Pasterze Glacier, Alpine glacier near Heiligenblut, Austria.
The Pasterze Glacier lies on the eastern slope of the Glockner Group in the High Tauern range, stretching downward from the Johannisberg summit. The ice flows through a narrow valley framed by rocky ridges, forming a long frozen river that ends in a meltwater basin.
Grazing fields covered this area until around 1500 BC, when advancing ice replaced the open land. The Alpine Club secured the territory in the early 20th century, setting the stage for protection within a national park decades later.
Locals still use the old name that recalls grazing land from thousands of years ago. Hikers today follow marked trails that lead close to the ice, where signs explain how the frozen surface has changed over time.
A mountain road reaches the area and stays open from late spring through autumn. Visitors can view the ice from overlooks or walk closer on marked paths that require good shoes and attention to changing weather.
Meltwater from the ice feeds a reservoir that powers a generating station on the far side of the mountain range. The link between frozen heights and lowland electricity shows how mountain water can travel across watersheds.
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