Scientists offer insight into the disappearance of the Humboldt Glacier, the last remaining glacier in the Sierra Nevada, which they believe makes Venezuela the first country in modern history to lose all its glaciers.
For the people of Mérida, a state in Venezuela, the glaciated peaks of the Sierra Nevada have long been a source of pride and are intertwined with local legends.
Despite being a symbol of regional identity and the subject of myths involving mythical white eagles, none of the six glaciers that once crowned the mountains remain. The International Climate and Cryosphere Initiative (ICCI) recently stated that the Humboldt Glacier, also known as La Corona, is now “too small to be classified as a glacier.” Venezuelan scientists had previously warned of its significant shrinkage.
Alejandra Melfo, an astrophysicist at the Universidad de los Andes in Mérida, expressed sadness over the disappearance of the glaciers and emphasized the importance of preserving their legacy to showcase the beauty of the Sierra Nevada to future generations.
Venezuela once had six glaciers in the Sierra Nevada, but by 2011, five had vanished. The Humboldt Glacier, situated near the country’s second-highest mountain, Humboldt Peak, had endured until recently. Its disappearance marks Venezuela as the first country in the Americas and the first in modern history to lose all its glaciers.
Glaciers form from accumulated snow over centuries, typically in regions where temperatures remain near freezing and snow accumulations are significant during winter. However, the erosion process has steadily eroded the Humboldt Glacier over the years, ultimately leading to its demise.
The increase in global temperatures due to climate change has accelerated the melting of glaciers worldwide, contributing to rising sea levels. Although the Humboldt Glacier was expected to persist for at least another decade, political turmoil in Venezuela prevented scientists from adequately monitoring its condition.
While Venezuela is not the first country to witness the disappearance of glaciers, its situation is unique due to the scarcity of glaciers and their concentrated location in the Sierra Nevada. As Melfo noted, Venezuela’s glaciers vanished before those in other Andean countries due to their limited number and specific location.