Fiescher Glacier
Encyclopedia
The Fiescher Glacier is a valley glacier
on the south side of the Bernese Alps
in the canton of Valais
, Switzerland
. 16 km (9.9 mi) in length, it is the second longest glacier in the Alps
. The glacier covers an area of 33 km² (12.7 sq mi).
The starting point of the Fiescher Glacier is 4000 m (13,123.4 ft) above sea level, on the eastern slope of the Fiescherhorn
, it is flanked to the west by the Grünhorn
and Gross Wannenhorn
and to the east by the Finsteraarhorn
.
In the lower section, the Fiescher Glacier flows south through a deep valley between the gross Wannenhorn
and the Wasenhorn
. In summer, when the snow layer melts, it has a grey colour as it is covered with rocks coming from the steep slopes of the mountains around. The end of glacier tongue is currently at around 1700 m (5,577.4 ft) above sea level.
On the south western slope of the Finsteraarhorn, about 100 m (328.1 ft) above the Fieschergletscher, the Finsteraarhornhütte of the Swiss Alpine Club
(3048 m (10,000 ft) above sea level) is often used as an intermediate station on the route from Lötschental
or Jungfraujoch
to the Grimsel Pass
.
This glacier is not to be confused with the like-named Grindelwald-Fieschergletscher on the north of the Fiescherhörner located near Grindelwald
.
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...
on the south side of the 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...
in the canton of Valais
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...
, 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....
. 16 km (9.9 mi) in length, it is the second longest glacier 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....
. The glacier covers an area of 33 km² (12.7 sq mi).
The starting point of the Fiescher Glacier is 4000 m (13,123.4 ft) above sea level, on the eastern slope of the Fiescherhorn
Fiescherhorn
The Gross Fiescherhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps range of the Swiss Alps. At 4,049 metres above sea level, its summit culminates over the whole Fiescherhorn massif, which is also composed of the slightly lower Hinter Fiescherhorn and Klein Fiescherhorn...
, it is flanked to the west by the Grünhorn
Grünhorn
The Grünhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps range of the Swiss Alps. It is located on the ridge between the two largest glaciers of the Alps: the Aletsch Glacier to the west and the Fiescher Glacier to the east...
and Gross Wannenhorn
Gross Wannenhorn
The Gross Wannenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. It is located in the canton of Valais near the village of Fiesch. The mountain separates the Aletsch Glacier from the Fiescher Glacier....
and to the east by the Finsteraarhorn
Finsteraarhorn
The Finsteraarhorn is the highest mountain in the Bernese Alps and the highest mountain in the canton of Berne. It is also the highest summit in the Alps lying outside the main chain, or watershed. The Finsteraarhorn is the ninth highest and third most prominent peak in the Alps...
.
In the lower section, the Fiescher Glacier flows south through a deep valley between the gross Wannenhorn
Gross Wannenhorn
The Gross Wannenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. It is located in the canton of Valais near the village of Fiesch. The mountain separates the Aletsch Glacier from the Fiescher Glacier....
and the Wasenhorn
Wasenhorn
Wasenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
. In summer, when the snow layer melts, it has a grey colour as it is covered with rocks coming from the steep slopes of the mountains around. The end of glacier tongue is currently at around 1700 m (5,577.4 ft) above sea level.
On the south western slope of the Finsteraarhorn, about 100 m (328.1 ft) above the Fieschergletscher, the Finsteraarhornhütte of the Swiss Alpine Club
Swiss Alpine Club
The Swiss Alpine Club is the largest mountaineering club in Switzerland. It was founded in 1863 in Olten and it is now composed of 111 sections with 110,000 members...
(3048 m (10,000 ft) above sea level) is often used as an intermediate station on the route from Lötschental
Lötschental
The Lötschental is the largest valley on the northern side of the Rhône valley in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies in the Bernese Alps, with the river Lonza running down the length of the valley from its source within the Langgletscher....
or Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
to the Grimsel Pass
Grimsel Pass
Grimsel Pass is a Swiss high mountain pass.-Position:It connects the valley of the Rhone River in the canton of Valais and the Haslital in the canton of Bern....
.
This glacier is not to be confused with the like-named Grindelwald-Fieschergletscher on the north of the Fiescherhörner located near Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
.