Gornergletscher
Encyclopedia
The Gorner Glacier is a valley glacier
found on the west side of the Monte Rosa Massif close to Zermatt
in the canton of Valais
, Switzerland
. It is about 14 km (8.7 mi) long and 1 kilometre wide. The entire glacial area of the glacier related to Gorner Glacier is 57 km² (22 sq mi) (1999), which makes it the second largest glacial system in the Alps
after the Aletsch Glacier
system. Numerous smaller glaciers connect with the Gorner Glacier. Its tribunaries are (clockwise on this map http://map.search.ch/?x=-2720&y=7783&z=64): Gornergletscher (after which the whole system is named), Grenzgletscher, Zwillingsgletscher, Schwärzegletscher, Breithorngletscher and Theodulgletscher (although this one is actually disconnected now); also Monte Rosa Glacier used to be connected. The main tributary is the Grenzgletscher.
An interesting feature of this glacier is the Gornersee, an ice marginal lake at the confluence area of the Gorner- and Grenzgletscher. This lake fills every year and drains in summer, usually as a Glacial lake outburst flood
. This is one of few glacial lakes in the Alps exhibiting this kind of behaviour.
It is the source of the Gornera River which flows down through Zermatt
itself. However, most of its water gets captured by a water catchment station of the Grande Dixence
hydroelectric
power company. This water then ends up in the Lac des Dix
, the main reservoir of Grande Dixence
.
The glacier as well as the surrounding mountains can be seen from the Gornergrat
(3100 m (10,170.6 ft)), connected from Zermatt by a railway line.
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...
found on the west side of the Monte Rosa Massif close to Zermatt
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
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....
. It is about 14 km (8.7 mi) long and 1 kilometre wide. The entire glacial area of the glacier related to Gorner Glacier is 57 km² (22 sq mi) (1999), which makes it the second largest glacial system 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....
after the Aletsch Glacier
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...
system. Numerous smaller glaciers connect with the Gorner Glacier. Its tribunaries are (clockwise on this map http://map.search.ch/?x=-2720&y=7783&z=64): Gornergletscher (after which the whole system is named), Grenzgletscher, Zwillingsgletscher, Schwärzegletscher, Breithorngletscher and Theodulgletscher (although this one is actually disconnected now); also Monte Rosa Glacier used to be connected. The main tributary is the Grenzgletscher.
An interesting feature of this glacier is the Gornersee, an ice marginal lake at the confluence area of the Gorner- and Grenzgletscher. This lake fills every year and drains in summer, usually as a Glacial lake outburst flood
Glacial lake outburst flood
A glacial lake outburst flood is a type of outburst flood that occurs when the dam containing a glacial lake fails. The dam can consist of glacier ice or a terminal moraine...
. This is one of few glacial lakes in the Alps exhibiting this kind of behaviour.
It is the source of the Gornera River which flows down through Zermatt
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
itself. However, most of its water gets captured by a water catchment station of the Grande Dixence
Grande Dixence
Grande Dixence S.A. is a Société Anonyme operating in Switzerland which runs the Bieudron Hydro Project and the Grande Dixence Dam in the Val d'Hérens, Valais...
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power company. This water then ends up in the Lac des Dix
Grande Dixence Dam
The Grande Dixence Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Dixence River at the head of the Val d'Hérens in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. At high, it is the tallest gravity dam in the world and is part of the Cleuson-Dixence Complex...
, the main reservoir of Grande Dixence
Grande Dixence
Grande Dixence S.A. is a Société Anonyme operating in Switzerland which runs the Bieudron Hydro Project and the Grande Dixence Dam in the Val d'Hérens, Valais...
.
The glacier as well as the surrounding mountains can be seen from the Gornergrat
Gornergrat
The Gornergrat is a ridge of the Pennine Alps, Switzerland, overlooking the Gorner Glacier to the south. It can be reached by the Gornergratbahn rack railway from Zermatt...
(3100 m (10,170.6 ft)), connected from Zermatt by a railway line.