An environmental campaigner has swum 1km (0.62 miles) across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to highlight the impact of global warming.
Lewis Gordon Pugh, 40, from Devon, wore only swimming trunks, goggles and a swimming hat to face the 2C waters of Pumori Lake at 17,000ft (5,300m).
He said he hoped to bring the “world’s attention” to the melting of glaciers and its effect on the region.
Mr Pugh has been nicknamed the “human polar bear” for his cold water swims.
He completed the swim near the Khumbu Glacier in 22 minutes and 51 seconds.
It is the first time a long distance swim has been completed under the summit of Everest, his campaign team said.
He has previously swum in Antarctica and across the North Pole to draw attention to melting sea ice.
He urged governments to make tackling climate change a priority and said he was disappointed the issue did not feature more prominently in the UK election.
The campaigner said he had seen glaciers around the world and many were “melting away”.
“The glaciers in the Himalayas are not just ice. They are a lifeline – they provide water to approximately two billion people,” he added.
Source: Lewis Gordon Pugh swims across Everest glacial lake - BBC
Date: 23 May 2010
Glaciers & Ice Sheets
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