Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and Their Risks in the HKH RegionCEFR A2
2 Oct 2025
Adapted from Qian Sun, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Tanveer Mazhar, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
The melting glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region create new lakes. These lakes can be very dangerous. If they break, they can cause glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Such floods destroy property and agriculture. Many people live downstream and face great risk.
Research shows that about 9.3 million people are at risk from GLOFs in this region. Countries like India and Pakistan have many populations exposed to these dangers. Recent events have shown that these floods can be devastating, causing loss of life and damage to infrastructure.
Difficult words
- glacier — A large mass of ice moving slowly.glaciers
- lake — A large area of water surrounded by land.lakes
- flood — An overflow of water onto normally dry land.floods
- risk — The chance of losing something valuable.
- infrastructure — The basic structures and services of a place.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think communities can prepare for GLOFs?
- What effects do floods have on agriculture?
- Why is it important to research the impact of climate change?
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