Ötztaler Gletscher

The Ötztal glaciers form one of the largest contiguous ice surfaces in the Eastern Alps. For over 400 years, they have been observed, feared, depicted, and interpreted by humans. A watercolor of the Vernagt Glacier from 1601 is the oldest representation of a glacier ever. The view of these imposing alpine ice giants serves as a reflection of our society through the ages: While the crashing, threatening advance of the glaciers was once processed by the rural population in the form of folklore, ice breaks and glacial lakes began attracting researchers, mountain enthusiasts, and travelers in droves from the 19th century onward. In recent decades, glaciers have become a symbol of rapid climate change and have once again found their way into contemporary artistic creation.