Glaciologist warns melting of Morteratsch Glacier in Switzerland

The Morteratsch Glacier in Switzerland, one of the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps, has retreated by about three kilometers over the past 150 years and continues to melt at an alarming pace, glaciologists say.

Morteratsch is among Switzerland’s most well-known glaciers now facing possible disappearance. Scientists have been monitoring the glacier for more than a century and a half. Along the trail leading to the glacier, signposts mark different years, recording how the glacier has receded.

Visitors walking toward the glacier will pass several large ice caves, which have become popular photo spots. Glaciologists say the growing number of ice caves reflects a process in which heat stored within the glacier is increasingly released. The more such caves appear, the faster the glacier is melting and degrading.

“The glaciers are super important, and they are also kind of an icon of climate change. We see them melting very rapidly, something which we observe in other elements less visually,” said Stefan Uhlenbrook, director of Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere at the World Meteorological Organization.

The glaciologist warned that the Morteratsch Glacier may disappear entirely well before another 150 years have passed.

According to the latest data from the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland, more than 1,000 glaciers across the country have vanished since 1970 due to global warming. After entering 2025, the total volume of Swiss glaciers has already fallen by a further 3 percent.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠People of Dong ethnic group on Saturday celebrated their New Year’s Day with a vibrant traditional instrument contest and a grand parade at the picturesque Zhaoxing Dong Village in southwest China’s Guizhou Province.

Dong New Year, a traditional festival for harvest and gathering, was enlisted as one of China’s national intangible cultural heritages in 2011. 

This year’s celebration was held at the largest and most iconic Dong ethnic village in China, which is famous for its well-preserved wooden architecture, majestic drum towers and rich ethnic culture.

The joyous gathering culminated in the final competition of Lusheng, a traditional bamboo reed-pipe wind instrument. A total of 25 teams from Congjiang and Liping counties in Guizhou, as well as Sanjiang County from the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region competed in 97 matches to win the title of loudest, strongest performances and best ensembles. 

On the main street of Zhaoxing Dong Village, a captivating parade brought together over 500 participants to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Dong people, including costumes, musical instruments and food, as well as creative items integrating ethnic elements.

One of the highlights was a formation displaying fashions that incorporated Dong people’s ancient craft of wax dyeing with modern fashion clothing.

Performers in the folk custom formation carried the special delicacies such as glutinous rice and red eggs that every Dong person eats during the festival, symbolizing favorable weather and a colorful life in the coming year.

The performers also invited tourists to join them in a folk dance called “Duoye,” allowing people from all over the country to experience the festivities in a more immersive way.