In Pics: How Draining the Imja Lake Is Saving Hundreds in Nepal

The Nepal government drained a dangerous glacier lake before it burst and washed away hundreds of homes in Nepal.

Local monks perform religious rituals during the completion ceremony of the much-awaited project to drain Imja Lake on the 23 November 2016. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

The Nepal government announced it had finished draining the Imja glacier lake in Everest region on 23 November.

Imja Lake was in danger of flooding villages, bridges and trekking trails downstream.

Also Read: Himalayas Are Losing 5-20 Metres of Vital Glaciers Per Year

Imja is one of the biggest glacial lakes in the Everest region of Nepal Himalaya at 5,010 metres above sea level. Since 1960, the small lake has increased to 1.28 square kilometres and 150 metres deep. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

Imja Lake is one of the six highly-dangerous glacial lakes in Nepal.

It took more than six months for about 150 people, including 40 military personnel and local Sherpas, to construct an outlet and release almost four million cubic metres of water. The water level of the lake – originally 149 metres deep – fell by 3.4 metres.

The outlet channel built by the Nepal Army in Imja glacial lake. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

Nepal has thousands of glacier lakes. Many of these are filling up fast because of warming temperatures and melting glaciers.

Glacier lakes have burst their banks 24 times in Nepal since the 1960s, three of which were in the Dhud Koshi river basin in the Everest region.

The Nepal government set up a flood risk reduction project, supported by the Global Environment Facility and United Nations Development Programme. Early warning systems have been installed in six settlements on the Everest trekking trails to send flood warnings to people downstream.

Nang Thume Sherpa, member of glacier lake task force, shows the early warning system installed in Fakding village, Solukhumbu. The early warning system will send automated messages from a sensor installed in Imja Lake. (Image Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

Tourists have suggested the government shift trails on Everest to higher places so trekkers and porters climbing the mountain are safe from potential glacier lake floods.

Also Read: Video: Europe’s Second Largest Glacier is Under Threat

Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Everest, Solukhumbu district. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

Ajit Rai and his wife Ranjita Rai work as labourers in Dengboche village between Imja glacier and Everest Base Camp. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

“Last year a small flash flood triggered from Lotse glacier that mixed with Imja Lake. Although it only destroyed one bridge near Dengboche, it has made me think more about the safety of my family,” said Ajit.

Kalma Lama, from Lukla town, runs a shop in Dengboche. She is happy that the lake has been drained. She has already experienced a small glacial lake outburst flood from Lotse glacier lake last summer. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

"Although there was no loss from the flood, the Imja River is terrifying,” said Kalma.

School children cross a suspension bridge over the Dhud Koshi River near Fakding village, where the early warning system is installed. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

Smoke emits from a hotel in Debuche as the sun sets over Mount Everest. Recent studies show that black carbon from such smoke is causing faster retreat of the glaciers in Himalaya region. (Photo Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)

A night view of Imja River valley from Chukum, Solukhumbu district, Nepal.(Image Courtesy: The Third Pole/Nabin Baral)