The Discovery of Bomi’s Glaciers
In 2007, satellite imagery unveiled the largest glacier group on the Tibetan Plateau within Bomi County, Nyingchi. This remarkable discovery includes 42 glaciers of various sizes, with significant implications for water supply to many rivers in China and Asia.
Prominent Glaciers of Bomi County
- Karchen Glacier: Situated in the Yigong Bayu Valley northwest of Bomi County’s residential area, Karchen Glacier, also known as “Qiaqing Glacier,” spans 35 kilometers in length and covers an area of approximately 172 square kilometers. Its snout extends into a forest at an elevation of 2530 meters, marking it as China’s largest maritime glacier. The glacier’s firn basin is notably wide, with an area reaching 100 square kilometers, and features a spectacular ice waterfall resembling an ancient castle, lying between steep cliffs.
- Azha Glacier: This glacier, located at the eastern end of Bomi County’s southern mountains, stretches 20 kilometers to its terminus within a mixed conifer and broadleaf forest at 2400 meters, making it Tibet’s lowest glacier. The warmer ice surface supports unique ecosystems, including ice worms and springtails.
- Lagu Glacier: North of Azha Glacier, Lagu extends 20 kilometers in length with its snout at 3900 meters. It forms the Lagu Lake by damming the main valley and is Tibet’s widest glacier at its broadest point of 3 kilometers.
- Zepu Glacier: Found southwest of Yuren Township in Bomi County, Zepu Glacier measures 19 kilometers in length with a terminus at 3420 meters. Its well-developed arc structures are among the most beautiful glacier features in China, offering a surreal experience of motion within stillness.
- Midui Glacier: Known also as “Ruoguo Glacier,” located in Yupo Township, stretches 14 kilometers. Its main peak rises to 6800 meters, with the snowline at 4600 meters and the terminus at 2400 meters. Midui Glacier, fed by two world-class ice waterfalls, is recognized for its pristine beauty and arc structures, ranking among “China’s Most Beautiful Glaciers” by National Geographic experts.
- Garongla Glacier: Departing from Zhamu Town in Bomi, a 30-kilometer journey southward along the Bomê Road reveals a U-shaped valley and snow-capped forests originating from Garong Monastery Basin, formed by the convergence of Garong East and West Glaciers.
- Zhuxi Glacier: Located in the northwest of Bomi County’s Qiongdu Township, Zhuxi Glacier is part of a grand glacier group stretching miles and is linked to the ancient Gu Township Glacier. Its base is dotted with colorful lakes, reflecting the glacier’s majesty.
- Xumu Moraine Hills: Also known as “Boduimayu Pond Hills,” these are rare geomorphological remnants from the last glacial period, situated in the Yuren and Xumu areas along the Bodui Zangbu River, showcasing some of the most intact and spectacular moraine hill formations in China.
Visitor Information
Visitors to these glaciers can experience the majesty of nature, ecological wonders, and the serene beauty of Tibetan landscapes. Whether it’s exploring the lowest glaciers, witnessing the spectacle of ice waterfalls, or understanding the ecological significance of these icy giants, Bomi County offers an unparalleled journey into the heart of the Tibetan Plateau’s glacial regions.
