Nature, Environment and Technology
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch

Glacier tracks in the World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch

Glaciers grind, level and shape a landscape. The traces of the Ice Age glaciation can still be found in many places today: for example, the maximum height of the Ice Age glaciation can be seen on the upper limit of the vertically sloping cliffs on the Hohstock above Belalp, on the Fusshörnern, on the Geissgrat and on the Zenbächenhorn. Traces of grinding can be seen on many of the rocky peaks in the area.

The gently rounded ridge from Hohbalm to Riederfurka, the depressions of Märjela and Riederfurka and also the flattened slope terraces of Bellwald, Bettmeralp and Riederalp can be traced back to the landscape-shaping elemental force of the ice streams. Rock sections were additionally abraded by the fine rock flour on the underside of the glaciers. These glacial shapes and formations are particularly impressive to observe on the descent from the Bettmerhorn station towards Riederfurka. Rock fragments frozen in the ice have left the typical glacier scars on the surface of these rock formations. They indicate the direction of flow of the ice. The meltwater collected in the gullies and formed small lakes such as Lake Bettmer or Lake Blausee.