Switzerland, Italy to recast borders due to warming

Times of India , Thursday, March 26, 2009
Correspondent : AGENCIES
LONDON: Climate change is literally bringing European neighbours Italy and Switzerland closer. Melting glaciers in the Alps have prompted the two Glaciers are melting dramatically around the world-famous Matterhorn peak countries to redraw their borders, with a parliamentary draft legislation being readied in Rome, a British daily reported.

The international border has been fixed since 1861 when Italy became a unified state. But for the past century, the surface area of the Alpine glaciers, especially around skiiers' paradise Matterhorn (at 4,478m, among the highest peaks) has been shrinking steadily, with dramatic acceleration in the past five years.

Measurements taken near the mountain show the border changes would be 100m at most or as little as a few metres, Daniel Gutknecht, of Switzerland's Office of Topography, told 'The Independent'. "The border is moving because of warmer climate", among other reasons, he said.

Swiss lawmakers needn't approve the changes in the border changes but in Italy, the new frontier cannot be decided until the parliament approves a new law at the end of next month.

The change, however, will not affect any towns or communities as the border lies 4,000 metres above sea level, well above any human habitation, the report said. Climatologists have confirmed that rising temperatures have caused noticeable changes in landscape in the past 20 years.

 
SOURCE : Thursday, March 26, 2009
 


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