Udo Bernhart

For sober thinking geologists, the formation of mountains (orogenesis) goes back to plate tectonics. The shifting of the continental plates causes mountains to form, erosion removes them again. Even the longest mountain range on earth was formed in this way: from Alaska to the Andes, the American Cordilleras form the eastern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 452 volcanoes rise. And indeed, fire-spitting giants and bitterly cold worlds of ice are the main reasons for the fascination composed of fear and reverence that mountains exerted on early mankind. Mountain peaks were home to the oldest weather gods. In fact, mountains are meteorological divides and watersheds and determine the climate, and their diverse and unique vegetation zones are life-givers. Only hesitantly did people approach colossal holy mountains like the Annapurna in the Himalayas, the “Goddess of food and nourishment”. But curiosity won out, ice mummies in the Alps, Andes and Altai prove it: hunters, shepherds and priests were drawn early to these heavenly places. The highest archaeological site on earth is on Llullaillaco (6,739 m/22,109 ft): on the border between Argentina and Chile, the Incas were already building temples before 1500 AD. The disenchantment of the peaks of the gods began around 1850 with the beginning of modern mountain sports. Today, almost all peaks from Aconcagua to the Zugspitze have been climbed, on the Eiger as well as on Everest the most difficult passages have been mastered thanks to experienced climbing skills. But the mountains have never lost their magnificent magic.

Viewed from space, the Earth appears as a "blue planet"; its surface is covered to a large extent by water. The regions around the South and North Pole are particularly striking. The Antarctic is almost completely covered by an ice shield up to several thousand meters (several miles) thick, and in the Arctic, large areas around the North Pole and Greenland are covered by ice. The huge ice shelf areas in Antarctica are particularly impressive, but there is also ice in other parts of the world: even at the equator high peaks are glaciated. In the mountains, glaciers represent an essential freshwater reserve that feeds many rivers. Water is a very special liquid, as it at its highest density and smallest volume at 4 °C (39 °C). This property, described by physicists as the anomaly of water, means that ice is lighter than water, which is why icebergs float on water and lakes freeze on the surface. Ice forms a hostile environment, but humans and animals have adapted to life on the ice. Indigenous peoples such as the Inuit in the Arctic have developed survival strategies over thousands of years. However, the traditional way of life of Arctic inhabitants is changing, and they are being forced to adapt. Some species such as the polar bear are threatened with extinction. This is due to climate change, which is causing temperatures to rise worldwide, particularly rapidly in the Arctic and Antarctic. As a result, glaciers are melting ever more quickly. Ice, which has always fascinated people with its bizarre beauty, is disappearing, and the effects on the environment and the economy are serious.

This volume illustrates the fascinating diversity and beauty of Sweden. Sweden, a symbol of Scandinavian idyll, inspires with its falun-red wooden houses surrounded by dense forests, with its quiet bays, long sandy beaches, lighthouses and windmills, colorful boathouses, the glittering sea between archipelagos, the infinite number of lakes, the lonely and wide snow landscapes, dog sleds, reindeer, and moose.

Norway is known for its mountains, glaciers, and deeply cut coastal fjords. Bergen, with its typical colorful wooden houses, is a popular starting point for boat trips into the dramatic Sognefjord. This book shows in almost 500 pictures the Scandinavian country in its scenic variety but also in its seasonal diversity. Snow, ice, and polar lights in winter, and the special light of the midnight sun in summer.

A vast mountain range stretching from west to east over seven countries forms a barrier of rock, snow, and ice in the middle of Europe. This illustrated book shows the scenic diversity and beauty of the Alps which has over 100 thirteen-thousand-foot peaks, a rich flora and fauna, places very much worth seeing, and lovingly preserved customs.

Unique ice formations and vast snow landscapes characterize the regions around the poles. But even far away from these areas, there are huge glaciers; for example, in Argentina, and even in hot African countries you can find fascinating mountain massifs covered by snow and glaciers. With an impressive 460 photos, this volume shows the ice worlds and their inhabitants around the globe. Under severe threat from climate change, they are all the more worthy of protection.

A vast mountain range stretching from west to east over seven countries forms a barrier of rock, snow and ice in the middle of Europe. This illustrated book shows the scenic diversity and beauty of the Alps which has over 100 thirteen-thousand-foot peaks, a rich flora and fauna, places very much worth seeing and lovingly preserved customs.

Norway is known for its mountains, glaciers and deeply cut coastal fjords. Bergen, with its typical colorful wooden houses, is a popular starting point for boat trips into the dramatic Sognefjord. This book shows in almost 500 pictures the Scandinavian country in its scenic variety but also in its seasonal diversity. Snow, ice, and polar lights in winter—the special light of the midnight sun in summer.