This glacial lake is being drained to keep Mt Everest trek routes safe in Nepal

They’re some of the most popular trekking routes in the world, but engineers are desperately trying to save the trails around Mt Everest which are at risk of being washed away by swollen glacial lakes.

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With climate change and rising temperatures taking its toll, work began on the worst affected Imja Tsho glacial lake in the Solukhumbu, which is said to be at high risk of bursting.

There are plans to slowly lower the water level by up to three metres over the course of a week.

Imja Tsho is said to hold 20 billion gallons of meltwater, which puts surrounding villages and bridges at risk of being swept away should the lake flood.

It’s something that’s happened in the area before.

In 1985, floodwaters at nearby Dig Tsho saw five villagers killed, 14 bridges and a hydroelectric power station destroyed, as well as acres of trekking trails and farmland washed away.

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