Climate Change: Rescue Plan for Alpine Village

An ambitious plan is underway to save the village of Pralognan-la-Vanoise in the French Alps from the dangers posed by climate change. A huge lake, formed by the melting of a glacier above the village, threatens to flood it.

Workers are digging an overflow channel in the ice, at an altitude of 2,900 meters, to channel water from the lake in a controlled manner. The project, costing approximately 400,000 euros, is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

Bernard Vion, an Alpine guide, has been monitoring the lake's growth since 2019 and points out that the mountain is very different today compared to 50 years ago, with increased frequency of landslides and the appearance of lakes.

The mayor of Pralognan, Martine Blanc, stressed that preventive measures are being taken and expressed hope that the problem will be solved.