Morteratsch Glacier, Pontresina, Switzerland
The Morteratsch Glacier (romansh: Vadret da Morteratsch) is the largest glacier by area in the Bernina Range of the Bündner Alps in Switzerland.
The walk from the Morteratsch train station to the end of the Morteratsch Glacier is a brief one, yet it covers thousands of years of the earth’s history. After less than 50 minutes on foot from Morteratsch station, you’ll glimpse your destination: the milky glacial lake and gigantic ice tongue.
It is, just after the Pasterze Glacier and Gepatschferner, the third largest and by volume 1.2 km3 the most massive glacier in the eastern alps. The Morteratsch Glacier is a typical valley glacier with a pronounced ice front. The accumulation zone lies between the peaks of Piz Morteratsch, Piz Bernina, Crast’ Agüzza, Piz Argient, Piz Zupò and Bellavista.
Pontresina has a very special hike in store during the summer months – to the Morteratsch glacier with a “Glacier Fairy” who knows the way around this place and lets families in on the secrets of the everlasting ice at every turn during a 3-hour tour. They also meet glacier ghost Sabi. The latter, by the way, is the protagonist of the children’s book “Sabi’s Big Dream”. A scavenger hunt is also part of the spectacular tour and particularly thrilling for children between 5 and 12.
Visit Switzerland. Epic Switzerland Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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