New photos vs old: Comparisons show dramatic Swiss glacier retreat

Where mighty glaciers once spilled into Swiss valleys like frozen rivers of ice, a residue of gray scree and boulders remains, spliced through with raging streams. Here, a combination photo shows the Rhone Glacier and Belvedere Hotel pictured before 1938 (top), seen in Obergoms, Switzerland and on August 21, 2019 (bottom).

A combination picture shows the Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers photographed near the Jungfrau between 1890 and 1900 (top) in Wengen, Switzerland and on August 27, 2019 (bottom).

A combination picture shows the Aletsch Glacier as it was in 1865 (top), seen from Belalp, Switzerland and on September 3, 2019 (bottom).

A combination picture shows the Rhone Glacier as it was in 1849 (top), seen from Gletsch in Obergoms, Switzerland and on August 21, 2019 (bottom).

A combination picture shows the Lower Grindelwald Glacier seen in Grindelwald, Switzerland in 1865 (L) and on August 26, 2019 (R).

A handout picture of the Aletsch Glacier in Fieschertal, Switzerland taken between 1860 and 1890 and released by Library of Congress, is displayed at the same location on September 4, 2019.

A handout picture of the Trient Glacier taken in 1891 and released by ETH Library Zurich, is seen displayed at the same location on August 26, 2019.

A handout picture of the Gorner Glacier taken in 1863 in Zermatt, Switzerland and released by ETH Library Zurich, is seen displayed at the same location on August 25, 2019.

The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau between 1890 and 1900 in Wengen, Switzerland in this handout picture released by the Library of Congress.

The Eiger, Guggi and Giesen Glaciers are pictured near the Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps in Wengen, Switzerland August 27, 2019.

The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere hotel are pictured before 1938 in Obergoms, Switzerland in this handout picture released by the ETH Library Zurich.

The Rhone Glacier and Belvedere Hotel are seen in the Swiss Alps in Obergoms, Switzerland August 21, 2019.

The Aletsch Glacier pictured in 1865 is seen in Belalp, Switzerland in this handout picture released by the ETH Library Zurich.

The Aletsch Glacier is pictured in the Swiss Alps in Belalp, Switzerland September 3, 2019.

The Rhone Glacier pictured in 1849 is seen in this handout image released by the ETH Library Zurich.

The Rhone Glacier is pictured in Furka, Switzerland August 21, 2019. Picture taken August 21, 2019. R

The Trient Glacier is pictured in 1891 in Trient, Switzerland in this handout picture released by the ETH Library Zurich.

The Trient Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Trient, Switzerland August 26, 2019. Picture taken August 26, 2019.

The Aletsch Glacier is pictured from the Eggishorn between 1860 and 1877 in Fieschertal, Switzerland in this handout picture released by the ETH Library.

People sit above the Aletsch Glacier in the Swiss Alps at the Eggishorn in Fieschertal, Switzerland September 4, 2019.

The Lower Grindelwald glacier is pictured in 1858 in Grindelwald, Switzerland in this handout picture released by the ETH Library Zurich.

The Lower Grindelwald Glacier is seen in the Swiss Alps in Grindelwald, Switzerland August 27, 2019. Picture taken August 27, 2019.