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Melting away -

Unfortunately, it's no surprise that climate change is rapidly reshaping our planet, with one of the most striking effects being the alarming rate at which ice caps and glaciers are melting.

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Alarming numbers -

According to NASA, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are losing mass at an accelerated pace, with Greenland's ice sheet shedding about 280 billion tons (254 billion tonnes) of ice annually, contributing to rising sea levels.

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Alarming numbers -

Greenland's ice loss rate has surged from 33 billion tons (30 billion tonnes) per year in the 1990s to 254 billion tons (230 billion tonnes) per year in the last decade—a seven-fold increase in just 30 years, according to the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling.

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Glacier loss -

The same grim reality is affecting glaciers—large, persistent masses of ice that form over land. One-third of glaciers could vanish by 2050 due to climate change, with some disappearing as early as 2040.

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Global effort -

To raise awareness of this alarming situation, the United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation, in collaboration with UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization.

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Protect the glaciers -

These initiatives aim to drive global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement climate adaptation measures, protecting the planet's 200,000 glaciers from unprecedented warming.

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Rising sea levels -

Human-caused climate change has melted so much ice from glaciers that the resulting meltwater has raised global sea levels by eight centimeters  (3.1 inches) since 1900, says Patrick Gonzalez, former assistant director for climate and biodiversity at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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Icy risk -

Although glaciers are mesmerizing icy structures that attract many tourists, they are becoming increasingly dangerous to visit.

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Not set in stone -

"Now more than ever, climate change is making glacier travel more hazardous. Rising temperatures cause the snow covering crevasses and seracs to become less reliable, increasing the risk of hidden dangers," says Andrea Milani, who guides climbers, skiers, bikers, and hikers of all levels safely across Northern Italy with Dolomite Mountains tours.

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Fatal incident -

Milani recalls a tragic incident in July 2022. While taking a lunch break from rock climbing near the Italian Dolomites' Passo Fedaia ascent, he noticed helicopters circling and ambulance sirens wailing in the distance.

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Fatal incident -

A massive chunk—262 feet wide and 82 feet high (80 meters wide and 25 meters high)—had just broken off the nearby Marmolada glacier, triggering an avalanche of ice, snow, and debris. Milani's two friends, who had finished their descent just hours before meeting him, survived, but 11 climbers tragically lost their lives that day.

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Melting temperatures -

The incident reportedly occurred just one day after a record-high temperature of 10°C (50°F) was recorded at the glacier's summit, the highest in the Dolomites.

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Vanishing completely -

The Marmolada collapse echoes a global trend. Notably, Bolivia's 18,000-year-old Chacaltaya glacier, once home to the world's highest ski resort, has completely melted within the past two decades.

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Breaking borders -

Last autumn, Italy and Switzerland were forced to redraw their shared borders, once defined by glaciers and snowfields, due to the melt of the ice layer that once covered the Matterhorn mountain in Zermatt. In 2023, Switzerland's glaciers lost 4% of their volume, following a record-breaking 6% loss in 2022.

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Skyscraper-worth melt -

One of the most notable retreats has occurred at Muir Glacier in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. In 2019, NASA's Earth Observatory reported that climate change has melted away a layer of ice as tall as New York's One World Trade Center.

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Life-changing -

Travelers can still visit glaciers like Marmolada safely with proper precautions. In fact, studies show that witnessing these icy landscapes firsthand can inspire greater environmental awareness.

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Eyewitness -

By encouraging mindful visits, organizations like the UN hope that seeing the impacts in person will serve as a reminder of Earth's vulnerability and the power of simple actions—like walking, biking, and supporting solar and wind energy—to help protect the planet.

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Planning a tour -

While 91% of glaciers are in Antarctica, some can still be found in more accessible parts of the world. If you're planning a visit, click through the following slides for recommendations on the best glaciers to see and tips for being mindful of both the environment and your safety.

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Columbia Icefields - Alberta, Canada -

Straddling the majestic Banff and Jasper national parks on the Continental Divide, the Columbia Icefields are the remnants of an ice mass that once covered much of western Canada's mountains. It remains one of the largest icefields in North America.

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Columbia Icefields - Alberta, Canada -

Mountain guide Jesse de Montigny identifies crevasses—hidden, deep cracks in the ice—as the leading hazard. He stresses that safe glacier travel requires proper rope systems, technical skills, and crevasse rescue expertise.

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Columbia Icefields - Alberta, Canada -

Visitors seeking a less intrusive experience can enjoy the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk, providing panoramic views of Sunwapta Valley's glacial waterfalls and the iconic mountain goats at Glacier Lookout.

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Mendenhall - Alaska, United States -

In Alaska, Mendenhall stands out for its unique accessibility by road from Juneau, along the Alaska-Canada border in southeastern Alaska.

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Mendenhall - Alaska, United States -

While it’s one of more than 100,000 glaciers in the region, it’s one of the few that can be reached by car or shuttle.

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Mendenhall - Alaska, United States -

To reduce your carbon footprint, opt for a kayak tour for a ground-level view, rather than a helicopter ride with high carbon emissions. Note, however, that the ice caves are no longer safe to enter.

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Marmolada - Dolomites, Italy -

It’s worth overcoming your fear of heights to visit the "Queen of the Dolomites," located within Northern Italy's 12 interconnected Dolomiti Superski resorts.

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Marmolada - Dolomites, Italy -

Take the cable car up, and whether you ride back down or ski the glacier, be sure to stop at Europe's highest museum to learn about World War I tunnels dug by Austro-Hungarian soldiers who lived in their glacier "Ice City" for months.

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Marmolada - Dolomites, Italy -

If you decide to try mountaineering or climbing, be sure to hire a guide. Miliani emphasizes that the experience requires "preparation, experience, and respect for the environment." Check the map, the weather (the colder, the better), and, most importantly, the avalanche forecast.

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Mer de Glace - Chamonix, France -

This iridescent ice-blue glacier—transmitting a blue wavelength and absorbing all other colors—has become harder to view after losing 20 feet (six meters) of thickness each year.

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Mer de Glace - Chamonix, France -

To help preserve the glacier while still allowing visitors to experience its beauty and vulnerability, the second-largest glacier in the Alps can be accessed via a new gondola from a 6,277-foot (1,913-meter) panoramic platform. There is also one ice cave that visitors can still walk through.

Sources: (BBC) (NASA) (Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling)

See also: Glacier melt threatens freshwater reserves and coastal populations

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