**4.5 GLOF events associated with end-moraine dammed lakes**

During 2001, the total numbers of lakes in Gilgit were 614. The total area of these lakes was 39.2 km<sup>2</sup> . Out of 614 lakes, 380 were major and 8 were potential GLOF lakes. There were 110 glacial lakes in the Hunza basin, which have a total area of 3.2 km<sup>2</sup> . Out of 47 glacial lakes, only one lake was potential GLOF, that is, Passu lake which has a potential threat to CPEC (**Figures 6** and **7**). In the past, this lake had busted many times during the flooding period as given in **Table 2** and **Figures 6** and **7**.

Amongst the end moraine dammed lakes of Hunza Basin, six were identified as potentially hazardous lakes for the CPEC route (**Figures 6** and **7**). The major lakes were valley type and superglacial lakes. Passu lake was observed as a hazardous lake, which is near to Passu glacier. The surface area of this lake was 0.12 km<sup>2</sup> , length 26 km, and thickness of about 173 m. The population of the Ghulkin, Hussaini, and Passu villages are 1133, 621, and 863 persons, respectively. During the July 2007 and April 2008, heavy flooding occurred, this damaged the CPEC route.

**115**

**Figure 6.**

**Figure 7.**

**Table 4.**

*Risks of Glaciers Lakes Outburst Flood along China Pakistan Economic Corridor*

In July 2007, the lake was outburst with heavy flooding and another event was observed in April 2008. These events damaged the Karakoram Highway, hotels, and houses of the Passu village. This lake was breached several times in the past. Passu village is under high risk due to GLOF of this lake. There is a need to install the proper monitoring system to reduce the risks of glacier lakes outburst as well as

**Basin Number of lakes Lake area Major lakes GLOF lakes** Gilgit 614 39.17 380 8 Hunza 110 3.22 47 1

Although this lake is hazardous for the nearby communities of the Passu village and after the creation of a large land-slide dammed lake (Attabad lake) at Attabad during February 2010, the villages along Hunza River up to Gilgit and downstream became highly vulnerable of GLOF hazard. Early warning systems and proper monitoring can reduce the risk of damage to the CPEC route, infrastructures, and community. The different lakes of Gilgit have different rates of expansion such as 1.2, 0.4, and 0.3 ha/year during 2001 and 2013, respectively (**Figures 8**–**10**).

local community protection in the downstream area (**Table 4**).

*View of the Passu glacier during 2011 and 2016 shows the expansion in lake area.*

*Summary of glacial lakes in two major glaciered river basins along CPEC [20].*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93459*

*Retreat of Passu glacier caused expansion in the glacial lake.*

*Risks of Glaciers Lakes Outburst Flood along China Pakistan Economic Corridor DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93459*

#### **Figure 6.**

*Glaciers and the Polar Environment*

**4.5 GLOF events associated with end-moraine dammed lakes**

*Contribution of hazardous share in different glaciers along CPEC.*

During 2001, the total numbers of lakes in Gilgit were 614. The total area of

Passu lake which has a potential threat to CPEC (**Figures 6** and **7**). In the past, this lake had busted many times during the flooding period as given in **Table 2** and

Amongst the end moraine dammed lakes of Hunza Basin, six were identified as potentially hazardous lakes for the CPEC route (**Figures 6** and **7**). The major lakes were valley type and superglacial lakes. Passu lake was observed as a hazardous lake, which is near to Passu glacier. The surface area of this lake was

, length 26 km, and thickness of about 173 m. The population of the Ghulkin, Hussaini, and Passu villages are 1133, 621, and 863 persons, respectively. During the July 2007 and April 2008, heavy flooding occurred, this damaged the

GLOF lakes. There were 110 glacial lakes in the Hunza basin, which have a total

. Out of 614 lakes, 380 were major and 8 were potential

. Out of 47 glacial lakes, only one lake was potential GLOF, that is,

**114**

0.12 km<sup>2</sup>

CPEC route.

these lakes was 39.2 km<sup>2</sup>

area of 3.2 km<sup>2</sup>

**Figure 5.**

**Figure 4.**

*Khurdopin Glacial Lake formation.*

**Figures 6** and **7**.

*Retreat of Passu glacier caused expansion in the glacial lake.*

#### **Figure 7.**

*View of the Passu glacier during 2011 and 2016 shows the expansion in lake area.*


#### **Table 4.**

*Summary of glacial lakes in two major glaciered river basins along CPEC [20].*

In July 2007, the lake was outburst with heavy flooding and another event was observed in April 2008. These events damaged the Karakoram Highway, hotels, and houses of the Passu village. This lake was breached several times in the past. Passu village is under high risk due to GLOF of this lake. There is a need to install the proper monitoring system to reduce the risks of glacier lakes outburst as well as local community protection in the downstream area (**Table 4**).

Although this lake is hazardous for the nearby communities of the Passu village and after the creation of a large land-slide dammed lake (Attabad lake) at Attabad during February 2010, the villages along Hunza River up to Gilgit and downstream became highly vulnerable of GLOF hazard. Early warning systems and proper monitoring can reduce the risk of damage to the CPEC route, infrastructures, and community. The different lakes of Gilgit have different rates of expansion such as 1.2, 0.4, and 0.3 ha/year during 2001 and 2013, respectively (**Figures 8**–**10**).

**Figure 8.** *Field observation of Passu glacier and lake.*

**Figure 9.** *Impact of high flow of Batura glacier on CPEC bridge.*
