Rhone Glacier, Valley glacier in Valais, Switzerland
Rhone Glacier is a valley glacier in Valais, Switzerland, stretching roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles) across elevations between 2250 and 3600 meters (7400 to 11800 feet). The ice sheet reaches about 1000 meters (3300 feet) wide and covers around 17 square kilometers (6.5 square miles).
Starting in 1874, engineer Philipp Gosset began systematic measurements of length and thickness, creating one of the longest scientific records in the Alps. The ice tunnel, carved annually since 1870, sits near Furka Pass and has drawn visitors for over a century.
The name comes from the river that begins here, flowing westward through multiple countries. Travelers use the area as a starting point for alpine walks, with the ice grotto itself drawing visitors who want to step inside a working glacier.
The ice tunnel is open from spring through autumn, depending on weather and snow conditions. The nearest lodge sits at Furka Pass, a short walk from the glacier entrance.
During ice ages, the tongue reached eastward beyond Lyon in France, with ice piling up to 2000 meters (6500 feet) thick. Today, markers along the trail show where the snout stood in past decades, revealing the pace of retreat.
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