In view of climate change, the government of Nepal is considering moving Mount Everest base camp for safety reasons.
Glacier ice is gradually melting at the base camp of the world's highest mountain and surrounding mountains, which could pose a danger to climbers at the base camp, official Khimlal Gautam, who is in charge of mountaineering in the region, said.
Large glacial lakes could form and at some point they could suddenly burst like a flood over the base camp and nearby villages.
The government is now looking for alternative base camp locations further down near villages where there is usually no ice, Gautam said.
A decision on how to proceed will only be made when all interest groups agree, said the head of the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism, Taranath Adhikari.
Gautam also emphasized that there have been more and more expeditions in the Everest region over the years and that they then also consume more energy, i.e. burn liquid gas or kerosene and thus generate heat.
While you used to see high, steep towers of glacial ice at the base camp, even in spring, this is rarely the case today.
The ice on Mount Everest is melting fast, scientific research shows.