Due to the melting of glaciers in the Alps, Switzerland and Italy have decided to adjust their state borders, daily.afisha.ru reports with reference to The Guardian.
The changes affected the area adjacent to one of the highest European peaks – the Matterhorn mountain, located at the junction of the Swiss Zermatt and the Italian Aosta valley. A significant part of the border in this region traditionally ran along glacial ridges, firn fields and zones of eternal snow, which have recently undergone significant changes due to climate processes.
The decision to revise the border was taken by both countries, taking into account economic interests. In May 2023, a joint Italian-Swiss commission agreed on the new parameters. At the moment, the Swiss side has already ratified the agreement, while Italy has yet to complete the signing process. This followed a long period of disagreement over the status of the Matterhorn.
According to the Swiss Academy of Sciences, the volume of glaciers in Switzerland decreased by 4% in 2023 alone. The most significant decrease was recorded in 2022 and amounted to 6%. The situation is so critical that experts have stopped monitoring some Swiss glaciers due to their complete disappearance.
