Theodulgletscher
| Theodulgletscher | |
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| Theodul Glacier | |
The Upper Theodul Glacier (left) and the Lower Theodul Glacier (right) from the Klein Matterhorn cable car
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| Location | Valais, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 45°56′40″N 07°43′00″E / 45.94444°N 7.71667°ECoordinates: 45°56′40″N 07°43′00″E / 45.94444°N 7.71667°E |
| Terminus | 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) |
| Status | Retreating |
The Theodul Glacier (also spelled Theodule Glacier; German: Theodulgletscher) is a glacier of the Alps, located south of Zermatt in the canton of Valais. It lies on the Swiss side of the Pennine Alps, although its upper basin touches the Italian region of the Aosta Valley. The glacier descends from the west side of the Breithorn (4,164 metres (13,661 ft)) and splits into two diverging branches above Gandegg: the Upper Theodul Glacier (Oberer Theodulgletscher), spilling on a high plateau near Trockener Steg, together with the Furgg Glacier, and the Lower Theodul Glacier (Unterer Theodulgletscher), reaching a height of about 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) above the Gorner Glacier. Both branches are part of the Rhone basin, through the rivers Gornera, Mattervispa, and Vispa. Slightly above the glacier splitting is the Theodul Pass, crossing the border between Switzerland and Italy, and connecting Zermatt to Breuil-Cervinia. On the west, the Theodul Glacier is overlooked by the Matterhorn.
Until about 1980s the Lower Theodul Glacier was still connected to the Gorner Glacier and one of its tributaries.
The upper section of the Theodul Glacier consists of a flat plateau at around 3,800 metres, named Breithorn Plateau. The plateau lies between the Breithorn, the Gobba di Rollin and the Klein Matterhorn. The Breithorn Pass (3,814 m) separates the Breithorn from the Gobba di Rollin. A 3,795 m high saddle lies between the Gobba di Rollin and the Klein Matterhorn. Between the Klein Matterhorn and the Breithorn is a distinct glacier, named Klein Matterhorn Gletscher, which joins the Lower Theodul Glacier at about 3,000 metres. The Breithorn Plateau area can be easily accessed by several cable cars connecting Zermatt to the Klein Matterhorn.
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Wikipedia