Ice stupas are often formed by spraying glacial melt from natural or pre-existing high-altitude glaciers. The melt form these glaciers runs down and is tapped by long vertical pipes that spray it out; the spray freezes midair as it falls and thus results in a cone-shaped stupa. Its melt is in turn used to foster silviculture – timber trees are grown, cut down and sold.
“The project plans to build a cascade of 80-90 ice stupas to store 1 billion liters of water, enough to cover the entire Phyang desert (600 hectares) with a plantation of 2 million trees,” an article by the International Water Management Institute says about the ambitious and sustainable project.