Switzerland is home to numerous glaciers, although their number and size have been decreasing due to climate change. As of recent estimates, there are around 1,500 glaciers in Switzerland. These glaciers vary in size and type, with some of the largest and most well-known being:
This is the largest glacier in the Alps and also the longest in Europe, stretching over 23 kilometers (14 miles). It is located in the Bernese Alps and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Located in the Pennine Alps near Zermatt, this glacier is the second-largest in Switzerland.
Also in the Bernese Alps, it is known for its impressive ice falls and crevasses.
Situated in the Engadine Valley, it is one of the most accessible glaciers in the Alps.
This glacier is significant as the source of the Rhone River and has been a popular tourist attraction for centuries due to the Ice Grotto accessible from the Furka Pass road.
Glaciers in Switzerland can be classified into several types based on their morphology and location:
Each type of glacier has distinct features and zones:
Glaciers in Switzerland have been accumulating for tens of thousands to millions of years, with their current form and extent heavily influenced by the last Ice Age, which ended about 12,000 years ago. However, since the Industrial Revolution, these glaciers have been rapidly receding due to global warming. Many glaciers have lost significant mass and area, with some disappearing entirely.
Glaciers are not only important indicators of climate change but also repositories of historical artifacts. As glaciers melt, they occasionally reveal artifacts and remains from past human activities, such as ancient tools, clothing, and even bodies preserved in the ice for centuries or millennia.
The age of glacier ice can be estimated using various methods, including radiocarbon dating of organic material found within the ice or nearby sediment, analysis of isotopes, and stratigraphic dating based on the layers of ice.
Switzerland's glaciers offer unique opportunities for recreational activities such as:
Overall, while Switzerland's glaciers are diminishing due to climate change, they remain important both for scientific study and as unique outdoor recreational destinations.
Aletschgl. Gr. Glacier, 86.76 Sq Km
Allalingletscher Glacier, 9.94 Sq Km
Brenay Gl. Du Glacier, 9.8 Sq Km
Corbassiere Gl. Glacier, 17.44 Sq Km
Dammagletscher Glacier, 6.32 Sq Km
Feegletscher Glacier, 16.66 Sq Km
Ferpecle Gl. De Glacier, 9.79 Sq Km
Fieschergl. Glacier, 33.06 Sq Km
Findelengl. Glacier, 19.09 Sq Km
Forno Vadrec Del Glacier, 8.74 Sq Km
Gauligletscher Glacier, 13.7 Sq Km
Gornergletscher Glacier, 68.86 Sq Km
Griesgletscher Glacier, 6.6 Sq Km
Hohlichtgl. Glacier, 6.07 Sq Km
Huefifirn Glacier, 13.73 Sq Km
Kanderfirn Glacier, 14.02 Sq Km
Langgletscher Glacier, 10.03 Sq Km
Mittelaletschgl. Glacier, 8.5 Sq Km
Moiry Glacier De Glacier, 6.11 Sq Km
Mont Collon Gl. Glacier, 6.02 Sq Km
Mont Durand Gl. Glacier, 7.59 Sq Km
Mont Mine Gl. Du Glacier, 10.89 Sq Km
Morteratsch Vad. Glacier, 17.15 Sq Km
Ob. Grindelwald. Glacier, 10.07 Sq Km
Oberaletschgl. Glacier, 21.71 Sq Km
Otemma Gl. D' Glacier, 16.55 Sq Km
Palue Vadret Da Glacier, 6.62 Sq Km
Plaine Morte Gl. Glacier, 9.8 Sq Km
Rhonegletscher Glacier, 17.38 Sq Km
Riedgletscher Glacier, 8.26 Sq Km
Roseg Vadret Da Glacier, 8.72 Sq Km
Rosenlauigl. Glacier, 6.2 Sq Km
Schwarzberggl. Glacier, 6.2 Sq Km
Steingletscher Glacier, 8.08 Sq Km
Telligletscher Glacier, 9.57 Sq Km
Trient Gl. Du Glacier, 6.58 Sq Km
Triftgletscher Glacier, 17.07 Sq Km
Tschierva Vad. Glacier, 6.83 Sq Km
Tschingelfirn Glacier, 6.18 Sq Km
Turtmanngl. Glacier, 13.1 Sq Km
Unt.Grindelwald. Glacier, 21.71 Sq Km
Unteraargl. Glacier, 28.41 Sq Km
Zinal Glacier De Glacier, 16.24 Sq Km
Zmuttgletscher Glacier, 16.98 Sq Km
PHOTO_YEAR
Description: The 4-digit year of the photograph used for measurements of Switzerland glacier parameters. Note: If more than one photograph were used, the most relevant year is recorded here; and the others used are recorded in the REMARKS field. In general, the Switzerland glaciers outlines; and hence, the values for area and length; were determined from Switzerland aerial photographs, so we recommend using the PHOTO_YEAR for glacier area values.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 1976
MAX_ELEV
Description: Maximum elevation of the highest point of the Switzerland glacier in meters above sea level, up to 4 digits.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 3962
MEAN_ELEV
Description: The mean elevation is the altitude of the contour line, in meters above sea level, that halves the area of the glacier, up to 4 digits.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 3170
MIN_ELEV
Description: The minimum elevation of the lowest point of the glacier in meters above sea level, up to 4 digits.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 1590
FORM
0 Miscellaneous Any type not listed below.
1 Compound Basins Two or more individual valley glaciers issuing from tributary valleys and coalescing.
2 Compound Basin Two or more individual accumulation basins feeding one glacier system.
3 Simple Basin Single accumulation area.
4 Cirque Occupies a separate, rounded, steep-walled recess which has formed on a mountain side.
5 Niche Small glacier in a V-shaped gully or depression on a mountain slope; generally more common than genetically further-developed cirque glacier.
6 Crater Occurring in extinct or dormant volcanic craters.
7 Ice Apron Irregular, usually thin ice mass which adheres to mountain slopes or ridges.
8 Group A number of similar ice masses occurring in close proximity to one another but are too small to be assessed individually.
9 Remnant Inactive, usually small ice masses left by a receding Switzerland glacier.
FRONT_PROF:
0 Miscellaneous Any type not listed below.
1 Piedmont Ice field formed on a lowland area by lateral expansion of one or coalescence of several glaciers.
2 Expanded Foot Lobe or fan formed where the lower portion of the glacier leaves the confining wall of a valley and extends on to a less restricted and more level surface.
3 Lobed Part of an ice sheet or ice cap, disqualified as an outlet glacier.
4 Calving Terminus of a glacier sufficiently extending into sea or lake water to produce icebergs; includes- for this inventory- dry land ice calving which would be recognizable from the "lowest glacier elevation."
5 Confluent Coalescing, non-contributing.
6 Irregular, mainly clean ice (mountain or valley glaciers).
7 Irregular, mainly debris-covered (mountain or valley glaciers).
8 Single lobe, mainly clean ice (mountain or valley glaciers).
9 Single lobe, mainly debris-covered (mountain or valley glaciers).
SRC_NOURSH:
0 Unknown
1 Snow
2 Avalanches
3 Superimposed ice
TONGUE_ACT:
0 Uncertain
1 Marked retreat
2 Slight retreat
3 Stationary
4 Slight advance
5 Marked advance
6 Possible surge
7 Known surge
8 Oscillating
TOTAL_AREA:
The total area of the glacier in a horizontal projection in square kilometers.
AREA_ACY:
Area Accuracy Ratings
Rating Accuracy (%)
1 0 - 5
2 5 - 10
3 10 - 15
4 15 - 30
5 > 30
AREA_IN_ST:
The total area of the Switzerland glacier that resides in the political state concerned in a horizontal projection in square kilometers.
AREA_EXP:
The area of the exposed ice of the glacier in a horizontal projection in square kilometers.
MEAN_WIDTH:
The mean width of the Switzerland glacier in a horizontal projection in kilometers.
MEAN_LENGT:
Mean length of the Switzerland glacier in a horizontal projection in kilometers.
MAX_LENGTH:
Maximum length of the Switzerland glacier in kilometers measured along the most important flowline in a horizontal projection.
MAX_LEN_EX:
Maximum length, in kilometers, of the exposed ice of the glacier in a horizontal projection.
MAX_LEN_AB:
Maximum length, in kilometers, of the ablation area of the Switzerland glacier in a horizontal projection.
Source: World Glacier Inventory
Map Copyright CCCarto 2024