The Triglav glacier on Slovenia’s highest peak has entirely disappeared following Europe’s scorching summer, according to recent observations documented through photographs taken this month. The disappearance marks a critical milestone for a glacier that had already lost 93% of its surface area between 1983 and 2003 but managed to persist for two additional decades despite expectations it would vanish sooner.
Historical records indicate the glacier covered approximately 40 hectares during the mid-1800s, declining to 14 hectares by 1946 when formal scientific measurements began. The rate of deterioration accelerated dramatically in recent years, with the final remnants shrinking from several metres at the end of summer to complete absence. Researchers documented the rapid transformation firsthand, noting instances where measurement sites shifted from glacial ice to bare rock within single-year intervals.
Matija Zorn, director of the Anton Melik Geographical Institute, characterized the glacier’s loss as significant to Slovenian national identity and lamented the elimination of an important climate change indicator. He noted the shock of witnessing the progression despite anticipating continued decline. Glaciologist Miha Pavšek remarked that natural features once perceived as permanent are demonstrably ephemeral.
The Triglav glacier’s demise reflects broader Alpine deterioration intensified by heatwaves linked to carbon pollution. Swiss measurements documented the loss of nearly one-fifth of that nation’s glacier ice in the last five years, including a 5.5% volume reduction in 2026. Western Europe experienced record-breaking summer temperatures this year, correlating with an estimated 50,000 heat-related deaths and cascading effects including agricultural failures and power generation disruptions.
While the main glacier has vanished, scientists have identified ice deposits in caves recently exposed by the glacier’s retreat. A second glacier on nearby Skuta mountain continues diminishing but remains better shaded and is expected to endure for several additional years.
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