Amazing photos of melting glaciers and mountain summits in the Italian Alps

 

This church in Trafoi is still standing. The big hotel in the back had a fire and wasn't rebuilt. But what is really missing in the background is the big glacier!
Left image: SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek / Möbius, Walter; Right image: J. Everaars

When I visited the Italian Alps for a scientific project on the effect of climate and land use change on pollinators, I tried to re-picture some of the sites I found on historical photos. Here are some of the results. 

You can use most of these images in presentations without further notice, except those by Walter Möbius/SLUB, which are not public domain yet. You can contact me for source images when you need them in higher resolution without watermark. 

 

The village Sulden had only a few farmer homes in 1880 and is nowadays a popular resort for skiing and hiking.
Left image: Library of Congress CC0; Right image: J. Everaars

 

Another view from the Sulden valley. The snow on the mountain summit is in summer only a fraction of what it used to be. Another prominent difference between now and the nineteenth century is that large parts have been reforested that were complete open landscapes back than. The slopes may now superficially look more as it was around 1600, before mass-use of trees. However, the lower meadows are now mass-grazed by cows and 'supplied' with more and different cow dung (another origin and nutrient content).
Left image: Rijksstudio CC0; Right image: J. Everaars

Another mountain view from Sulden.
Left image: Library of Congress CC0; Right image: J. Everaars

This is the 'Icewall of Trafoi' (Trafoier Eiswand) seen from the 'Three water springs' view (Drei Brunnen). This must be pretty much the same standing point.
Left image: Library of Congress CC0; right image: J. Everaars

This is the 'Icewall of Trafoi' (Trafoier Eiswand) seen from Trafoi. The difference in snow and ice is remarkable.
Left image: Rijksstudio CC0; right image: J. Everaars

When we look up more closely at the 'Icewall of Trafoi' (Trafoier Eiswand) and at different time intervals, we see in the first 50 years a small change and the 65 years after a huge change and the glacier gone.
First image: Rijksstudio CC0; second image: SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek / Möbius, Walter; third image: J. Everaars

Very similar is this view of 'Icewall of Trafoi' (Trafoier Eiswand) seen from 'zum weissen Knott'. Also here the second time interval shows the complete disappearance of the glacier. This has consequences for the water supply in the valley.
First image: Library of Congress CC0; second image: SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek / Möbius, Walter; third image: J. Everaars

This is the same view of 'Icewall of Trafoi' (Trafoier Eiswand) as the one before, but now as left and right and the second in color.
Left image: Library of Congress CC0; right image: J. Everaars

Be kind to the future and safe some fossil energy everyday!