Waterfalls swollen by summer snowmelt at the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, in the Yosemite National Park, California, USA

The barren hills of the Bamiyan valley in central Afghanistan appear to promise little, but snowmelt irrigates the fields, Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

The fast-flowing Tokumm Creek swollen by summer snowmelt, Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, North America

Ice melt river winding through secondary forest in Hellmebotyn, Tysfjord, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe

Snowmelt river running strongly in Briksdal Valley, Olden, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe

Snowmelt waterfall in Hercules Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

The Merced River swollen by summer snowmelt, with the Yosemite Falls in the background, in the Yosemite National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, California, United States of America, North America

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, swollen by summer snowmelt, Yosemite National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, California, United States of America

A pumping station sends water uphill over the mountains on the California aquaduct that brings water from snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada mountains to farmland in the Central Valley. Following a four year long catastrophic drought, irrigation water is in short supply, with $2 billion annually wiped off the agricultre sector.

The California aquaduct that brings water from snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada mountains to famrland in the Central Valley. Following a four year long catastrophic drought, irrigation water is in short supply, with $2 billion annually wiped off the agricultre sector.

A pumping station sends water uphill over the mountains on the California aquaduct that brings water from snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada mountains to farmland in the Central Valley. Following a four year long catastrophic drought, irrigation water is in short supply, with $2 billion annually wiped off the agricultre sector.

The California aquaduct that brings water from snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada mountains to farmland in the Central Valley. Following a four year long catastrophic drought, irrigation water is in short supply, with $2 billion annually wiped off the agricultre sector.

Hiker crosses suspension bridge over Hooker River, Hooker Valley, Mount Cook National Park, Canterbury, New Zealand, Oceania

Ice chapel with meltwater stream, ice field at the foot of the Watzmann east face, Berchtesgaden National Park, Watzmann, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Kangia ice fjord, Illulissat, Jabobshavn, Greenland

River bend on the Rio Paine river, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Region de Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Chile, South America

Glacier river Joekulsarlon, raging river, lava desert Krepputunga, highland road Austurleio, Asturleid, F 910, highlands, central Iceland, Iceland, Europe

Panorama, mountains and glacier river in a mountain valley, wild nature, Myrdalsjoekull glacier in the back, Icelandic Highlands, Porsmoerk, Suourland, Iceland, Europe

Mountain panorama, volcanic landscape and river, glacier river from above, aerial view, river arms meandering, wild nature, Icelandic Highlands, Pakgil, Suourland, Iceland, Europe

Aerial view, panorama, gorge, mountains and glacier river in a mountain valley, wild nature, Icelandic Highlands, Porsmoerk, Suourland, Iceland, Europe

Glacier edge, glacier, glacier river, lava desert Krepputunga, Oeskjuleio, Kverkfjoell, Vatnajoekull glacier, highlands, central Iceland, Iceland, Europe

Springtime mountain landscape with meltwater pools and spruce trees, Gilfert in the background, Naunz, Tux Pre-Alps, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

The Karwendel Mountain Range near Gramai in valley Falzthurntal during spring close to lake Achensee and the village of Pertisau. Spring meadow with spring-crocus (crocus vernus), the harbinger of spring in the Alps. Mount Lamsenspitze covered with snow (middle) mount Sonnjoch (right) and mountain farm Falzthurnalm (left) in the background,Europe, Central Europe, Bavaria