Note 114 — Chapter XIX · BERN.

Alpenglühen, or sunset-glow, is an exception to the general laws governing the disappearance of the sunlight by the gradual rise of the earth’s shadow; it is a kind of second or after-coloring in the snowy masses, making them stand out from the dark background, though the general light is constantly diminishing. The peaks are illuminated till the sun is from 20° to 30° below the horizon; then the general clearness diminishes, but on the western horizon is a clear segment of 8° to 10°; but as the air has much less reflecting power than the snowy mountains, the latter begin to be lighted up again. This second lighting may be so great that the mountains appear to be actually illuminated by the sun.