Kolahoi Peak#Kolahoi Glacier

Kolahoi Peak was first climbed by a British medical team headed by Dr Ernest Neve in 1912.{{cite web |url= https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1990-91_files/AJ%201990%2050-53%20Comins%20Kolahoi.pdf |title=Kolahoi first climbed|publisher=Alpine Journal |access-date= 2012-04-25}}

The easiest route to climb Kolahoi Peak is its southern face via the Aru village near Pahalgam, from which a 21 km high altitude alpine trek leads to the glacier of the peak.

On 7 September 2018, a team of mountaineers while descending after successful summit were hit by rockfall debris, which killed two of them.{{cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kas-officer-among-2-feared-dead-in-kolahoi-glacier-accident/295688.html|title=KAS officer among 2 feared dead in Kolahoi glacier accident|publisher=greaterkashmir.com|access-date=2018-09-08|date=8 September 2018}}

The first ever Kolahoi Greater traverse was completed successfully on 11 to 13 September of 2023 led by Inayat Ullah Bhat with Raja Waseem and Laway Mudasir.{{cn|date=February 2024}} They traversed a total of 6.21 miles from the Southern glacier to the Northern glacier reaching the summit of Neve-Mason couloir of Kolahoi peak.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox glacier

| name = Kolhai Glacier

| photo = Kolahoi Glacier andMt.Kolahoi(5425m) North view -the highest mountain in Kashmir valley.JPG

| photo_caption = Kolhai Glacier

| type = Mountain glacier

| location = Anantnag Jammu and Kashmir, India

| coords = {{coord|34|10|20|N|75|20|10|E|type:glacier_region:IN|display=inline}}

| area =

| length = {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} in 1974

| thickness =

| terminus =

| status =

}}

Kolahoi glacier lies at an average elevation of {{convert|4700|m}}. The origin of the glacier is below the cirques on the north flank of Kolahoi Peak. It is the main source of Lidder River, whose water serves the population of Anantnag district, where it is mainly used for drinking and agricultural purposes. It finally drains into the Jhelum River near Khanaba.

Kolahoi Glacier is among the victims of global warming,{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100324-himalaya-glacier-melt-water/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327105027/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100324-himalaya-glacier-melt-water/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2010|title=Goddess glacier melting in war-torn Kashmir|publisher=national geographic.com|access-date=2012-04-24|date=26 March 2010}} and has shrunk in area{{cite web|url=https://www.teriin.org/photo-story/kashmir-crown-kolahoi-glacier-deep-water|title=Kashmir's crown Kolahoi glacier is in deep water|publisher=TERI}} from 13.57 km² in 1963 to 10.69 km² in 2005 or a loss of 2.88 km² in three decades.[http://recent-science.com/index.php/rrst/article/viewFile/8645/4404 Kanth, T.A., Aijaz Ahmad Shah and Zahoor ul Hassan; Geomorphologic Character & Receding Trend of Kolahoi Glacier in Kashmir Himalaya, Recent Research in Science and Technology 2011, 3(9): 68-73] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211204551/http://recent-science.com/index.php/rrst/article/viewFile/8645/4404 |date=11 December 2013 }}, {{ISSN|2076-5061}} In 1974 the glacier was about 5 km long and is known to have extended for at least 35 km during the Pleistocene.{{cite journal | url = http://www.igsoc.org/journal.old/13/68/igs_journal_vol13_issue068_pg279-283.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131211170052/http://www.igsoc.org/journal.old/13/68/igs_journal_vol13_issue068_pg279-283.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-12-11 | title = Glacial History of Kolahoi Glacier, Kashmir, India | author1 = N. Ahmed |author2 = N. H. Hashimi | journal = Journal of Glaciology | volume = 13 | issue = 68 | pages = 279–283 | year = 1974 | access-date = 2012-04-16 | bibcode = 1974JGlac..13..279A | doi = 10.1017/S002214300002308X | doi-access = free }} A detailed analysis by Rafiq and Mishra{{Cite journal|last=Rafiq|first=Mohammd|last2=Mishra|first2=Anoop|date=2016-11-25|title=Investigating changes in Himalayan glacier in warming environment: a case study of Kolahoi glacier|journal=Environmental Earth Sciences|volume=75|issue=23|doi=10.1007/s12665-016-6282-1|issn=1866-6280}} reported that the glacier has shrunk from 35 to 09.88 Sq Km. The rate of recession measured from 1922 to 2015 is reported to be 73.26 m per year. Furthermore, the rate of recession of snout is found to be 16.41 m per year from 1857 to 2015. The shirking of glacier area is linked to reduction in snow depth which in turn is affected by the increase in black carbon concentration, temperature and reduction in precipitation. Reanalysis data show that there is decrease of about 1.08 ± 0.65 cm per decade in snow depth over Kolahoi glacier during 1979 to 2013. There are decadal increasing trends of about 76 nanogram/m² (statistically significant) and 0.39 °C (insignificant) in black carbon concentration and temperature, respectively, over Kolahoi. A decreasing trend of about 2.9 mm/month per decade in precipitation over the study area is also reported. It is reported that there is decrease of about 71 ± 24% in snow depth for each degree increase in temperature over Kolahoi.{{Cite journal|last=Mishra|first=Anoop Kumar|last2=Rafiq|first2=Mohammd|date=September 2017|title=Analyzing snowfall variability over two locations in Kashmir, India in the context of warming climate|journal=Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans|volume=79|pages=1–9|doi=10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2017.05.002|issn=0377-0265|bibcode=2017DyAtO..79....1M}} Reduction in snow depth as a result of increase in black carbon concentration, temperature and reduction in precipitation might have resulted in the shrinking of the Kolahoi glacier. According to another report,{{cite web|url= http://www.hoparoundindia.com/jammu-and-kashmir/pahalgam-attractions/kolahoi-glacier.aspx|title=Kolahoi: Hanging and hollowed inside|publisher=hoparoundindia.com|access-date=2012-04-27}} Kolahoi is a hanging glacier and hollowed inside. It is a matter of great concern for Kashmir Valley. Many expeditions have failed here.

{{Portal|India}}

• Anantnag
• Gulmarg
• Pahalgam
• Yusmarg
• Kukernag
• Gangabal
• Aharabal
• Kolahoi Peak
• Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary{{cite web|url= https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/op-ed/his-life-would-come-to-an-end-on-the-alpines-he-had-become-synonymous-with/296543.html|title=Kolahoi: His life would come to an end on the alpines he had become synonymous with. |publisher=Mahmood A. Shah|access-date=2018-09-25|date=16 September 2018 }}

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Category:Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir

Category:Anantnag district

Category:Five-thousanders of the Himalayas