Laguna Palcacocha
Abstract
Laguna Palcacocha is located in the Ancash region in the high mountain range Cordillera Blanca at an altitude of 4566 m above sea level, at the foot of the Palcaraju (6274 m). It is located at the upper, eastern end of the Cojup Gorge (Quebrada Cojup in Spanish). The Río Paria has its origin at the Palcacocha, flows about 23 km southwest-ward through the Cojup Gorge and flows into the Río Quilcay near the end of the valley at the eastern edge of the city of Huaraz. This river system drains into the Río Santa after two kilometers through Huaraz, on the western edge of the city. The lake formed by the retreat of the glaciers located on the flanks of the surrounding mountains. Due to the retreat of the glaciers on the flanks of the surrounding mountains, which has accelerated in recent decades, the Laguna Palcacocha grew considerably in volume and size behind the moraines serving as natural dam. In order to reduce the risk of glacial runoff, two additional artificial dams and a concrete outlet were constructed in 1974. The threat posed by Laguna Palcacocha represents a high flood risk. The following questions should be investigated and clarified: Is there a serious threat of ice avalanches or glacier detachments, or rock slide into Laguna Palcacocha? What would be the consequences for the laguna and the city of Huaraz?
keywords risk analysis Glacier lake outburst floods Photogrammetry
Publikationen
Project staff
Johannes Hübl
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Johannes Hübl
johannes.huebl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-87111
Project Leader
01.05.2022 - 31.12.2023
Erik Kuschel
Erik Kuschel
erik.kuschel@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-87223
Project Staff
01.05.2022 - 31.12.2023