Kyrgyzstan Villagers Build Artificial Glacier to Combat Water Crisis

AFP/APP
Kyrgyzstan: In the Tian-Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, villagers have ingeniously constructed an artificial glacier to alleviate water scarcity plaguing their drought-stricken farms. Farmer Erkinbek Kaldanov, standing atop the ice formation, expressed hope in leveraging nature’s resources to combat the effects of climate change.
“With this glacier, water shortages will be a thing of the past,” remarked Kaldanov, recalling the distress his sheep faced last year during abnormal temperature fluctuations.
He emphasized the glacier’s role in providing ample water for both livestock and irrigation across the Syn-Tash district.
This man-made glacier currently stands at five meters tall and stretches about 20 meters in length, though during the peak of winter, it reached a height of 12 meters.
Crafted over a two-week period in autumn, the glacier was formed by redirecting water from the towering peaks of the Tian-Shan range, which soar over 4,000 meters above northern Kyrgyzstan.
Kaldanov and his fellow villagers are adapting to this innovative solution as natural glaciers in Central Asia—the primary water source for the region—gradually vanish due to the impacts of global warming.
A study published in the journal Science in 2023 projected a surge in glacier melt between 2035 and 2055 due to accelerated climate change.
The diminished snowfall, a consequence of rising temperatures, further compounds the problem as it inhibits glacier regeneration. In response to these challenges, local communities like those in Kyrgyzstan are taking proactive measures to secure water resources for their survival and agricultural needs.