Pasterze Glacier faces critical decline in the Austrian Alps

Austria’s largest glacier, the Pasterze Glacier in the Eastern Alps, is facing a critical decline. Following a scorching summer in 2026, the glacier is currently held together by a single, dwindling icefall known as the Hufeisenbruch.

This icefall serves as the final connection between the upper and lower portions of the glacier. Scientists from the University of Graz, GeoSphere Austria, and the Austrian Alpine Club note that the glacier has been losing mass almost continuously since the mid-1800s, with the rate of retreat increasing since 1980.

Satellite imagery from Landsat shows significant changes between 1985 and 2026. While the glacier once featured multiple icefalls, the penultimate connection was replaced by a waterfall by 2020. The remaining Hufeisenbruch icefall may survive for another year or two, or it could fail before the upcoming cold months, which would end the Pasterze's status as the country's largest glacier.