A spectacular glacier cave has formed near Saas-Fee in Switzerland. Such caves are rarely preserved for long.

A glacier cave has formed in the centre of the Saas-Fee ski resort, due to the very warm summers of recent years. Impressive photos from inside show the undulating structures and the bluish shimmer of the ice.

The cave is located in the lower part of the Chessjen glacier near the rocky chin.

On warm days, the meltwater has literally eaten its way through the glacier, eroding it. After the melting period, an almost 100 metre long grotto was left behind. The ice walls were polished by the particles in the meltwater.

Glacier caves usually only last a short time, often just one winter. However, they are formed just as quickly. As the caves usually form in the lower part of the glacier, at the glacier gate, they are at the mercy of the high summer temperatures.

During this time, the glacier tongue changes considerably. Ice melts, whole blocks of ice can break off and the ice deforms due to its own weight.

In recent hot summers, up to 10 metres of ice thickness has been lost in the tongue area of various Alpine glaciers.