water tank
The Great Aletsch Glacier is a vision of primaeval beauty. High up on the Moosfluh, Hohfluh, Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn viewpoints is the best place to admire the scale and unique magic of the Great Aletsch Glacier. This huge river of ice that stretches over 20 km from its formation in the Jungfrau region (at 4000 m) down to the Massa Gorge, around 2500 m below, fascinates and inspires every visitor.
This makes the Great Aletsch Glacier the longest ice stream in the Alps.
is the weight of the Great Aletsch Glacier.
is the thickest ice on the glacier. This is located at Konkordiaplatz.
is the surface of the Great Aletsch Glacier.
The Great Aletsch Glacier has shaped the landscape of the Aletsch Arena over thousands of years. During the last ice age (around 18,000 years ago), ice still covered the mountain ridges between the Bettmerhorn and the Riederhorn; only the peaks rose above the ice. How do we know? The landscape tells us: the area that was then covered by ice is smooth and rounded, but the shapes of the Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn are sharp and jagged.
We can also trace how the Great Aletsch Glacier has grown and receded in the landscape of the Aletsch Forest. Around 11,000 years ago, the terminus of the glacier was in the Rhône Valley and the glacier's edge reached almost as far as Riederfurka. The immense lateral moraine that was formed in the process is clearly visible from the moraine trail. The maximum extension of the Great Aletsch Glacier to date was around 1860. At that time, it was around 3 km longer than it is today and the edge of the glacier was a good 200 m higher, near the Aletsch Forest. This area still stands out against the surrounding countryside as a light strip of land with fairly young vegetation.
Global warming is also affecting the Aletsch Arena's "ice sea" to a concerning extent. Measurements by the Pro Natura Center Aletsch show that the Great Aletsch Glacier is experiencing dramatic ablation, shrinking by up to 50 metres in length each year and retreating significantly at the edges.
If the ice giant were to melt, each citizen of the earth could be supplied with one litre of water a day for 3.5 years.
The Great Aletsch Glacier has its origin in the Jungfrau region near Konkordiaplatz
The Great Aletsch Glacier is formed by the confluence of three powerful firn streams. The Great Aletschfirn, the Jungfraufirn and the Ewigschneefeld.
The Great Aletsch Glacier has two medial moraines. These appear as dark lines along the entire length of the ice flow.
The medial moraine on the right in the direction of glacier flow is called Kranzbergmittelmoräne.
The medial moraine on the left in the direction of glacier flow is called the Trugberg medial moraine.
At 20 kilometres in length, the Great Aletsch Glacier in Valais is a truly imposing sight. So it is not surprising that it is accorded a special honour: the Great Aletsch Glacier is the centrepiece and the defining element of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region was added to the ranks of the world’s most valuable and beautiful landscapes in 2001. It is one of a total of 13 World Heritage Sites in Switzerland and is also one of the few areas in the Alpine region with little human impact. These facts and figures show just how outstanding the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site is:
The only World Heritage Site in the canton of Valais
Spans 23 municipalities, 15 of which are in Valais and eight in the Bernese Oberland
Optimum public transport connections
There are nine mountains over 4,000 metres within its boundaries
Around 50 mountain peaks above 3,500m
At 4,273m, the Finsteraarhorn is the highest mountain in the World Heritage Site
824km² World Heritage Site, 1746.8km² World Heritage Region
Around 350km² of glaciated area
With over 900 counted species, the World Heritage Site is a biodiversity hotspot
Would you like to learn more about the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site? Then the World Nature Forum Museum in Naters in Valais is just the place for you. In the exciting interactive exhibition and the visitor centre of the World Heritage Site, you can get to know the fascinating Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site up close and with all your senses. With the Aletsch Arena Guest Card, you even get free admission.
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