Peru's Glaciers Disappearing at Alarming Rate

Peru has lost over 50% of its glacier surface in the last six decades, with 175 glaciers disappearing due to climate change between 2016 and 2020, according to Peruvian scientists. Mayra Mejia, an official with Peru's National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems (Inaigem), stated that the increase in the average global temperature has led to an accelerated retreat of glaciers, especially those in tropical areas. Currently, the country has only 44% of the glacial coverage recorded in 1962, representing 1,050 square kilometers of glacial area. Mejia highlighted the near disappearance of glaciers in certain mountain ranges, such as Chila, which has lost 99% of its glacial surface since 1962. This loss of glaciers not only impacts the environment but also increases the risks for people living in lowland areas, as demonstrated by the devastating mud avalanche in 1970 caused by the breaking off of a huge sheet of ice from the snow-capped Huascaran, resulting in over 20,000 deaths in the city of Yungay.