Piz Bernina and the Morteratsch Glacier (romansh: Vadret da Morteratsch) Black and white . No. 8279bw .

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"The Morteratsch Glacier (romansh: Vadret da Morteratsch) is the largest glacier by area in the Bernina Range of the Bündner Alps in Switzerland.

It is, just after the Pasterze Glacier and Gepatschferner, the third largest and by volume (1.2 km3) the most massive glacier in the eastern alps. The Morteratsch Glacier is a typical valley glacier with a pronounced ice front. The accumulation zone lies between the peaks of Piz Morteratsch, Piz Bernina, Crast' Agüzza, Piz Argient, Piz Zupò and Bellavista. From Piz Argient to the ice front in the Val Morteratsch, its horizontal extent is about ~7 km (4.3 mi), with an altitude difference of up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Together with the Pers Glacier, originating at Piz Palü, which joins the Morteratsch just below the rock formation Isla Persa ("Lost Isle"), it covers an area of about 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi). The volume of the ice is estimated to be about 1.2 km3. The Morteratsch Glacier drains through Inn River and Danube into the Black Sea.

In spring, depending on the snow conditions, a 10-km-long ski-run accessible to skilled skiers is marked on the glacier. It leads from the Diavolezza aerial tramway terminus to the Morteratsch inn and has an altitude difference of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). The RhB Station Morteratsch used to be situated directly at the ice front of the glacier. The ice front has receded over 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in the meantime, and cannot be seen from the station today.

Yearly length change measurements have been recorded since 1878. For the period to 1998, the overall retreat was over 1.8 km (1.1 mi) with a mean annual retreat rate of approximately 17.2 m (56 ft) per year. This long-term average has markedly increased in recent years, receding 30 m (98 ft) per year from 1999–2005. Substantial retreat was ongoing through 2006 as well.[1]

During the time that measurements have been taken, the glacier has advanced a few meters in only four years. Since the large glaciers react slowly to short-term climate changes, these advances cannot be accounted for by increased precipitation in the accumulation zone. On the high moraines to the left and right of the ice front, which are still nearly free of overgrowth, the enormous quantities of ice which were still being pushed down here at the end of the "Little Ice Age" in the middle of the 19th century can be seen.

Der Morteratschgletscher (rätoromanisch Glatscher dal Morteratsch oder Vadret da Morteratsch) ist ein Alpen-Gletscher in der Berninagruppe im Kanton Graubünden in der Schweiz. Zusammen mit dem Persgletscher ist er mit einem Volumen von rund 1,2 Kubikkilometern der volumenstärkste Gletscher der Ostalpen. Seit Beginn der systematischen Beobachtungen im Jahr 1878 hat der Gletscher 2,2 Kilometer an Länge eingebüsst, er ist heute noch rund 6,4 Kilometer lang und damit der drittlängste Gletscher der Ostalpen, nach Pasterze und Gepatschferner in den österreichischen Alpen.

Die beim Gletscherrückgang im Gletschervorfeld hinterlassenen Spuren gelten als typisch für die Alpen. Ein Gletscherlehrpfad erklärt an 20 Stationen Glaziologie, Geomorphologie und Vegetation. Entlang dieses Wanderweges stehen darüber hinaus Schilder zur Dokumentation des Gletscherrückgangs. Im Frühjahr führt eine Skiroute von der Diavolezza über den Gletscher.

Le glacier Morteratsch (en romanche : Vadret da Morteratsch) est le plus grand glacier de la chaîne de la Bernina. Il se situe dans le canton des Grisons en haute-Engadine.

Il a une longueur maximale de 7 km avec un dénivelé de 2 000 m et se termine au plus haut sur le Punta Perrucchetti à 4 020 m. Il couvre avec le glacier Pers environ 16 km2.

Entre 1878 et 1998, le glacier a reculé de 1,8 km avec une moyenne annuelle d'environ 17,2 mètres. Le recul s'est accéléré ces dernières années avec une moyenne de 30 mètres par an de 1999-2005.

À la confluence avec le glacier Pers, le glacier Morteratsch se comporte comme un barrage naturel bloquant les eaux de ruissellement et à l'origine d'un petit lac."

This informations was found at Wikipédia.

Taken in: Switzerland / Grisons / Pontresina (show map)

Taken on: August 19, 2013

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