Since the mid of the 20th century a rapid increase of glacier lakes has taken place in the Himalayas as a consequence of a general trend of glacier retreat. Their poential outburst is a major hazard for settlements. However, these progracial lakes are not representative for the entire Himalayas. In the Karakoram and Hindukush the development of glacier lakes is mainly linked to glacier advances. Moreover distinct settlement patterns lead to a different glacial hazard situation in this region.