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European Alps
Trends
- 1Switzerland has lost 20% of its glaciers in five years▼'Explosion of melt rates': 20% of Swiss glaciers lost in five years
Swiss glaciers have shrunk by a fifth in just five years, with researchers describing an 'explosion of melt rates' driven by fossil fuel pollution and rising European temperatures. The findings from Switzerland, home to the Alps' largest ice volume, underline the accelerating pace of climate change and raise concerns over water supplies, tourism and landslide risks in mountain regions.
- 2
France's hardest long-distance hiking trail is not on the European mainland but in the Indian Ocean, on the French island of Réunion. The GR R2 traverses the volcanic island, crossing steep cirques, ridgelines and remote terrain that many hikers rank among the most demanding thru-hikes anywhere. Outdoor enthusiasts are discussing the route as an overlooked alternative to famous mainland treks.
- 3Minor earthquake strikes near Cividale del Friuli in Italy●#Earthquake (#terremoto) M1.7 strikes 26 km NE of Cividale del Friuli (#Italy) 1 min ago. More info: https:// m.emsc.eu/
A magnitude 1.7 earthquake was recorded 26 km northeast of Cividale del Friuli, in Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. The quake, reported on 20 April 2025, was very light and unlikely to have been felt or to have caused damage. The area sits near the Alps, a historically seismically active zone.