By Karim Hammam
Slovenia’s highest peak, Mount Triglav, has lost its last remaining glacier ice after a summer of extreme heat across Europe, marking the end of a centuries-old ice mass that once covered 40 hectares.
Decades of Decline
The Triglav glacier shrank by 93% between 1983 and 2003, dwindling to less than a hectare. Researchers expected it to vanish sooner, but it persisted for two more decades. In the past five years, which include Europe’s three hottest years on record, the remaining ice melted into isolated pockets. Photographs taken in early October confirm no ice remains on the main glacier body.
Cultural and Scientific Loss
Mount Triglav holds a central place in Slovenian national identity, appearing on the country’s flag. Matija Zorn, director of the Anton Melik Geographical Institute, said the glacier’s demise represents the loss of an important climate indicator. “Every year I knew the ice would be less, but I was shocked by how much less,” Zorn said. He noted that a spot where he drilled a 5-meter ice core in 2002 was bare rock the following year.
Wider Alpine Melting
The disappearance mirrors rapid glacier loss across the Alps. Swiss glaciologists reported nearly a fifth of the country’s ice volume lost in the past five years, with a 5.5% drop in 2026 alone. A second Slovenian glacier on Mount Skuta has also shrunk but is better shaded and may survive a few more years. Scientists attribute the accelerated melting to heatwaves intensified by carbon pollution.
Personal and Planetary Impact
Glaciologist and mountain guide Miha Pavšek described the change as “nature changing in front of our eyes.” He said the glacier’s loss feels personal, recalling a 1957 photograph of his parents on the ice. “There are some things humans thought were eternal. Glaciers are obviously not,” Pavšek said. This summer’s record heat across Western Europe caused an estimated 50,000 heat-related deaths and widespread ecological damage.
