As nations gear up for the Copenhagen climate meet in December to discuss global warming, a group of adventurers led by a Swiss, Andy Leemann, traverse more than 2500 km down the Ganges to assess the impact of climate change on the shrinking Himalayan glaciers. Sandipan B reports From the snow-capped mountains to the silvery sand-dunes of Indo-Gangetic plains, it was a soul journey for a Swiss adventurers' team romancing the many-splendoured Ganges. If at one moment they survived the formidable rapids, next, they were in awe of the deep canyons as the mighty river hurtles down the virile timeless mountains.
But these were men with a mission. They sailed down the long river to record the impact of climate change on the Himalayan glaciers threatened by global warming.
Led by Andy Leemann - a lanky Swiss river-explorer who earlier had led expeditions on great rivers like the Amazon, Mekong, Orinoco and Zambezi - the team sailed from Gomukh, the source of the Ganges, to its confluence, Sagar Island, in the Bay of Bengal.
The 15-member crew -- comprising nine professional adventurers from six countries, including India -- undertook the maiden voyage coursing along 2,521-km long riverine path, both on foot and by boat, over a period of 35 days and completed their expedition on October 19. The purpose was to draw attention of the international community to the environmental threats. It also focused upon sustainable solutions to river pollution.
Text & Images: Trans World Features (TWF)
Image: The expedition team
1,000 ice men for global warming
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