Deep into the glacier!

Writes a photoblogger from Tula aka drqmax: “There are approximately 840 practically untouched glaciers in Austria. Skiing is only possible on eight, five of which are in Tyrol. Of these, the Hintertux Glacier is the only resort with a year-round ski area. We were lucky to get directly deep into the glacier! I invite you to take a virtual journey with me.”

(Total 12 photos)

Source: Journal/drqmax

1. A glacier is a stream of ice mass that is constantly moving. In the upper part of the glacier accumulates its mass.

2. The snow that falls in the mountains melts many times and turns into the so-called "Firn snow".

3. After about 10 years, the density of this snow becomes 900 kg/m. cube - "Firn snow" crystals turn into glacial ice.

4. Particles of ice are constantly moving from the mountain down to the valley, where, in the end, they melt. The speed of ice movement depends on the size and individual characteristics of the glacier and averages from 100 to 1000 years.

5. But, for example, in Greenland, snow crystals that hit the top of the glacier will reach its end only after 100,000 years, and in Antarctica after 400,000! On the Hintertux Glacier, this figure varies from 500 to 1000 years.

6. Pakistan holds the record for being the fastest glacier in the world. There was a surge in 1953 when the glaciers moved more than 12 km within 3 months. The average speed was about 112 meters per day!

7. Due to the movement of ice, the intermediate supports of the lifts must be moved to their original positions several times a year.

8. The glacier in its entire mass does not move uniformly, for example, it has to go around ridges and rocks, slowing down in some places, and speeding up in others. This leads to stresses in the thickness of the glacier and the formation of cracks. These cracks in the Alpine glaciers reach 30 m. Sometimes they can be observed directly from the ski slopes.

9. Natural Ice Palace on the Hintertux Glacier was discovered in 2007 quite by accident. The walls of the cave look fundamental and solid, but in fact they are continuously flowing. This was discovered after precise measurements taken between 2007 and 2008. Since November 2008, anyone can visit the ice caves. They take the visitor deep into the glacier 25 meters from the surface. The depth of the Hintertux Glacier in some places is 120 meters.

10. The part of the glacier we walked on is only 4 years old. Sometimes in the ice there were such granite streaks. Perhaps the glacier "licked" the stones from some rock. Access to some parts of the glacier is closed. Rare ancient bacteria were found there, the effect of which on humans has not yet been fully studied.

11. Since the temperature inside is kept at a level of -0.5 to +0.5 and the ice is so dense that it cannot pass water, whole lakes can form in the cavities! When we were in the glacier, the hole into such a cavity was flooded, but in the summer experts swim there in boats, and scuba divers sink to the bottom! Wow, these people are extreme!

12. After the tour, you go out into the blinding sunlight, blue sky and sparkling snow, with a feeling - is it really all left there, under your feet? ...

(In preparing the text material, I used the official brochure of the Hintertux Ice Palace).