15% Of Swiss Cable Car Rigs At Risk From Melting Permafrost

Permafrost gives cable cars that sinking feeling

"Some 15 per cent of Switzerland's cable car installations may be at risk of collapse becuse of rising temperatures.

The structures in question are anchored in permafrost - frozen ground that holds many of Switzerland's mountains together. One solution is to put metal anchors near the foundations to keep the rock firm as the permafrost thaws. Another is to relocate cable car stations which are in places deemed to be at risk.

But a recent study near St. Moritz revealed that some areas may be potentially so unstable that even the drastic step of dismantling and rebulding a station nearby might not be feasible."

EDIT

http://nzz.ch/2003/08/06/english/page-synd4075606.html

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