Slovenia mourns loss of glacier on its highest peak after scorching summer
Summary
The Triglav glacier on Slovenia’s highest peak has lost its final visible ice after years of rapid melting. Researchers say its disappearance removes an important record of climate change, while a smaller glacier on nearby Mount Skuta is expected to last for a few more years.Key Facts
- Triglav is Slovenia’s highest peak and holds a central place in the country’s national identity.
- Historical records suggest the Triglav glacier covered about 40 hectares in the mid-1800s.
- Its area had fallen to 14 hectares by 1946, when formal measurements began.
- The glacier lost 93% of its surface area between 1983 and 2003.
- In recent years, the remaining ice shrank to scattered pockets, and photos taken this month showed none remained.
- Researchers found that a five-metre ice core taken in 2002 came from a spot that was bare rock the following year.
- A remaining ice patch on Mount Skuta is more shaded and may last a few more years.
- The article reports that Western Europe had its hottest summer on record in 2026, with at least 50,000 estimated heat deaths.
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