Beyond The Surface
Rhone Glacier, Switzerland, 2024. The Rhone Glacier is one of the most famous glaciers in the Alps because it is easily accessible from the road leading to the Furka Pass. Many tourists and hikers visit this rapidly retreating glacier. At the front of the Rhone Glacier, thermal blankets have been installed to limit the melting of the ice. There is also an artificial cave that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the ice. The melting ice has given rise to a glacial lake that grows larger every year. Glacial lakes are basins that collect the water once contained in glaciers. They are therefore very important resources, but in some areas, they also represent a potential danger. Sudden collapses of seracs on the glacial front, as well as landslides, can create powerful floods from the lake, with serious consequences for nearby settlements.