Rapid Fire
Birch Glacier
- 02 Jun 2025
- 2 min read
A catastrophic collapse of Switzerland’s Birch Glacier triggered a massive landslide, burying an Alpine village under ice, rock, and mud.
- The glacier's instability was due to a cascading disaster i.e., combining heavy debris load, permafrost thawing, and rising temperatures.
- The collapse impacted the River Lonza, raising risks of flooding due to debris.
- About Birch Glacier: The Birch Glacier is situated in the Swiss Alps in the Lotschental Valley.
- It lies near the Bietschhorn mountain, a prominent peak in the region.
- Swiss glaciers have already lost nearly 40% of their volume since 2000; record temperatures in 2022–2023 caused a 10% loss alone.
- About Swiss Alps: Swiss Alps lie to the south of the Swiss Plateau. It has historically served as a natural barrier between northern and southern Europe, with mountain passes providing vital trade routes, especially linking Italy to the north.
- About Alps: The Alps are Europe’s highest and most extensive mountain range (fold mountain), spanning eight countries i.e., France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Monaco. The highest peak is Mont Blanc, on the France-Italy border.
| Read More: Changing Landscape of Alps: Europe |
