The Mountain of Mountains, emblem of the Alps
A wave of glacier retreat in the Alps has exposed remains and artifacts from people missing for decades. In Switzerland, hikers have uncovered Belgian mountaineers near Weissmies, while other glaciers reveal German and Japanese climbers, plane parts, and ancient corpses. DNA testing confirms identities as climate-driven melt accelerates.
A year of record heat has accelerated glacier melt across Europe. In Switzerland, glacier volume has shrunk sharply and forestalling ice may be gone in some ranges. Exhibits in Lucerne reveal relics of the thaw, while scientists warn that high temperatures are reshaping alpine ecosystems and livelihoods.