Morteratsch Glacier, Alpine glacier in Grisons, Switzerland
Morteratsch is an alpine glacier in the Canton of the Grisons, extending for several kilometers through the Bernina Range and showing bluish ice between dark rock walls. The glacier tongue ends today in a wide debris field where meltwater forms a grey stream flowing down between the stones.
Scientific measurements began in the mid-19th century and have since documented a continuous retreat of the ice over more than two kilometers (1.2 miles). The pace of this change has accelerated noticeably in recent decades due to warmer temperatures.
The name comes from the Romansh "Muret da Glatscher," meaning "wall of ice," describing the massive frozen formations hikers see along the path. Visitors today experience a changing landscape where marker signs show where the ice stood in previous decades.
The path from the train station to the glacier tongue takes about fifty minutes and runs flat over gravel ground that can become slippery in rain. Warm clothing is advisable even in summer, as cold winds blow down from the ice and noticeably lower the temperature.
Plant species such as saxifrage and willowherb colonize the freshly exposed rock often just a few months after the ice has retreated. These pioneers prepare the soil for later vegetation and show an accelerated ecological transformation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
