List of glaciers in Switzerland
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2018) |
This is a non-exhaustive list of the major glaciers in Switzerland. It contains their surface area, their lengths since the start of measurement and the most current year, their height and their outflow. Most of them are retreating and many will vanish.[1]
All of these glaciers are located within the Swiss Alps. Most of them are situated in the Pennine and Bernese Alps. The Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area includes the largest glaciers of the Alps.
There are glaciers in the four major drainage basins of Switzerland. The Rhine and Rhône basins are located on the northern side of the Alps while the Po basin is located on the south side of the Alps. The Danube basin is located on the east side of the Alps. There are no glaciers in the Swiss portion of the Adige basin.
There are approximately 1,800 glaciers in the Swiss Alps.[2]
List
[edit]Name | Canton | Range | Area 1973 (km²)[3] | Start of measurement (year)[3] | Max length (km)[3] | 1973 length (km)[3] | 2016 length (km)[3] | length change (m)[3] | Highest point in drainage basin[4] | Altitude (m) | Front alt. (m) | Outflow | Basin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Aletsch | VS | Bernese Alps | 86.63 | 1870 | 25.6 | 23.95 | 22.47 | -3132 | Aletschhorn | 4,193 | 1,600 | Massa | Rhône |
Gorner | VS | Pennine Alps | 59.37 | 1882 | 14.99 | 13.50 | 12.32 | -2672 | Dufourspitze (Monte Rosa) | 4,634 | 2,140 | Gornera | Rhône |
Fiesch | VS | Bernese Alps | 34.21 | 1891 | 15.92 | 15.35 | 14.51 | -1405 | Finsteraarhorn | 4,273 | 1,700 | Wysswasser | Rhône |
Unteraar | BE | Bernese Alps | 29.48 | 1876 | 14.41 | 12.95 | 11.85 | -2561 | Finsteraarhorn | 4,274 | 1,960 | Aare | Rhine |
Lower Grindelwald | BE | Bernese Alps | 20.84 | 1879 | 9.46 | 8.30 | 5.95 | -3504 | Mönch | 4,107 | 1,300 | Weisse Lütschine | Rhine |
Upper Aletsch | VS | Bernese Alps | 22.81 | 1870 | 10.28 | 9.05 | 8.82 | -1461 | Aletschhorn | 4193 | 2,140 | Massa | Rhône |
Corbassière | VS | Pennine Alps | 18.31 | 1889 | 10.64 | 10.15 | 9.47 | -1168 | Grand Combin | 4,314 | 2,200 | Dyure de Corbassière | Rhône |
Rhone | VS | Urner Alps | 17.60 | 1879 | 9.09 | 8.00 | 7.65 | -1439 | Dammastock | 3,630 | 2,200 | Rhône | Rhône |
Otemma | VS | Pennine Alps | 17.51 | 1881 | 9.51 | 8.70 | 7.22 | -2291 | Pigne d'Arolla | 3,790 | 2,450 | Dranse de Bagnes | Rhône |
Findel | VS | Pennine Alps | 17.36 | 1885 | 9.24 | 7.80 | 6.63 | -2618 | Rimpfischhorn | 4,199 | 2,500 | Findelbach | Rhône |
Gauli | BE | Bernese Alps | 17.70 | 1958 | 6.71 | 6.55 | 5.4 | -1306 | Bärglistock | 3,656 | 2,150 | Gaulisee/Ürbachwasser | Rhine |
Morteratsch | GR | Bernina Range | 16.40 | 1878 | 8.63 | 7.00 | 5.85 | -2784 | Piz Bernina | 4049 | 2,040 | Ova da Morteratsch | Danube |
Trift | BE | Urner Alps | 16.55 | 1861 | 7.6 | 5.75 | 3.66 | -3938 | West of Eggstock | 3,485 | 1,660 | Triftwasser | Rhine |
Zmutt | VS | Pennine Alps | 16.89 | 1892 | 7.49 | 6.70 | 6.3 | -1182 | Matterhorn | 4,478 | 2,240 | Zmuttbach | Rhône |
Zinal | VS | Pennine Alps | 15.42 | 1891 | 8.6 | 7.50 | 6.9 | -1700 | Dent Blanche | 4,357 | 2,060 | Navisence | Rhône |
Hüfi | Uri | Glarus Alps | 13.64 | 1882 | 8.04 | 7.10 | 6.74 | -1300 | Schärhorn | 3,295 | 1,800 | Chärstelenbach | Rhine |
Arolla | VS | Pennine Alps | 13.17 | 1856 | 6.23 | 4.80 | 4.34 | -1893 | Pigne d'Arolla | 3,790 | 2,160 | Borgne d'Arolla | Rhône |
Mont Miné | VS | Pennine Alps | 10.97 | 1956 | 8.48 | 8.35 | 7.71 | -769 | Bouquetins | 3,838 | 1,980 | Borgne de Ferpècle | Rhône |
Long | VS | Bernese Alps | 10.09 | 1888 | 7.23 | 6.90 | 6.45 | -780 | Mittaghorn | 3,892 | 2,080 | Lonza | Rhône |
Brenay | VS | Pennine Alps | 9.96 | 1881 | 6.32 | 5.95 | 4.92 | -1399 | La Ruinette | 3,875 | 2,580 | Dyure du Brenay | Rhône |
Allalin | VS | Pennine Alps | 9.87 | 1881 | 7.07 | 6.50 | 5.91 | -1159 | Rimpfischhorn | 4,199 | 2,600 | Saaser Vispa | Rhône |
Ferpècle | VS | Pennine Alps | 9.77 | 1891 | 7.69 | 6.60 | 6.23 | -1463 | Dent Blanche | 4,357 | 2,160 | Borgne de Ferpècle | Rhône |
Upper Grindelwald | BE | Bernese Alps | 9.52 | 1879 | 6.96 | 6.65 | 4.02 | -2938 | North of Schreckhorn | 3,750 | 1,380 | Schwarze Lütschine | Rhine |
Rätzli / Plaine Morte | BE(/VS) | Bernese Alps | 9.09 | 1925 | 5.92 | 5.20 | 4.87 | -1048 | Wildstrubel | 3,244 | 2,470 | Trüebbach, La Tièche | Rhine, Rhône |
Forno | GR | Bregaglia Alps | 8.72 | 1857 | 7.6 | 6.15 | 5.28 | -2324 | Cima di Castello | 3,379 | 2,220 | Orlegna | Po |
Saleina | VS | Mont Blanc massif | 8.57 | 1878 | 7.04 | 6.45 | 5.95 | -1087 | Aiguille d'Argentière | 3,901 | 1,760 | Reuse de Saleina | Rhône |
Roseg | GR | Bernina Range | 8.52 | 1855 | 6.71 | 4.90 | 2.42 | -4288 | Piz Roseg | 3,937 | 2,160 | Ova da Roseg | Danube |
Fee Glacier | VS | Pennine Alps | 7.46 | 1883 | 5.89 | 5.00 | 4.57 | -1318 | Dom | 4,545 | 2,100 | Feevispa | Rhône |
Palü | GR | Bernina Range | 6.47 | 1894 | 4.88 | 3.80 | 3.51 | -1366 | Piz Palü | 3,901 | 2,580 | Acqua da Palü | Po |
Trient | VS | Mont Blanc massif | 6.40 | 1879 | 5.29 | 4.90 | 3.96 | -1328 | Aiguille du Tour | 3,540 | 1,880 | Trient | Rhône |
Moming | VS | Pennine Alps | 6.39 | 1879 | 4.19 | 3.60 | 3.06 | -1134 | Weisshorn | 4,506 | 2,500 | Navisence | Rhône |
Gries | VS | Lepontine Alps | 6.23 | 1847 | 7.84 | 5.70 | 4.88 | -2959 | Blinnenhorn | 3,374 | 2,420 | Ägene | Rhône |
Tschierva | GR | Bernina Range | 6.20 | 1934 | 5.56 | 4.75 | 3.89 | -1665 | Piz Bernina | 4,049 | 2,260 | Ova da Roseg | Danube |
Tschingel | BE | Bernese Alps | 6.19 | 1893 | 3.87 | 3.65 | 3.52 | -343 | Tschingelhorn | 3,562 | 2,160 | Tschingel-Litschina | Rhine |
Rosenlaui | BE | Bernese Alps | 6.14 | 1880 | 5.3 | 5.15 | 5.15 | -151 | Mittelhorn | 3,704 | 2,000 | Rosenlauibach | Rhine |
Damma | UR | Urner Alps | 5.09 | 1921 | 2.85 | 2.35 | 1.32 | -1525 | Dammastock | 3,630 | 2,060 | Dammareuss | Rhine |
Wildstrubel | VS | Bernese Alps | 4.81 | 1917 | 2.83 | 2.65 | 2.29 | -535 | Wildstrubel | 3,244 | 2,560 | Lämmerendalu | Rhine |
Tsanfleuron | VS/Vaud | Bernese Alps | 3.81 | 1884 | 4.91 | 3.70 | 3 | -1907 | Oldenhorn | 3,123 | 2,460 | Le Lachon | Rhône |
Albigna | GR | Bregaglia Alps | 3.53 | 1906 | 4.88 | 3.70 | 3.49 | -1386 | Cima di Castello | 3,379 | 2,200 | Albigna | Po |
Silvretta | GR | Silvretta Alps | 3.35 | 1956 | 3.42 | 3.30 | 3.03 | -390 | Silvrettahorn | 3,244 | 2,480 | Verstanclabach | Rhine |
Biferten | GL | Glarus Alps | 2.81 | 1883 | 4.55 | 4.40 | 4.19 | -360 | Tödi | 3,614 | 1,960 | Bifertenbach | Rhine |
Basòdino | TI | Lepontine Alps | 2.31 | 1899 | 2.02 | 1.50 | 1.28 | -733 | Basòdino | 3,272 | 2,500 | Bavona | Po |
Vadret Tiatscha (La Cudera) | GR | Silvretta Alps | 2.07 | 1850 | 3.44 | 2.05 | 1.64 | -1792 | East of Verstanclahorn | 3,220 | 2,680 | Lavinuoz | Danube |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Jonathan Amos (19 December 2008). "Swiss Glaciers 'in full retreat'". BBC News. San Francisco.
- ^ "Glaciers set to disappear from the Alps". SWI swissinfo.ch, a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. December 8, 2006. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
- ^ a b c d e f "Welcome to the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland (GLAMOS)" (research site). Zürich, Fribourg, Bern: ETH Zurich, University of Fribourg, University of Zurich. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ "Topographical catchment areas of Swiss waterbodies". Wabern, BE, Switzerland: Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) – via map.geo.admin.ch swisstopo.