ALMATY: Prevented from traveling overseas by the pandemic, Kazakhs are flocking to the magnificent glaciers of the Tian Shan mountain range close to their nation’s biggest city, Almaty.
“The number of tourists last yr was several times bigger than in last years, especially local tourists,” says mountain guide Mikhail Kamirasov.
“Individuals can’t go overseas now and so they have begun going to the mountains. That is literally a pilgrimage site now.”
Kamirasov takes guests to the Bogdanovich glacier 3,500 meters (11,500 ft) above sea level and featuring a bowl-shaped formation which some have used to produce otherworldly landscape photographs.
“As long as people don’t leave garbage behind and use proper guides who look after nature, there should be no negative effects (on the glacier),” he mentioned.
However, safety experts say some tourists attempt to save money and go without guides.
“The higher influx of tourists affects their own security because completely unprepared individuals have started going to the mountains now,” says Viktor Blagoveshchensky, chief researcher at the Institute of Geography and Water Safety.
Kamirasov says parts of the glacier are only safe in winter.
“Whereas it’s cold and safe one can climb down here and take a picture,” he says, standing in a narrow passage into a cave that has to become accessible for the first time in 20 years.
“However once the spring begins this place should be avoided because the glacier moves and the passage walls may collapse.”
The glacier is dwindling due to global warming. Kamirasov says its lowest point has retreated about 1.5 km (1 mile) since he first visited it about 30 years ago.
As glaciers melt, they leave behind lakes that can overflow and cause mudslides, a major hazard for Almaty.
However, for now, city residents are rushing to visit the glacier.
