Mountains shrinking due to climate change

The mountains are shrinking – and many may lose the prestigious status of being over 4,000 metres high.

High temperatures mean the ice packs on the summits are melting. The Monte Rosa on the border between Valais and Italy is down by nearly 30 metres since 1960.

There are 48 mountains over 4,000 metres in the country. The Weissmies near Saas-Fee in Valais has lost 10 meters over the last 50 years from 4,023 meters to 4,013.

More from Bitesize News

  • Twint scam warning

    Switzerland has launched a national campaign to help the public spot online scams that exploit the Twint payment app

  • Water ban in parts of Valais

    Val de Bagnes has banned residents from using the irrigation network to water gardens and lawns, as Valais water reserves fall to critical levels

  • New insurance premium initiative

    Switzerland's Socialist Party is expected to launch signature collection today for an initiative linking health insurance premiums to household income

  • Rail link critical

    The Lausanne-Geneva rail line must be Switzerland's "absolute priority", according to the country's public transport association

  • Income not enough for many households

    Nearly 360,000 Swiss workers already earn too little to support their households, and the imminent health premium announcement threatens to push more families under

  • Speed limit decrease in parts of Lausanne

    Several new streets in central Lausanne will drop to 30 kilometres per hour from 12 October, day and night, according to a letter the city has sent to affected residents

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play