On December 24, in the Picos de Europa mountain range, researchers confirmed an important geological event: The Trasllambrion ice river has melted to the point of being beyond recovery.
During the "Little Galaxy" period, this ice block was once a majestic object covering an area of about 10 hectares. However, a field survey in October showed that it was just a small piece of ice about 15m wide, lying precariously on a sunless cliff.
The direct cause of this disappearance is the extreme change of local weather patterns.
Previously, the Picos de Europa region benefited from long winters with heavy snowfall, helping to build up enough ice to compensate for melting in the summer. But now, this natural cycle has been completely reversed. Winter is getting shorter and less snow, while summer is getting harsher and longer. The continued high temperatures eroded the ice layer faster than it was regenerated.
Satellite data tracking from 2000 to 2024 also corroborated this reality when recording a serious decline in snow coverage in the area. Although there were several major snowstorms in the period of 2009 - 2020 that helped slow down the melting process, in the past 5 years, consecutive record-breaking heat waves have completely ended the ability of Trasllambrion to maintain life.
Scientifically, an ice block is only recognized as an ice sheet when it is capable of moving and deforming under its own weight down steep slopes. When this movement stops, it is no longer called an iceberg but only "dead bancks" or stagnant prison bars.
The disolution of Tras callbrion is not only about losing a trophy but also leaving practical geological risks. The eternal layer of ice acts as a conductor to stabilize limestone cliffs. When ice melts, the soil and rock structure becomes loose, increasing the risk of landslides threatening climbers.
In addition, streams in the highlands, which are nourished by cold and fresh ice, will change in temperature and flow, causing disruption to the ecosystem below.
This is an early warning for the remaining icebergs in the Pyrenees, which are also facing a similar risk of extinction.
