Mount León Loses Ice for 1st Time in 700 Years

Mount León in Spain has experienced a rare and alarming event; after nearly 700 years of being permanently covered in ice, the mountain has now lost almost all of its glacier.

Only small patches remain on its highest peaks, a dramatic decline largely attributed to rising temperatures intensified by human activity.

According to Javier Santos, a geography and glaciology professor at the University of León, the disappearance of the glacier marks “the end of an era.” 

Historical records show that during the Little Ice Age (14th–19th centuries), the glacier covered around 10 hectares. Throughout the 20th century, it shrank significantly.

By the early 2000s, only about 2 hectares remained, split into three small patches. Continued heatwaves and reduced snowfall have now left just a tiny ice fragment measuring roughly 15 meters in length and width.

Researchers from the Geopat research group note that what’s happening on Mount León reflects broader global climate trends. Glaciers, key indicators of climate change, are retreating worldwide due to persistent warming. 

Santos warns that the few remaining glacial caps in the Pyrenees could vanish entirely between 2030 and 2050, much like those in León.

Although Mount León’s glacier was not a major water source, its loss signifies the disappearance of an ancient natural heritage. 

Santos adds that glacial activity has been monitored for more than 45,000 years, and current trends show an unstoppable retreat driven by reduced snowfall and rising temperatures over recent decades.