As if another reminder was needed scientists from  an international team led by Doctor Edson Ramirez have announced that the Bolivian glacier Chacaltaya no longer exists illustrating the effect of global climate change.  The last ice on the 18,000 year old glacier melted earlier this year.  I visited Chacaltaya myself in 2003, it is about an hours drive out of the capital La Paz and surrounded by very arid terrain.  Back in 2003 there was still ice and snow there although the ski lifts looked like they had long been out of action with only a few scientists and the odd tourist left.  A sad story indeed for what was once the worlds highest ski run.  Dr. Ramirez and his team have ben studying the glacier for over 10 years and in 2009 predicted that Chacaltaya, which means "Cold Road" would last until 2015.  The quickening pace of the glacial melt is, Dr. Ramirez believes, down to the effects of greenhouse gases accumulation at higher elevations coupled with rising temperatures.  Chacaltaya sits at 17,388 feet above sea level.  

The Chacaltaya glacier is not the only casualty in the region and latest research indicates that within 30 years they will all have melted.  This inevitably causes strain on the local populace who rely on the glaciers as a water source which is being compounded by the reduced rainfall from the Andes monsoon which has had the combined affect of the La Paz reservoirs for the first time on record not replenishing what is being used.  

 Below the devastating melt of the Chacaltaya glacier.