French Alps: Ambitious Plan to Save Village from Climate Disaster

An ambitious plan is underway in the French Alps to protect the village of Pralognan-la-Vanoise from the effects of climate change. A lake formed by the melting of a glacier threatens to flood the village, with experts estimating that over 60,000 cubic meters of water could inundate it.

To prevent the disaster, three workers are digging a 100-meter long overflow channel on the Grand Marchet glacier, at an altitude of 2,900 meters. This channel will divert water from the lake to the waterfalls of Pralognan. David Binet, director of the RTM service, stated that the goal is to gradually channel the water, avoiding a sudden discharge.

The operation, costing approximately 400,000 euros, is expected to be completed by the end of the summer. Martine Blanc, mayor of Pralognan, emphasized that the decision to carry out the work was taken after scientists assessed the risk. Bernard Vion, an Alpine guide, has been observing the change in the mountain and the increase in the lake since 2019, noting that "we are on the front lines of climate change here."