Dachstein glacier on the verge of extinction: climate change threatens the Alpine connection!

Dachstein glacier on the verge of extinction: climate change threatens the Alpine connection!

The connection between the Schladming Glacier and the Hallstätter Glacier in the Dachstein area is on the verge of collapse. According to 5min.at, this connection could be free of snow in just two to four weeks. The main reasons for this are climate change, persistently low snowfall in winter and high temperatures in summer. The temperature on the Hunerkogel, which is around 2,700 meters high, is currently around 14 degrees Celsius. The area between the glaciers, which was once 30 meters wide and up to two meters high, has now shrunk to just seven meters wide and one and a half meters high.

This year, only two meters of snowfall was recorded, when eight to ten meters would normally be expected. The decline of the glacier connection is alarming, not only because it has existed for around 3,500 years, but also because bare ice that is impossible to walk on without crampons remains. The popular ski tour from Hunerkogel over the glaciers to the Krippenstein mountain station may soon no longer be possible. In addition, the melting of the glacier could cause logistical problems for the Seethaler Hütte, whose old building structure is already at risk due to climate change.

A pioneer of glacier photography

Bernhard Edmaier, photographer and geologist from Ampfing, offers a deep insight into the dramatic changes to the glaciers in the Alps with his new illustrated book “AlpenEis – Glaciers and Permafrost in Climate Change”. According to ovb-online.de, Edmaier has been documenting glacier melting for over 30 years and has found that the Pasterze Glacier has retreated significantly over the past 20 years. The ice tongue, which was 5.5 kilometers long in 2002, has now been torn away from the side tributaries. An annual retreat rate of around 50 meters is now a reality.

The consequences of glacier melting are far-reaching, as around 4,400 glaciers still exist in the Alps, which play a crucial role as water storage for the Alpine rivers. The temperature increase in this region has been around two degrees for 150 years, significantly higher than the global average. These changes also have a direct impact on the Alpine-wide tourism sector: ski areas close, touring routes are closed and the attractiveness of related activities suffers significantly.

Tourism in the Alps is changing

The Alps attract millions of tourists every year and are directly linked to climate change, particularly through glacier melting. As [das-wissen.de](https://das-wissen.de/umwelt-und-nachhaltigkeit/klimawandel/klimawandel-in-den-alpen-gletscher Schmelze-und-tourismus) reports, melting glaciers have a direct impact on the snow situation, leading to shortened ski seasons. Tourism activities such as skiing, hiking and climbing are heavily dependent on these changes as snow security is increasingly at risk.

The melting of glaciers, which is also creating new landscapes, poses ecological, social and economic challenges. The need for sustainable tourism practices is becoming increasingly urgent, while the impacts on drinking water reserves and biodiversity are being felt. The prospects for Alpine tourism could decline by up to 45% by 2100 if no countermeasures are taken.

Developments in the Alps illustrate how important it is to combat climatic changes and adapt to the resulting challenges. It is crucial that all stakeholders - governments, the tourism industry and the population - work together to counteract the impending crisis.