Third Pole: Why Himalayas Are Called Earth's Third Pole?
Earthకి North Pole, South Pole తెలుసు… మరి Third Pole ఎక్కడుంది?
1. What is the Third Pole?
The term Third Pole refers broadly to the high mountain and cryosphere region of Asia centred around the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalaya–Karakoram–Hindu Kush mountain systems. It is not a geographical pole like the North Pole or South Pole. The name is based mainly on the enormous quantity of snow, glaciers and frozen freshwater stored in this high-altitude region.
తెలుగులో చెప్పాలంటే, ఉత్తర ధృవం మరియు దక్షిణ ధృవం తర్వాత అత్యంత ప్రాముఖ్యమైన మంచు మరియు హిమనదాల ప్రాంతంగా ఉన్నందున దీనిని భూమి యొక్క మూడవ ధృవం – Third Pole అని అంటారు.
2. Why is it Called the Third Pole?
The Arctic and Antarctica contain Earth's great polar ice masses. Outside these polar regions, High Mountain Asia contains one of the world's greatest concentrations of permanent snow and glaciers. This is the principal reason scientists and hydrologists use the nickname Third Pole.
North Pole → Arctic
South Pole → Antarctica
Third Pole → High Mountain Asia / Hindu Kush–Himalaya region
3. Where is the Third Pole Located?
The Third Pole lies in Asia and includes major mountain and plateau systems such as the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Tibetan Plateau. The broader Hindu Kush Himalayan region extends for about 3,500 km across parts of several Asian countries.
The Hindu Kush Himalayan region includes areas of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
4. Why is it Called the Water Tower of Asia?
The snowfields and glaciers of High Mountain Asia store water and release it through snowmelt and glacier melt. The mountain region forms the headwaters of many of Asia's major river systems. For this reason, the Hindu Kush Himalaya is also popularly described as the “Water Tower of Asia.”
5. Important Rivers Connected with the Region
| River | Exam Importance |
|---|---|
| Indus | Major river of the north-western Indian subcontinent |
| Ganga | One of India's most important river systems |
| Brahmaputra | Major transboundary Himalayan river |
| Mekong | Important river of Southeast Asia |
| Yangtze | Major river system of China |
| Yellow River | Another major Asian river linked to High Mountain Asia |
The wider Hindu Kush Himalayan system is associated with 10 major Asian river systems, making the region extremely important for water, food, ecosystems and livelihoods.
6. Why is the Third Pole Important to People?
Water originating in the mountains supports drinking-water supplies, irrigation, agriculture, hydropower generation, biodiversity and ecosystems throughout large parts of Asia.
According to ICIMOD assessments, approximately 240 million people live within the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, while around 1.65 billion people living downstream benefit directly or indirectly from its resources.
7. What is the Cryosphere?
The word Cryosphere refers to the frozen-water components of the Earth. It includes glaciers, snow cover, ice sheets, frozen ground and permafrost.
Cryosphere = Frozen part of the Earth's water system.
8. Climate Change and the Third Pole
Climate change is altering the Third Pole cryosphere. Scientific assessments report accelerated glacier loss, changes in snow cover, thawing permafrost and changes in the timing and quantity of meltwater.
These changes can influence long-term water availability and may also increase hazards in some mountain areas, including landslides, flash floods and risks connected with expanding glacial lakes.
9. What is a GLOF?
GLOF stands for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood. A glacial lake may form when meltwater accumulates near a glacier. If the natural barrier holding the lake fails suddenly, a large amount of water can rush downstream and cause a dangerous flash flood.
GLOF = Glacial Lake Outburst Flood
10. Important Points for Competitive Exams
- Third Pole is located in High Mountain Asia.
- It is not an actual geographic pole.
- It is associated with the Himalaya–Karakoram–Hindu Kush and Tibetan Plateau.
- It contains enormous reserves of snow and glaciers outside the polar regions.
- Hindu Kush Himalaya is known as the Water Tower of Asia.
- The wider HKH region is linked with 10 major Asian river systems.
- Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra are important river systems associated with the region.
- Cryosphere means the frozen components of Earth's water system.
- Climate change is affecting glaciers, snow and permafrost.
- GLOF stands for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood.
11. Third Pole – Important MCQs
The region includes the Himalaya and surrounding high mountain systems with extensive glaciers and snow.
“Third Pole” is a scientific nickname, not an actual geographic pole.
Final Revision
The high mountain region of Asia is called the Third Pole because it contains an enormous concentration of glaciers, snow and frozen freshwater outside the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions.
• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
• ICIMOD Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment / HI-WISE
• NASA Earth Science / Earth Observatory
Note: The term “Third Pole” is used for a broader High Mountain Asian cryosphere and should not be interpreted as referring only to Mount Everest or only to the political boundaries of the Himalayas.
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