Peru’s alarming water truth

…Peru has the largest number of tropical glaciers in the world. These water towers are crucial for slowly releasing water, particularly in the dry season. And Peru desperately needs the water all year round.

Apart from the need for drinking water, 80% of the country’s power has traditionally come from hydro-electricity. And, the current boom sectors of the economy – agro-exports and mining – also absorb huge volumes of water.


The latest figures on glacial melt are alarming.

Estimates by a team of Peruvian and international scientists say that Peru and Bolivia, which together account for more than 90% of the world’s tropical glaciers, have lost about a third of the surface area of their glaciers between the 1970s and 2006.

BBC