List of glaciers in Switzerland
Encyclopedia
This is a non-exhaustive list of the major glacier
s in Switzerland
. It contains their lengths in 1850 and 2002, their surface area, and the canton
in which they are located.
All glaciers are located within the Swiss Alps
. Most of them are situated in the Pennine
and Bernese Alps
. The Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area
is the most glaciated area in the Alps
.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It contains their lengths in 1850 and 2002, their surface area, and the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
in which they are located.
All glaciers are located within the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
. Most of them are situated in the Pennine
Pennine Alps
The Pennine Alps are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland and Italy...
and Bernese Alps
Bernese Alps
The Bernese Alps are a group of mountain ranges in the western part of the Alps, in Switzerland. Although the name suggests that they are located in the Bernese Oberland region of the canton of Bern, portions of the Bernese Alps are in the adjacent cantons of Valais, Lucerne, Obwalden, Fribourg and...
. The Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area
Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area
The Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area is located in south-western Switzerland between the cantons of Berne and Valais. It is a mountainous region in the easternmost side of the Bernese Alps, containing the northern wall of Jungfrau and Eiger, and the largest glaciated area in western Eurasia,...
is the most glaciated area in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
| Name |
1850 length (km) |
2002 length (km) |
Area km² |
Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allalin | 7.6 | 6.0 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Corbassière Corbassière Glacier The Corbassière Glacier is a valley glacier in the Grand Combin massif in the Pennine Alps in southwestern Valais. It is long with an average width of slightly more than and covers an area of .... |
12.9 | 10.4 | 23.0 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Ferpècle Ferpècle Glacier The Ferpècle Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .-External links:*... |
9.3 | 6.0 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Fee Glacier Fee Glacier The Fee Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. In 1973 it had a length of and an area of . It lies east of the Mischabel range, between the summit of Dom on the north and Allalinhorn on the south.The glacier is easily accessible via the... |
5.0 | 4.7 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Fiescher Fiescher Glacier The Fiescher Glacier is a valley glacier on the south side of the Bernese Alps in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. in length, it is the second longest glacier in the Alps... |
17.1 | 14.7 | 39.0 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Findelen Findel Glacier The Findel Glacier is a valley glacier in the Monte Rosa massif east of Zermatt in the Pennine Alps. It has a length of and covers an area of .... |
10.4 | 8.5 | 20.6 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Gauli Gauli Glacier The Gauli Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Bernese Alps in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .Famous for an plane crash of an American plane 1946 and its rescue mission. -External links:*... |
9.2 | 6.8 | 20.5 | BE Canton of Berne The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south... |
| Gorner | 16.0 | 14.5 | 63.7 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Grosser Aletsch Aletsch Glacier The Aletsch Glacier or Great Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in the Alps. It has a length of about and covers more than in the eastern Bernese Alps in the Swiss canton of Valais... |
26.5 | 23.6 | 117.6 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Hüfi Hüfi Glacier The Hüfi Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Glarus Alps in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .-External links:*... |
9.2 | 6.9 | UR Canton of Uri Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri... |
|
| Kander | 9.2 | 6.8 | BE Canton of Berne The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south... |
|
| Lang | 8.6 | 7.5 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Mont Miné Mont Miné Glacier The Mont Miné Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .-External links:*... |
10.1 | 7.9 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Morteratsch Morteratsch Glacier The Morteratsch Glacier is the largest glacier by area in the Bernina Range of the Bündner Alps in Switzerland.... |
8.9 | 8.4 | 19.7 | GR |
| Oberaletsch Oberaletsch Glacier The Oberaletsch Glacier is a valley glacier on the south side of the Bernese Alps, in the canton of Valais. It has a length of with an average width of just under and an area of about .... |
10.4 | 9.0 | 23.0 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Upper Grindelwald Upper Grindelwald Glacier The Upper Grindelwald Glacier is one of the two valley glaciers south of Grindelwald on the northern side of the Bernese Alps, in the Canton of Berne... |
7.4 | 5.3 | BE Canton of Berne The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south... |
|
| Otemma Otemma Glacier The Otemma Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .-External links:*... |
8.0 | 16.6 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Rhone Rhône Glacier The Rhone Glacier, or sometimes Rhône Glacier is a glacier in the Swiss Alps and the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the Swiss canton of Valais... |
9.3 | 7.9 | 20.9 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Saleina Saleina Glacier The Saleina Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Mont Blanc Massif in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is adjacent to the Aiguille d'Argentière.-External links:*... |
7.7 | 6.3 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
|
| Trift (Gadmen) Trift Glacier The Trift Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Urner Alps in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .-See also:*Trift Bridge*Triftsee*List of glaciers in Switzerland*Swiss Alps-External links:*... |
7.5 | 7.0 | 19.1 | BE Canton of Berne The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south... |
| Unteraar Unteraar Glacier The Unteraar Glacier is the larger of the two sources of the Aar river in the Bernese Alps. It emerges from the association of the Finsteraar Glacier and the Lauteraar Glacier and flows for about to the east down to the Grimselsee near the Grimsel Pass... |
14.5 | 13.9 | 35.5 | BE Canton of Berne The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south... |
| Lower Grindelwald Lower Grindelwald Glacier The Lower Grindelwald Glacier is the western one and the largest of the two Grindelwald Glaciers in the Bernese Alps, south of Grindelwald, the other being the Upper Grindelwald Glacier.The Lower Grindelwald Glacier covers an area of .... |
9.9 | 9.4 | 27.1 | BE Canton of Berne The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south... |
| Zinal Zinal Glacier The Zinal Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of . The glacier gives birth to the Navissence River, which runs through a cave.-External links:*... |
9.2 | 8.4 | 18.8 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |
| Zmutt | 8.6 | 8.3 | 18.9 | VS Valais The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley... |