Many regions across Austria experienced record temperature highs on Tuesday; the capital, Vienna, registered a new national high of 40.8 degrees Celsius. 

Amid these rolling peaks, the country's largest glacier – Pasterze – continues to disappear at an alarming rate. 

Scientists warn it is likely to split into two sections this year as Europe's relentless heatwaves accelerate the melting, threatening one of the country's most beloved natural landmarks. 

"It's always sad when a national thing is destroyed," Caroline Hoffmann tells CGTN. She and many other tourists are flocking to the Pasterze, hoping to catch one last glimpse before Austria's largest ice giant splits apart. Up to a million people visit the glacier every year.

Over the last 30 years, scientists have watched the ice connecting the glacier's lower and upper sections melt away. In the 1990s, it was nearly 300 meters thick; today, it's barely visible beneath the gravel and sediment. 

Now extreme heat is accelerating that process, splitting the Pasterze in two and ending its reign as Austria's largest glacier.

"There have always been glacial advances and glacial retreats," says ranger Markus Lackner, who works for the national park surrounding the Pasterze. "But human activity is definitely accelerating the process.

"We are now seeing temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius up here – that's not the norm. As a result, the glaciers will retreat a little faster," Lackner warns.

Summer up here now is not only hotter, but longer. Twenty years ago, glacial melt was largely confined to July and August. Today, it can last from May through November, with up to 15 centimeters of ice disappearing every snow-free day, accelerating the glacier's dramatic retreat.

The heat is also affecting local wildlife. Marmots are forced to seek shelter because they cannot sweat or regulate their body temperature effectively. That leaves them with less time to forage for food, while their habitat continues to shrink as the tree line climbs higher.

As the glacier gets closer to breaking in two, large meltwater lakes are forming next to the ice. Scientists warn that Austria could become largely ice-free within the next 40 years, changing forever how this country looks.