Transient Ice Caves on Swiss Glacier Attract Adventurous Hikers

Tourists in eastern Switzerland are taking the opportunity to get a rare glimpse inside the short-lived and potentially lethal ice caves that have formed on the Morteratsch glacier due to the freezing winter weather.

The caves were created by torrential meltwater carving tunnels under the ice, which are then enlarged by warm air currents.

More than half of the Alps' glaciers are located in Switzerland, where temperatures are rising at approximately twice the global average as a result of climate change.

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, these glaciers could lose over 80% of their current mass by 2100.

Although visitors can walk inside some of the tunnels during the cold winter months, it becomes dangerous or impossible to do so in the summer due to falling ice blocks and torrential water streams.

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