Sources de l'Isère Glacier, Alpine glacier in Val-d'Isère, France
The Sources of the Isère Glacier sits on the eastern slopes of Val-d'Isère at roughly 2800 meters elevation, positioned near the France-Italy border. The ice field spreads across rocky terrain fed by seasonal snowfall and bordered by jagged mountain peaks.
The glacier formed during earlier ice ages as part of the vast alpine ice system that covered much of the region. Like many Alpine glaciers, it has retreated significantly in recent times, reshaping the landscape it once dominated.
The glacier forms the birthplace of the Isère River, a waterway central to the valley's identity and daily life. Local communities have long viewed this ice mass as the heart of their watershed and mountain heritage.
Reaching the glacier requires a roughly two-and-a-half hour hike from Val-d'Isère, with the path following a mountain stream through high alpine terrain. Sturdy footwear and layers of warm clothing are essential, as the route is steep and mountain weather changes quickly.
The ice surface has shrunk dramatically over the past 150 years, leaving behind heaps of stone and debris that mark its former extent. Hikers can trace these moraine ridges to understand how much larger the glacier once was.
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