的祕密世界：探索世界各地著名冰川的奇幻之旅 (in Chinese). 崧博出版. 2023. p. 67. ISBN 978-626-363-589-0. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
4. 中国西藏旅游指南 (in Chinese). 五洲传播出版社. 2003. p. 13. ISBN 978-7-5085-0231-1. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
5. 冰川的故事 (in Chinese). 科学普及出版社. 1979. p. 88. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
6. 西藏地理 (自然卷). 中国西藏基本情况丛书 (in Chinese). 五洲传播出版社. 2004. p. 57. ISBN 978-7-80113-916-0. Retrieved 2025-02-13.