In Austria, there are around 840 almost pristine glaciers. Skiing is possible only on the eight, five of which are in the Tyrol. The Hintertux Glacier is the only resort with a year-round ski area.Take a virtual trip.
The glacier is a mass flow of ice that moves continuously.
The snow that falls in the mountains, repeatedly melts and transforms into the so-called “Firn snow”.
After about 10 years the density of the snow is equal to 900 kg / m cu. – Crystals of “Firn snow” transforms into glacial ice.
Ice particles move continuously down the mountain into the valley where, in the end, are melting. Ice velocity depends on the size and the individual characteristics of the glacier, with an average of 100 to 1000 years.
But, for example, in Greenland snow crystals that fall on top of the glacier reached its end only after 100,000 years, and in Antarctica after 400,000! Hintertux glacier, this figure varies from 500 to 1000 years.
Pakistan holds the record – here is the fastest glacier in the world. In 1953 there was a surge when the glaciers moved more than 12 miles within 3 months. The average speed was about 112 meters per day!
Due to the movement of ice intermediate support lifts several times a year must be moved to their original positions.
Glacier in all its mass does not move uniformly, for example, he has to go around the ridges and cliffs, in some places, slowing down, and some the contrary – accelerating. This leads to stresses in the thicker ice. These cracks in the alpine glaciers reach 30 m .Sometimes they can be observed directly from the ski slopes.
Natural Ice Palace at the Hintertux glacier was discovered in 2007 quite by accident. Cave walls look fundamental and durable, but in fact they are constantly flowing. This was discovered after the exact measurements made during the period from 2007 to 2008. Since November 2008, anyone can visit the ice caves. They lead the visitor deep into the glacier at 25 meters from the surface. Depth of Hintertux Glacier in some places is 120 meters.
In some parts of the glacier access is denied. There have found rare ancient bacteria, whose influence on the human is not yet fully understood.
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