Roopkund lake, also known as the lake of skeletons, due to the presence of hundreads of skeletons, is bearing the brunt of climate change. Located at an altitude of 16,470 ft in Uttarakhand, Roopkund is a famous trekking destination. Also known as 'Mystery Lake', Roopkund lies in the lap of Trishul massif. It is encased in ice for the majority of the year.While for most of its existence, Roopkund lake has made scientists worried due to the remains present, now the focus has shifted. According to the forest officials, Roopkund is shrinking in both depth and width. In the recent years, there has been more rain and less snow - which has led to soil and stones slide into the lake. This is what has reduced its size.For the unversed, Roopkund is unique because of the mystery surrounding it: the mystery of hundreds of skeletons. It has intrigued anthropologists for decades. But what is it about? It all started in 1942 when a forest ranger of Nanda Devi National Park, Hari Kishan Madhwa, found hundreds of skeletons. He informed the British authorities, who concluded that the casualties are of a hidden Japanese force since it was during the time of World War II.A complete contradiction to this, many researches later revealed that the skeletons were much older. The World War II theory was then ruled out.A study in 1950s by the Anthropological Survey of India says that the skeletons had head injuries which were possibly caused by something forceful being thrown.As a part of a latest study, a genetic analysis and carbon dating of 38 skeletons was done. It was then discovered that some of these skeletons date back to around 1,200 years. Also, the skeletons were genetically very different and their deaths were separated by as much as 1,000 years. It states that the skeleton group comprises of two different roots - South Asian and Eastern Mediterranean.Despite all of these theories, Roopkund has been a fascinating destination for many tourists. Choosing Roopkund trek is a scenic yet adventurous journey that passes through many exotic locations.
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