Disintegrating Glacier Reveals 50-Year-Old Ski Lift
In a surprising discovery, the remains of an old ski lift have been uncovered on the Dachstein glacier in Austria. The ski lift, built in 1970, was used for summer skiing and operated by the Dachstein Gletscherbahn, according to Georg Bliem, the CEO of the Dachstein Glacier Cable Car.
The ski lift was buried under snow a few years after its construction and remained hidden under the ice cover for about 50 years. It reemerged recently due to the melting glacier, a clear sign of the effects of climate change.
The exact date of the ski lift's burial or reappearance is not known. The discovery was previously reported by the "Kronen Zeitung" in Upper Austria. Georg Bliem made the announcement about the discovery to the German Press Agency (dpa).
The condition of the ski lift after reappearing is not mentioned in this report. However, the retreat of the glacier is causing changes to hiking trails and the duration of a tourist attraction, a "palace of ice" dug into the glacier, which may only exist for another four to five years.
Hiking trails need to be rerouted and secured due to the glacier's retreat to prevent people from falling into crevasses. Since the mid-19th century, the Hallstatt Glacier on the Dachstein has shrunk from 5.27 square kilometers to about 2.22 square kilometers. Rising temperatures are causing ice masses in the mountains to gradually disappear.
This discovery serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on our environment. The ski lift, once a symbol of winter sports, now stands as a testament to the changing times.
