Have you ever wondered how life in the Himalayan Range can be transformed with the availability of water?

Well, now you do not have to wonder because in the highest mountain desert region of Ladakh, India, a scientist Sonam Wangchuk is using a unique method of storing water to tackle the issue of shortage.

Source: The Third Pole

A frozen cone stands in the barren region, and along with providing locals with the water, it also adds to the aesthetic of the area, which further helps in increasing the revenue by attracting tourists. 

The structure is called “Ice Stupa” and has been named after the similarly shaped Buddhist Monuments in the area. The engineer Sonam Wangchuk, experiencing similar conditions during his childhood, realized that the residents were suffering greatly due to the unavailability of the water resources as the land is barren and these vital resources cease to exist especially during summer. This makes it difficult to sow crops or carry out any other household activities.

Source: My Modern Net

So, to solve the problem, Wangchuk came up with a design that uses gravity pipes to shoot the water melted from the glaciers in the air, and when the temperature of the desert drops below negative 30 degrees, it freezes upon descent. 

Source: The Wire

Since the shape of the frozen structure is conical, the sun in the daytime is only able to melt some of the areas around the tip, so during summers, the water can be utilized for agriculture and other domestic work.

“It’s an amazing feeling every time I see the fountain gushing water high up into the air,” says Wangchuk, the genius behind the phenomenon. “It’s art and utility happening together.”

Source: India Today

The team of the scientists headed by Wangchuk are now delivering this facility to regions around the world that have similar conditions, especially Switzerland. The experts have regarded it as one of the most innovative projects of the twenty-first century because Wangchuk used creativity to come up with such an innovative yet simple and cost-effective solution.