Listening: Thawing permafrost freezes a Swiss cable car
The thawing of the permafrost has forced the closure of the Fiescheralp-Eggishorn aerial tramway in southern Switzerland.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/sm
The changes in the terrain around the mountain station were observed during Friday’s routine inspection of the facility, as the CEO of Aletsch BahnenExternal link told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Saturday.
As a result, operations had to be halted with immediate effect as a preventive measure. The altered terrain will be compensated for through structural measures, but it is unclear how extensive these will be. The plan is to resume operations for the start of the winter season in December.
From Eggishorn there are good views of the Aletsch Glacier, which has shrunk dramatically over the years. The shrinking of glaciers, and especially the melting of the permafrost – the permanently frozen ground in the Alps above 2,500 metres –are destabilizing the slopes of the mountains themselves.
Masses of loose material may start to slide under the pressure of water building up in many parts of the Alps, warnsExternal link the federal government’s consultative body on climate change.
More on that in this story:
More
More
Climate solutions
As glaciers shrink, are the Alps more dangerous?
This content was published on
Melting of the glaciers means more risk of landslides and flooding. Yet it is also opening up new opportunities for Alpine tourism.
Swiss foreign minister praises improved relations with Italy
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the good relations that Switzerland has developed with Italy.
Boating and swimming to be banned on part of River Aare in Bern
This content was published on
From September, the city and canton of Bern will be carrying out extensive construction work on the River Aare to protect against flooding and to renovate the Marzili outdoor pool.
Moutier: foreigners familiarise themselves with right to vote
This content was published on
From 2026, Moutier will be part of the Swiss canton of Jura, gaining more than 1,000 new voters. On Monday around 50 people were informed about their new rights.
Switzerland ‘more than ready’ to host Ukraine summit
This content was published on
Switzerland is more than ready to host a summit between Russia and Ukraine, says Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, highlighting Switzerland's expertise in this area.
This content was published on
Every second aircraft at Zurich Airport took off late this summer. However, the situation has already improved significantly compared to last year.
Swiss union federation demands average wage increase of 2%
This content was published on
The employees' umbrella organisation Travailsuisse is demanding an average wage increase of two percent for all employees in the coming year. This would cover the rising cost of living and make up for wage shortfalls in recent years.
‘Dr Pump’ sentenced for administering unauthorised substances
This content was published on
A Bern Regional Court has found the Solothurn doctor known as "Dr Pump" guilty of offences against the Sports Promotion Law. The man had administered unauthorised substances to patients.
This content was published on
Volunteering can have a positive effect on mental health. According to a survey conducted in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, people who volunteer for others also strengthen themselves.
This content was published on
Twint is being used more and more frequently to make purchases at the till or transfer money to friends using a smartphone. By the middle of the year, the payment app already had more than six million users in Switzerland.
This content was published on
The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should take place in Europe, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. He is calling for it to be held in Geneva.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Permafrost is warming worldwide, says new study
This content was published on
The temperature of permafrost has risen in the last ten years across the world, says a new international study with Swiss participation.
Scientist predicts 30% of Swiss glacier ice could be saved
This content was published on
If the Paris climate accord is implemented, up to one-third of all ice stored in larger Swiss glaciers could be saved, a top glaciologist predicts.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.