Loss of glaciers will hurt tourism, power supplies and more

By VICTORIA MILKO
AP Science Writer

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Countries that rely on glaciers are facing trouble as many ice sheets melt because of climate change. For generations, glaciers have helped make electricity, draw visitors and uphold ancient spiritual traditions. In Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains, glacier water runs hydroelectric plants. In Tanzania and Germany, they are essential for tourism. Some indigenous communities near Mt. Kilimanjaro consider the ice to be the home of gods. The ice masses that formed from compacted snow have been melting since around the time of the Industrial Revolution. The process has accelerated in recent years. The Rwenzori Mountains once held more than 40 glaciers, but fewer than half remained by 2005. Experts believe the last could disappear within 20 years.