Swiss to wrap glaciers

21 March 2005

Swiss authorities are planning to wrap mountain glaciers with tin foil this summer in an effort to stop them melting. Carlo Danioth, head of mountain rescue services in Andermatt, said: "We will initially cover around 30,000 square feet on the upper Gurschen glacier at the beginning of May as a test." Scientists hope that the high-tech foil will prevent the sun's rays from melting the ice in popular ski resorts during the summer months.Glacier expert Martin Funk said: "The foil reflects almost all the sun's rays. That will sharply reduce the rate of melting."And other resorts like Saas-Fee and Titlis and some Austrian glaciers have said that they plan to test similar schemes this summer.Environmental groups have criticised the £45,000 plan at Andermatt as "absurd". Raimund Rosewald, head of a landscape protection foundation, said: "We cannot stop the glaciers melting using foil."