Monte Rosa - melting glaciers and changing borders in the Alps
The name Monte Rosa is said not to derive from the Italian word "rosa" meaning "pink" but from an ancient local Aostian word "roëse" meaning "glacier".
The Monte Rosa massif, one of the highest montains in Europe which sits between Italy and Switzerland, is seeing it borders beeing thrown into confusion.
There are nine glaciers in the massif, including the Gorner glacier, second largest in the Alps but also the glacier that is shrinking the fastest losing 290 metres during 2007 to 2008.
Glaciers might seem remote, but hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend on them for water supplies.
The name Monte Rosa is said not to derive from the Italian word "rosa" meaning "pink" but from an ancient local Aostian word "roëse" meaning "glacier".
