Plateau Rosa, Glacier at Plateau Rosa in Valais, Switzerland
Plateau Rosa is a glacier at 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) elevation in the Valais Alps that extends across a wide ice field connected to the Theodul Glacier. The area covers several frozen plateaus stretching between steep mountain ridges and the Matterhorn, used as a ski area throughout the year.
Since the 1980s, several lakes formed at the bottom of the Upper Theodul Glacier, including Theodulgletschersee covering 7.76 hectares at 2,851 meters (9,350 feet). These lakes appeared as glacier ice melted and reshaped the landscape at the edge of the high plateaus.
The name derives from the Valdôtain patois term Rouése, meaning ice, which reflects the regional linguistic roots of this alpine area. Visitors today see the border between Switzerland and Italy running through the middle of the glacier, with lift systems connecting both countries.
Cable cars from Breuil-Cervinia on the Italian side bring visitors up to Testa Grigia, where 21 kilometers (13 miles) of prepared slopes remain accessible year-round. The elevation requires warm clothing and sun protection even in summer, as temperatures on the glacier often stay below freezing.
The glacier forms part of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, one of the highest ski areas in Europe, linked by lift systems to the Italian resort of Cervinia. Skiers can cross between both countries without border controls and ski in two nations at once on the same ice field.
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