Farmer builds ice pyramids to save mountain villages

The Himalayan mountains are very cold and high. Some villages in these mountains have a big problem. They do not have enough water for their farms in spring.

A farmer named Chewang Norphel had a good idea. He decided to make artificial glaciers. These are not real glaciers. They are ice pyramids that people build on purpose.

How do they make these ice structures? Workers collect water from mountain streams. They pour this water on very cold ground. The water freezes and becomes ice. Slowly, ice piles up. Soon, a big ice pyramid forms.

Why is this a good idea? In spring, the ice melts. The melt water flows down to the farms. Farmers can use this water for their crops. The water comes exactly when they need it most.

Many villages have copied this idea. Now there are ice pyramids in many places. Some pyramids are very large. Some are small. But all of them help farmers grow food.

This is not expensive. Villages do not need new machines. They just need cold weather and hard work. Young people and old people work together. They build ice pyramids every winter.

Today, this idea saves many farms. Scientists say this is a smart way to help villages. It uses nature and does not hurt the environment. Many other mountain villages around the world want to try this too.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.