Photo: Side view of part of the Jungfrau complex and the nearby glacier

A view of the structure at Jungfrau. Jungfrau is a mountain resort, built high in the Alps, in the midst of ice, snow and rock, and allows tourists a place to enjoy being in such an environment in relative ease (a comfortable train journey is all it takes). This is a view of a part of the building, as well as the rock, snow and glaciers in the surrounding area.

Photo: Rugged rock and snow covered mountain on way to Jungfrau

A view of blue skies and the rugged snow and ice covered rocky peaks on the Alps towering to these blue skies. This is one of the great views that one gets while on the way to the mountain resort of Jungfrau in Switzerland.

Photo: Ice and snow covered peaks at Jungfrau

A view of the rocky cliff visible from the mountain resort of Jungfrau in Switzerland, giving a glimpse of very cold weather and deep snow. However, on this same snow, we could spot people going for guided treks at intervals.

Massive changes in the Artic weather and ice levels happening

In the last few years, there have been a spate of reports on how global warming is continuing to march ahead, irrespective of the debate among countries and politicians about the steps needed to stop the emissions that contribute to global warming. Global warming is supposed to have a horrific impact on the ice levels of the polar regions and Greenland, with large scale reduction of the Artic and Antartic ice shelfs, along with melting of the huge amount of ice present in Greenland. This melting will release enough water to increase sea water levels, in turn devastating many low lying islands and low lying coastal regions. Scientists further fear that we are moving to an accelerated level of changes due to global warming, where global warming will become unsustainable (as an example, less ice covering the water means that the blue dark water will absorb more energy rather than the light reflected by white ice).
Global warming is already devastating the habitat of animals in the colder regions in the extreme North. The impact on polar bears is already pretty well known, but there are a whole range of animals that are affected (link to article):

The Arctic as we know it may soon be a thing of the past. That's the message from Eric Post, lead scientist of a new report into the effects of climate change on life in the Arctic. "It seems no matter where you look -- on the ground, in the air, or in the water -- we're seeing signs of rapid change," said Post in a press statement.
With the decline in sea ice and snow, animals usually seen at lower latitudes are being found in more northerly regions, including red foxes that have been displacing native Arctic foxes. Migratory caribou in low Arctic Greenland and elsewhere are declining in number as they have not been able to keep their calving season in synch with changes in plant growth. With the decline in caribou comes a knock-on effect to native Inuit hunters, according to the report's authors. Hotter summers could result in more insects and parasites that prey on the caribou, which could then also reduce the annual caribou harvest by local indigenous peoples.

This impact on animals and the native human populations is different from 'Survival of the fittest' since these are changes made by humans. Unfortunately, these are just an indicator of the impact of global warming, the changes are happening all around us.

Photo: Greenish tinge from the sculptures inside the Ice Palace in Jungfrau

These are sculptures made of ice inside the Ice Palace (ice tunnel) at the Swiss mountain resort of Jungfrau. Varied sculptures, they looked very beautiful with a greenish tinge all around (the light being greenish because of the ice all around us). I always wondered as to how they ensure that the ice remains, and if this tunnel is a part of a glacier, how can they ensure that there is no movement of the ice.

Photo Blog: Empty tunnel inside the Ice Palace at Jungfrau

The empty ice tunnel inside the ice palace at Jungfrau. This is an ice tunnel apparently built inside a glacier in Jungfrau, and is a popular tourist attraction. I had to wait for some time to be able to get a photo where there was no one in the photo. The ice (and it was several inches thick) gives a strange light effect to the photo.

Photo: Inside the Ice Palace tunnel in Jungfrau, Switzerland

A photo inside the Ice Palace tunnel in the mountain resort of Jungfrau in Switzerland. It has a tunnel built inside the glacier, with ice all around. The place looks beautiful inside, with light getting reflected through the ice and all around. It was a bit slippery though, and there was a feeling that what happens if the glacier suddenly decides to move.

Blackbird perched on the railing overlooking glacier at Jungfrau

At the mountain resort of Jungfraujoch, you see a place that has been built among snow and ice, with glaciers nearby. In fact, you can actually walk on a glacier, and is great fun (although a bit slippery). There is also a metal observation platform built over a height (and you can see the drop below the metal mesh), where black birds come to sit.

Blackbird balancing on one leg at Jungfrau

A black bird against the white ice on the ice at Jungfrau in Switzerland. Jungfrau is a resort in the midst of ice and glaciers, and you can find a number of black birds over here. They sit on the metal of one of the observation platforms.

Beautiful scenery with hills turning from green to snow capped

A beautiful photo of a journey to Jungfrau, the journey was so beautiful with some incredible sceneries. In the same photo, you can see the ice line, where the greenery ends on the hills, and moves to the ice line higher up on the mountain. Such a photo was very captivating.

The beautiful 14 mile long Aletsch Glacier at Jungfrau in Switzerland

When you reach the Swiss mountain station of Jungfrau, you get a great view of the 14 mile Aletsch glacier, a river of ice nestled between 2 mountains.

Greenery and ice capped mountains on the way to Jungfraujoch

While on the way to the Swiss mountain resort of Jungfrau, the surroundings change from a green habitation to above the snow line, where greenery does not exist, and instead, you have rocky mountains with ice and snow, and no greenery. This photo captures both sections of the environment.

Animal sculptures made of ice inside the ice tunnel in Jungfrau

Jungfrau has an ice tunnel as part of the tourist attractions. The tunnel is made inside a glacier, with the roof, ceilings and side made of ice, and can be a bit slippery. Inside the tunnel, there are sculptures made of ice in the shape of animals.

Photo: A view of the ice and snow covered mountain next to Jungfrau

A view of the snow and ice covered rocky mountain right next to Jungfrau. Jungfrau is a Swiss resort located high up in the mountains, with peaks visible right next to it. Less of greenery, and more of the snow and ice is visible from this location.

View of snow capped mountains on the way up to Jungfrau

A great view of the snow / ice covered mountains while on the way to the Swiss mountain resort of Jungfrau high in the mountains. You can see the quick transition, where the hills in front are covered with greenery, while the mountains at the back are covered with ice and snow.