Ghiacciaio del Gleno, Mountain glacier in Orobie Alps, Lombardy
The Ghiacciaio del Gleno is a mountain glacier in the Orobie Alps with several connected ice bodies situated between two main peaks. The ice mass occupies the upper alpine zone where steep rock walls and ridges create the habitat for the glacial field.
The glacier grew to its largest extent during the Little Ice Age centuries ago and began steady retreat around the middle of the 1800s. The pace of melting has quickened noticeably in more recent times.
This glacier serves as a visible marker of how mountain landscapes change over time, watched by locals and visitors who recognize its shrinking form. The transformation of the ice reflects broader changes in the Alps that people in the region directly observe year after year.
The glacier is accessible only to experienced mountain climbers who are properly equipped for alpine travel. Climbing gear and experience with crevasses and ice are necessary for safe passage across this ice field.
The meltwater creates a distinctive greenish-blue color in the streams and lakes below due to fine sediments suspended in the water from glacial erosion. This colored water is visible proof of the glacier's ongoing movement and its power to shape the landscape.
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