Oberaletsch Glacier
Encyclopedia
The Oberaletsch Glacier (German: Oberaletschgletscher, meaning Upper Aletsch Glacier) is a valley glacier
on the south side of the Bernese Alps
, in the canton of Valais
. It has a length of 9 km (5.6 mi) with an average width of just under 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) and an area of about 22 km² (8.5 sq mi).
The Oberaletsch Glacier system consists of two approximately equal arms. The eastern one takes its starting point on the south western flank of the Aletschhorn
at around 3700 m (12,139.1 ft), and joins the western arm (Beichgletscher) in the valley at the foot of the Nesthorn
. Then the glacier flows to the south-east towards the Aletsch Glacier
without reaching it. The glacier tongue ends at around 2150 m (7,053.8 ft). During the Little Ice Age
in the middle of the 19th century the glacier was part of the Aletsch Glacier.
The Swiss Alpine Club
Oberaletschhütte (2640 m (8,661.4 ft)) is above the junction of the two glacier arms and has been accessible to hikers since 2005 with a new trail from Belalp
.
The area of the Oberaletsch Glacier, along with the Aletsch Glacier, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001.
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...
. It has a length of 9 km (5.6 mi) with an average width of just under 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) and an area of about 22 km² (8.5 sq mi).
The Oberaletsch Glacier system consists of two approximately equal arms. The eastern one takes its starting point on the south western flank of the Aletschhorn
Aletschhorn
The Aletschhorn is a mountain in the Alps in Switzerland, lying within the Jungfrau-Aletsch region, which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO...
at around 3700 m (12,139.1 ft), and joins the western arm (Beichgletscher) in the valley at the foot of the Nesthorn
Nesthorn
The Nesthorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. It is located in the Swiss canton of Valais north of Brig. The mountain lies between the Oberaletsch Glacier on the north and east side and the Gredetschtal on the south side. It is part of the subrange of the Bernese Alps that culminates at the...
. Then the glacier flows to the south-east towards 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...
without reaching it. The glacier tongue ends at around 2150 m (7,053.8 ft). During the Little Ice Age
Little Ice Age
The Little Ice Age was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period . While not a true ice age, the term was introduced into the scientific literature by François E. Matthes in 1939...
in the middle of the 19th century the glacier was part of the Aletsch Glacier.
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...
Oberaletschhütte (2640 m (8,661.4 ft)) is above the junction of the two glacier arms and has been accessible to hikers since 2005 with a new trail from Belalp
Belalp
Belalp is a village and ski resort in the Swiss canton of Valais, 2'100 m above sea level, in the municipality of Naters.Belalp is a car free village which can be reached by cable car from the village of Blatten. Because of its altitude the place is also a vantage point offering view of Dom and...
.
The area of the Oberaletsch Glacier, along with the Aletsch Glacier, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001.