НАЙ-ЮЖНИТЕ ЛЕДНИЦИ НА ЕВРОПА В УСЛОВИЯТА НА КЛИМАТИЧНИ ПРОМЕНИ
THE SOUTHERNMOST GLACIERS OF EUROPE UNDER THE CLIMATE CHANGE

Author(s): Emil Gachev
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Международно висше бизнес училище
Keywords: small glaciers; climate change; Pirin; Prokletije; Durmitor
Summary/Abstract: Still few people know that at present the most southerly situated permanent glacial masses in Europe are found in Bulgarian Pirin Mountains. The snow patches below the peaksVihren and Kutelo have been for many years familiar to tourists and scientists, but it was not until recently when the newest research proved their centennial age and the presence of downward motion of ice, defining them as in fact small glaciers. These micro glaciers (or glaciers) are supposed to have existed continuously at least for the last 500 years. Similar features are found also in the western parts of the Balkan Peninsula, in mountains in Albania and Montenegro. Small glaciers are among the best natural indicators of high mountain climate variation and change. The global warming which has increased its pace in the last decades puts a treat on the existence of these forms – in the mountains of the western Balkans they are on the verge of extinction while inspiring they still manage to survive. Small glaciers are a part of Bulgaria’s natural heritage that is still sparsely known. We would better discover and get introduced to them before they disappear.

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