Theodul Glacier
The name Theodul Glacier refers to two contiguous glaciers in the Valais Alps south of Zermatt , in the Swiss canton of Valais , which are part of the Gorner Glacier system:
- Low Theodulgletscher , a valley glacier with a length of around 7 km, an average width of 1 km and a surface area of about 10 square kilometers 622634 / 89373 ,
- Upper Theodulgletscher , a 2 km long slope glacier which covers an area of about 4 covers 620 542 / 90106 .
location
The Theodul Glacier has its origin on the west and southwest flanks of the Breithorn and on the glaciated Gobba di Rollin ( 3899 m above sea level ) on the border between Italy and Switzerland . The wide firn field at 3800 m is also called the Breithorn plateau . It is connected to the Ghiacciaio di Valtournenche, the Glacier d'Aventine and the Grande Ghiacciaio di Verra on the Italian side of the Monte Rosa massif . The glacier now flows north along the western flank of the rocky summit of the Kleiner Matterhorn and splits into two different streams east of the Theodulhorn ( 3469 m above sea level ). The main part of the ice flow moves northeast into a valley and from here on is called the actual Lower Theodul Glacier . From the right, the Kleinmatterhorn Glacier flows out of the narrow, steep valley between the Kleiner Matterhorn and the Breithorn, and a little further down the Lower Theodul Glacier is supplied with ice from the Triftji Glacier (2 km long, 1.5 km² area) from the northern flank of the Breithorn. The glacier tongue ends today at an altitude of about 2400 m just above the Gorner glacier; the connection has melted in recent years.
The second arm of the glacier flows straight north onto a high plateau, the Plateau Rosa , and together with the ice coming from the Theodulhorn and the Furgghorn ( 3453 m above sea level ) forms the Upper Theodul Glacier , which has a slope of around 15 in large areas % having. To the west of the Upper Theodulgletscher depends on the eastern foot of the Matterhorn situated Furgggletscher together.
Little ice age
During the high stage of the Little Ice Age around the middle of the 19th century, the Theodul Glacier was significantly larger than it is today. This can be seen particularly well in the area of the former confluence with the Gorner Glacier, where the lateral moraines from the 19th century are almost 100 m above today's glacier surface. After the retreat of the Upper Theodul Glacier, an actual lake plateau was created on the lower part of the rock plateau in the forefield of the glacier . Today, numerous small lakes fill the depressions between the smooth, rounded bumps.
Development
The area of the Theodul Glacier can be reached by cable cars from Zermatt and from Breuil-Cervinia in Italy . A cable car leads to the 3883 m high Kleine Matterhorn and opens up the highest ski area in the Alps. Ski lifts on the Upper Theodul Glacier and up to the Breithorn plateau enable summer skiing here.
An important mule track has led across the ice surface of the Upper Theodul Glacier to the Theodul Pass ( 3301 m ) since Roman times, connecting Central Valais with the eastern part of the Aosta Valley .
Web links
- Story from the freezer on nzz.ch