The thick layer of ice that has covered a Swiss mountain pass for centuries will have melted away completely within a few weeks. This summer's heatwave hitting Europe has been catastrophic for the Alpine glaciers, which have been melting at an accelerated rate

#Switzerland #drought #climateemergency #ClimateCrisis #TomorroIsTooLate

Following a dry winter, the summer heatwaves hitting Europe have been catastrophic for the Alpine glaciers, which have been melting at an accelerated rate.

The pass between #Scex Rouge and #Tsanfleuron has been iced over since at least the Roman era.

But as both glaciers have retreated, the bare rock of the ridge between the two is beginning to emerge -- and will be completely ice-free before the summer is out.

"The pass will be entirely in the open air in a few weeks," the #Glacier 3000 ski resort said in a statement.

While the ice measured around 15 metres (49.5 feet) thick in 2012, the ground underneath "will have completely resurfaced by the end of September".

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220811-swiss-mountain-pass-set-to-lose-all-ice-within-weeks