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Pictures | Mon Nov 25, 2019 | 11:05pm EST

Photos show dramatic Swiss glacier retreat

A handout picture of the Gorner Glacier taken in 1863 in Zermatt, Switzerland and released by ETH Library Zurich, is seen displayed at the same location on August 25, 2019. Where mighty glaciers once spilled into Swiss valleys like frozen rivers of ice, a residue of gray scree and boulders remains, spliced through with raging streams. A Reuters montage of images - showing photos of modern-day mountain landscapes next to archive shots of the same scenes decades earlier - reveals the dramatic change. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

A handout picture of the Gorner Glacier taken in 1863 in Zermatt, Switzerland and released by ETH Library Zurich, is seen displayed at the same location on August 25, 2019. Where mighty glaciers once spilled into Swiss valleys like frozen rivers of...more

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
A handout picture of the Gorner Glacier taken in 1863 in Zermatt, Switzerland and released by ETH Library Zurich, is seen displayed at the same location on August 25, 2019. Where mighty glaciers once spilled into Swiss valleys like frozen rivers of ice, a residue of gray scree and boulders remains, spliced through with raging streams. A Reuters montage of images - showing photos of modern-day mountain landscapes next to archive shots of the same scenes decades earlier - reveals the dramatic change. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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The Aletsch Glacier is pictured from the Eggishorn between 1860 and 1877 in Fieschertal, Switzerland. More than 500 Swiss glaciers have already vanished, and the government says 90% of the remaining 1,500 will go by the end of the century if nothing is done to cut emissions. Adolphe Braun/Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

The Aletsch Glacier is pictured from the Eggishorn between 1860 and 1877 in Fieschertal, Switzerland. More than 500 Swiss glaciers have already vanished, and the government says 90% of the remaining 1,500 will go by the end of the century if nothing...more

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Aletsch Glacier is pictured from the Eggishorn between 1860 and 1877 in Fieschertal, Switzerland. More than 500 Swiss glaciers have already vanished, and the government says 90% of the remaining 1,500 will go by the end of the century if nothing is done to cut emissions. Adolphe Braun/Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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People sit above the Aletsch Glacier in the Swiss Alps at the Eggishorn in Fieschertal, Switzerland September 4, 2019. Their retreat is expected to have a major impact on water levels - possibly raising them initially as the ice melts but depleting them long term. Officials fear the changes could trigger rockfalls and other hazards and affect the economy. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

People sit above the Aletsch Glacier in the Swiss Alps at the Eggishorn in Fieschertal, Switzerland September 4, 2019. Their retreat is expected to have a major impact on water levels - possibly raising them initially as the ice melts but depleting...more

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
People sit above the Aletsch Glacier in the Swiss Alps at the Eggishorn in Fieschertal, Switzerland September 4, 2019. Their retreat is expected to have a major impact on water levels - possibly raising them initially as the ice melts but depleting them long term. Officials fear the changes could trigger rockfalls and other hazards and affect the economy. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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A handout picture of the Aletsch Glacier in Fieschertal, Switzerland taken between 1860 and 1890 and released by Library of Congress, is displayed at the same location on September 4, 2019. In another archive photograph taken in the late 19th century in front of the Aletsch glacier - the largest in the Alps - a man sits on a boulder in front of a huge ice channel that merges with the main ice stream below. Today, they no longer join. Congress/Handout via REUTERS

A handout picture of the Aletsch Glacier in Fieschertal, Switzerland taken between 1860 and 1890 and released by Library of Congress, is displayed at the same location on September 4, 2019. In another archive photograph taken in the late 19th century...more

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
A handout picture of the Aletsch Glacier in Fieschertal, Switzerland taken between 1860 and 1890 and released by Library of Congress, is displayed at the same location on September 4, 2019. In another archive photograph taken in the late 19th century in front of the Aletsch glacier - the largest in the Alps - a man sits on a boulder in front of a huge ice channel that merges with the main ice stream below. Today, they no longer join. Congress/Handout via REUTERS
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The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau between 1890 and 1900 in Wengen, Switzerland. Library of Congress/Handout via REUTERS

The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau between 1890 and 1900 in Wengen, Switzerland. Library of Congress/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau between 1890 and 1900 in Wengen, Switzerland. Library of Congress/Handout via REUTERS
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The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps in Wengen, Switzerland August 27, 2019. Landlocked Switzerland is warming at twice the global rate and over the last year its glaciers have lost 2% of volume, said Mathias Huss, who heads Switzerland's glacier monitoring institute GLAMOS which has data stretching back 150 years. "We have never seen such a fast rate of glacial decline since the measurements have started," he said. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps in Wengen, Switzerland August 27, 2019. Landlocked Switzerland is warming at twice the global rate and over the last year its glaciers have lost 2% of volume, said...more

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps in Wengen, Switzerland August 27, 2019. Landlocked Switzerland is warming at twice the global rate and over the last year its glaciers have lost 2% of volume, said Mathias Huss, who heads Switzerland's glacier monitoring institute GLAMOS which has data stretching back 150 years. "We have never seen such a fast rate of glacial decline since the measurements have started," he said. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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The Aletsch Glacier pictured in 1865 is seen in Belalp, Switzerland. Adolphe Braun/Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

The Aletsch Glacier pictured in 1865 is seen in Belalp, Switzerland. Adolphe Braun/Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Aletsch Glacier pictured in 1865 is seen in Belalp, Switzerland. Adolphe Braun/Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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The Aletsch Glacier is pictured in the Swiss Alps in Belalp, Switzerland September 3, 2019. Some hope that politics can make a difference, especially after the Greens surged in an October election. The "Glacier Initiative" calling for more climate measures collected more than the 100,000 signatures required to trigger a referendum and will be sent to Bern this week. But the glaciers will keep shrinking, scientists say. "The Alps will still be beautiful in my opinion, but they will be different," Huss said. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Aletsch Glacier is pictured in the Swiss Alps in Belalp, Switzerland September 3, 2019. Some hope that politics can make a difference, especially after the Greens surged in an October election. The "Glacier Initiative" calling for more climate...more

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Aletsch Glacier is pictured in the Swiss Alps in Belalp, Switzerland September 3, 2019. Some hope that politics can make a difference, especially after the Greens surged in an October election. The "Glacier Initiative" calling for more climate measures collected more than the 100,000 signatures required to trigger a referendum and will be sent to Bern this week. But the glaciers will keep shrinking, scientists say. "The Alps will still be beautiful in my opinion, but they will be different," Huss said. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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The Rhone Glacier pictured in 1849. Leo Wehrli/Verein Schweizerischer Geographie-Lehrer/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

The Rhone Glacier pictured in 1849. Leo Wehrli/Verein Schweizerischer Geographie-Lehrer/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Rhone Glacier pictured in 1849. Leo Wehrli/Verein Schweizerischer Geographie-Lehrer/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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The Rhone Glacier is pictured in Furka, Switzerland August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Rhone Glacier is pictured in Furka, Switzerland August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Rhone Glacier is pictured in Furka, Switzerland August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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The Trient Glacier is pictured in 1891 in Trient, Switzerland. Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

The Trient Glacier is pictured in 1891 in Trient, Switzerland. Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Trient Glacier is pictured in 1891 in Trient, Switzerland. Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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The Trient Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Trient, Switzerland August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Trient Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Trient, Switzerland August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Trient Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Trient, Switzerland August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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A handout picture of the Trient Glacier taken in 1891 is seen displayed at the same location on August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse and Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

A handout picture of the Trient Glacier taken in 1891 is seen displayed at the same location on August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse and Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
A handout picture of the Trient Glacier taken in 1891 is seen displayed at the same location on August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse and Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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The Lower Grindelwald glacier is pictured in 1858 in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

The Lower Grindelwald glacier is pictured in 1858 in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Lower Grindelwald glacier is pictured in 1858 in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Glaziologische Kommission der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz/ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTERS
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The Lower Grindelwald Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Grindelwald, Switzerland August 27, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Lower Grindelwald Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Grindelwald, Switzerland August 27, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Lower Grindelwald Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Grindelwald, Switzerland August 27, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere hotel are pictured before 1938 in Obergoms, Switzerland. ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTER

The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere hotel are pictured before 1938 in Obergoms, Switzerland. ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTER

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere hotel are pictured before 1938 in Obergoms, Switzerland. ETH Library Zurich/Handout via REUTER
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The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere Hotel are seen in the Swiss Alps in Obergoms, Switzerland August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere Hotel are seen in the Swiss Alps in Obergoms, Switzerland August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Reuters / Monday, November 25, 2019
The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere Hotel are seen in the Swiss Alps in Obergoms, Switzerland August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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