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Mt Eiger in the Swiss Alps is collapsing, suspected cause: global warming

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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:17 PM
Original message
Mt Eiger in the Swiss Alps is collapsing, suspected cause: global warming
Eiger's east face comes crumbling down

A chunk the size of the Empire State Building fell from the mountain flank on Monday, in a thundering avalanche lasting 15 minutes. More than 20 million cubic feet of limestone fell down Grindelwald’s glacier and the valley below.

Global warming is suspected with increasing temperatures in central Europe causing alpine glaciers to retreat. Among them is the Grindelwald glacier, which held the mountain flank together. Now, as the ice mass shrinks, the rocks break loose.

Tourists flocking to the daily show

Experts had been expecting the face to collapse since mid June, when a series of cracks started to show. Ironically, what was considered an environmental disaster became a profitable tourist attraction instead: For the last month, hikers and media have flocked to the place - not to watch north side climbers this time, but the east side landslides. Only last Thursday a 100-foot high rock formation on the Eiger known as the "Madonna" fell and was lost forever.

more...
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SpiralHawk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:21 PM
Response to Original message
1. "I don't believe in global warming." - George AWOL Bush
Edited on Wed Jul-19-06 02:23 PM by SpiralHawk
"So stop messing up my mind with facts. They can only interfere with the MASSIVE PROFITS my republicon OIL cronies are making.

"And by the way, thank you for your GENEROUS DONATIONS to the Republicon Oil Crony Party at the gas pump."

Yours "truly" - Commander AWOL
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tavalon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 03:46 AM
Response to Reply #1
14. I hate that
We are well past the point of believing or not believing. It is happening and is backed by solid science. All the lack of belief will not stop it at this point.
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WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 10:25 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. When Cousteau announced 20 years ago
that the seas were dying, people clapped at that point during his speech. What do people think..."I get to see the last of this and it is soooo cool?"
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orwell Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:22 PM
Response to Original message
2. Yay...
...ancient mountains are crumbling before us.

Let's have a beer and a little bratwurst and watch!
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halobeam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. does call for a beer, though... just to numb the senses
:-(
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Dhalgren Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:27 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. This calls for a BIG BEER...
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derby378 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:25 PM
Response to Original message
4. Coming soon: BREASTSTROKE OF THE PENGUINS
The breathtaking sequel to March of the Penguins, filmed on location at the ever-shrinking continent of Antarctica.
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eleny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:26 PM
Response to Original message
5. Thanks, I've been following this, too
:cry:
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seemunkee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 02:43 PM
Response to Original message
7. Damn, I was just there this spring
I hiked both sides of the valley and found it so peaceful sitting in the snow eating lunch looking across to the Eiger.
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 05:34 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. Did you happen to take any good pictures of the East face?
The part that's now collapsing?

If so, could you post em? Thanks in advance.
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seemunkee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 06:49 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. Not the best
The north face, and the one that most people climb is the mostly nonsnow covered one in the top of the picture. The Jungrfrau is the peak to the right of it and is actually taller. There is a cog railway that goes up the mountain and through the saddle between the Eiger and the Jungfrau. I'm not sure what is considered the East face, it may be the rock face that is in the far left of the picture and ends with the ridgeline that goes up to the summit.
I may have some a better shots but that is the only one I have online right now.

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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Nice pic, thanks for posting.
I agree with your assessment that the "east face" probably refers to the leftmost part of your picture. It would be really interesting to compare your pic with one taken from the same location later this season to see exactly how much it has changed in the meantime.
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snappyturtle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-19-06 03:31 PM
Response to Original message
8. This just makes me sick.....
I climbed the Matterhorn in 1973 and it was an experience I will never forget....Dah, I've never thought about global warming and the Alps.........god, where have I been? Sad.
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 01:19 AM
Response to Original message
12. But, what does this have to do with Israel? It's only global warming :/ nt
kick
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in_cog_ni_to Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 02:17 AM
Response to Original message
13. That can't be true.
Global Warming does not exist.:sarcasm: This stuff is scary as hell.:scared:
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TheWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 05:10 AM
Response to Original message
15. Environmental Disaster = Tourist Cash Cow
So this is how the The Planet Dies.....

To Thunderous Applause.

Maybe we deserve our fate.
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Swamp Rat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 06:20 AM
Response to Original message
16. Damn!!!
Edited on Thu Jul-20-06 06:21 AM by Swamp Rat
:(

I climed the Jungfrau (which is taller).

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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-20-06 10:28 PM
Response to Original message
18. global warming- is this something
the gifted kids thought up?
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-21-06 02:51 AM
Response to Reply #18
19. If Al Gore hadn't invented global warming we'd all be just fine ;-)
I'm kidding, of course. Watch the freepers pick up that talking point now, though, if they haven't already :eyes:
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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-21-06 08:08 AM
Response to Reply #19
20. i should never have watched that movie.
now i can't walk past a light that should be turned off, and i can't drive my car if i could ride my bike. i tell my kids, your president said turn that off.
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-22-06 05:58 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. I hear ya. Seriously. nt
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