Located at the intersection of South, Central, and East Asia, the massive Tibetan Plateau is often considered to be Earth's "third pole." A land of large glaciers, permafrost, and heavy snow, the plateau feeds a vast network of rivers, including major waterways like the Ganges, Indus, Mekong, Yangtze, and Yellow. These rivers, which together make up Asia's "water tower," provide water to nearly 40% of the world's population. The Tibetan Plateau also plays a substantial role in the global climate system by affecting atmospheric circulation and driving weather patterns, such as the Asian summer monsoon, around the planet. And in...
