The descent into the depths Bashny.Net

In Austria, there are about 840 pristine glaciers. To ski is possible only 8 of which 5 of them in Tirol. Today we take a short virtual trip into the heart of Hintertux - glacier in the Austrian Alps at the top of the homonymous mountain altitude 3250 m, the only resort with year-round ski area.




The glacier is a flow of ice mass, which moves continuously. At the top of the glacier accumulates their mass. Snow that falls in the mountains melt and repeatedly turns to the so-called "Firn snow". After about 10 years, the density of the snow becomes equal to 900 kg / m. cu. - Crystals "Firn snow" transformed into glacial ice.





The particles of ice continuously moving from the mountain to the bottom of the valley, which eventually melt. The velocity of the ice depends on the size and the individual characteristics of the glacier and an average of 100 to 1,000 years.





But for example in Greenland snow crystals trapped in the top of the glacier reached its end only in 100 000 years, and in Antarctica by 400,000! Hintertux Glacier this figure varies from 500 to 1000 years.



Pakistan holds the record for the fastest glacier in the world. In 1953 there was a surge when the glaciers moved more than 12 kilometers during the 3 months. The average speed was about 112 meters per day!



Because of the ice intermediate supports lifts several times a year to move to their initial positions.



Glacier in all its mass does not move uniformly, for example he has to bend around the ridges and rocks, slowing down in some places, and in some the opposite - accelerated. This leads to stress in the thickness of the ice and cracking. These cracks in the Alpine glaciers reach 30m. Sometimes they can be seen directly from the ski slopes



Natural Ice Palace on the Hintertux glacier was discovered in 2007 quite by accident. The walls of the caves seem fundamental and strong but in fact they are constantly flowing. It was discovered after a precise measurement made in the period from 2007 to 2008. Since November 2008, anyone can visit the ice caves. They have gone deep into the visitor glacier 25 meters from the surface. The depth of the Hintertux Glacier in some places is 120 meters.



That part of the glacier on which we walked only 4 years. Sometimes the ice occurred Such are the granite veinlets. Perhaps the glacier "licked" the stones with some rocks. In some parts of the glacier access is closed. They found rare ancient bacteria, whose impact has not been fully studied in man.



So, as the temperature inside is kept at from 0, 5 to 0, and ice 5 such that the density of the water can not pass, the cavities may be formed integral lake! When we were in the glacier, like a hole in the chamber was flooded, but experts summer swim there in boats and divers sink to the bottom! Oh, and extreme as it is people!

After the tour, you go out on the blinding sunshine, blue skies and sparkling snow, with feeling - is not it possible this is all there is left, under the feet ...



Source: drqmax.livejournal.com