One of Switzerland's most popular ski areas has been covering mountain areas with cloth material in an effort to reduce ice melt over the summer.Workers have placed large blankets of material around Mount Titlis, a ski area near the Swiss mountain town of Engelberg.The area contains a glacier that has been losing large amounts of ice over the past 20 years.The protective cloth, made of polyester material, is designed to block the sun.Putting the blankets over the glacier provides "a natural protective shield," Gian Darms explained to Reuters.He oversees snow conditions and mountain security in the area.Decreasing snow cover resulting from higher temperatures presents a serious threat to ski areas across Europe.Having a glacier can provide some protection from climate change.It can help keep large snow supplies on the mountain year-round.
