Translated from www.people.com   30^th, August

Namunani Glacier is the thickest valley glacier in China, measured well over 200m in depth. Sino-US joint expedition to the Tibetan Plateau recently revealed to the reporters. This discovery was made after several radar tests.

Namunani, 7694m above sea level, is the peak of west Himalayas. It has six ridges, on either side of which scatter a number of glaciers. The Namuani Glacier locates in the northeast valley of a ridge. Running from south to north in a mild way, it is divided into the south and the north slopes. At the end of the tongue of the glacier situate many icy towers and icy waterfalls.

In order to measure the exact thickness of the glacier, the scientific staff spent about seven hours carrying needed equipment from the 56oom high base camp to the 6100m high work spot. Then they conducted a four-hour tough scientific job to come to such a conclusion: the Namunani Glacier, ranging 10 km² in area, 10m in length and 3m at its widest part, is measured as thick as 200m at its deepest place, thus making it one of the few large-scale valley glaciers in low latitudinal regions.

In explaining such a phenomenon, the team leader, Prof. Yao Tandong, the director of ITP told reporters that it was relevant to its geological location and natural environment. He further explained that though in low latitudinal region, the snow lines of the glaciers are between 5800m and 6000m on the whole. Among them, the Namunani Glaicer is 7694 above sea level, enabling it to form a glacier. Besides, during orogeny, the northeast ridge extended out to be a large, comparatively flat area, thus provided a large space for the formation of such a thick glacier.