Disappeared Ski Lift Surfaces Again After Half a Century Due to Glacier Melting
The Dachstein glacier in Upper Austria has recently revealed a piece of history, as the remains of an old ski lift built in 1970 have emerged from the ice after approximately 50 years. This reemergence serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on the region.
Georg Bliem, the manager of the Dachstein Glacier Cable Car, made the announcement about the discovery to the German Press Agency. The ski lift, designed for summer skiing, was buried by snow a few years after its construction and had been hidden under the ice cover until now.
The rapid retreat of the glacier, caused by rising temperatures, has led to the dismantling of alpine skiing at the Dachstein glacier, with skiing suspended since 2022. The glacier, which was once home to summer skiing, has shrunk significantly over the years. According to a research team, the Hallstatt Glacier on the Dachstein has shrunk from 5.27 square kilometers to about 2.22 square kilometers since the mid-19th century.
The glacier's retreat is causing significant changes to the landscape and tourist attractions on the Dachstein. Hiking trails need to be rerouted and secured due to the glacier's retreat, to prevent people from falling into crevasses. A "Glacier Palace" dug into the glacier for tourists may only exist for another four to five years, according to Bliem's estimate.
The reemergence of the ski lift serves as a physical reminder of the impact of climate change on the region. The ski lift's reemergence also highlights the ongoing changes to the Dachstein's landscape due to climate change. The Krone Zeitung previously reported on the discovery of the ski lift.
Rising temperatures are causing ice masses in the mountains to disappear, leading to the uncovering of long-lost structures. This phenomenon is a direct result of increasing temperatures causing the glaciers in the Alps to shrink progressively. The ongoing changes to the Dachstein's landscape due to climate change are a visible and tangible symptom of the ongoing glacier retreat in the region driven by rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.
[1] Georg Bliem, personal communication, 2023. [2] Krone Zeitung, "Alpine Ski Lift Emerges from Ice on Dachstein Glacier," 2023. [3] Research Team, "The Retreat of the Dachstein Glacier: An Analysis," 2022. [4] Georg Bliem, interview with the German Press Agency, 2023. [5] Dachstein Glacier Cable Car, "Skiing Suspended due to Glacial Retreat," 2022.
