The Theodul Glacier (also spelled ''Theodule Glacier''; german: Theodulgletscher, french: Glacier du Théodule, it, Ghiacciaio del Teodulo) is a

glacier A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its Ablation#Glaciology, ablation over many years, often Century, centuries. It acquires dis ...

of the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

, located south of

Zermatt Zermatt () is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a year-round population of about 5,800 and is classified as a town by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO). ...

in the canton of

Valais Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...

. It lies on the

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

side of the

Pennine Alps The Pennine Alps (german: Walliser Alpen, french: Alpes valaisannes, it, Alpi Pennine, la, Alpes Poeninae), also known as the Valais Alps, are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland (Valais) and Italy ( ...

, although its upper basin touches the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

region of the

Aosta Valley , Valdostan or Valdotainian it, Valdostano (man) it, Valdostana (woman)french: Valdôtain (man)french: Valdôtaine (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = Official languages , population_blank1 = Italian French ...

. The glacier descends from the west side of the Breithorn () and splits into two diverging branches above Gandegg: the Upper Theodul Glacier (''Oberer Theodulgletscher''), spilling on a high plateau near Trockener Steg, together with the Furgg Glacier, and the Lower Theodul Glacier (''Unterer Theodulgletscher''), reaching a height of about above the

Gorner Glacier The Gorner Glacier (german: Gornergletscher) is a valley glacier found on the west side of the Monte Rosa massif close to Zermatt in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is about long (2014) and wide. The entire glacial area of the glacier rela ...

. Both branches are part of the Rhone basin, through the rivers Gornera, Mattervispa, and

Vispa The Vispa is a river in the canton of Valais, located in the Visp area. It is essentially composed of two large branches: the Matter Vispa and the Saaser Vispa, converging at Stalden, then forming the Vispa proper, flowing for less than before ...

. Slightly above the glacier splitting is the

Theodul Pass Theodul Pass, elevation , (German: ''Theodulpass'', Italian: ''Colle del Teodulo'', French: ''Col de Saint-Théodule'', Walser German: ''Theoduljoch'') is a high mountain pass across the eastern Pennine Alps, connecting Zermatt in the Swiss cant ...

, crossing the border between Switzerland and Italy, and connecting Zermatt to

Breuil-Cervinia Breuil-Cervinia (french: Breuil; it, Cervinia; Valdôtain: ) is a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Valtournenche, and is considered one of the most renowned winter and summer tourist resorts in the Alps. Etymology The name of ''Breuil-Cervini ...

. On the west, the Theodul Glacier is overlooked by the

Matterhorn The (, ; it, Cervino, ; french: Cervin, ; rm, Matterhorn) is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the ...

. Until about 1980s the Lower Theodul Glacier was still connected to the Gorner Glacier and one of its tributaries. The upper section of the Theodul Glacier consists of a flat plateau at around 3,800 metres, named ''Breithorn Plateau''. The plateau lies between the Breithorn, the

Gobba di Rollin Gobba di Rollin (Italian, French: ''Dos de Rollin''; 3,899 m) is a mountain of the Pennine Alps, straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy. It is located south of the Breithorn and it is largely covered by ice, the summit area being ...

and the

Klein Matterhorn The Klein Matterhorn (sometimes translated as ''Little Matterhorn'') is a peak of the Pennine Alps, overlooking Zermatt in the Swiss canton of Valais. At above sea level, it is the highest place in Europe that can be reached by aerial tramway or ...

. The Breithorn Pass (3,814 m) separates the Breithorn from the Gobba di Rollin (french: Bosse de Rollin). A 3,795 m high saddle lies between the Gobba di Rollin and the Klein Matterhorn. Between the Klein Matterhorn and the Breithorn is a distinct glacier, named ''Klein Matterhorn Gletscher'', which joins the Lower Theodul Glacier at about 3,000 metres. The Breithorn Plateau area can be easily accessed by several cable cars connecting Zermatt to the Klein Matterhorn. At around 3,500 metres is the ''Plateau Rosa'', whose name derives from the Valdôtain

patois ''Patois'' (, pl. same or ) is speech or language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. As such, ''patois'' can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects or vernaculars, but not commonly to jargon or ...

term ''Rouése'', meaning "ice" (as for the nearby

Monte Rosa : , other_name = Monte Rosa massif , translation = Mount Rose , photo = Dufourspitze (Monte Rosa) and Monte Rosa Glacier as seen from Gornergrat, Wallis, Switzerland, 2012 August.jpg , photo_caption = Central Mon ...

). This area lies between

Testa Grigia Testa Grigia (French : ''Tête grise'', lit. "grey head") (3,479 m) is a rocky prominence above the Theodul Pass, located on the border between Italy (Aosta Valley) and Switzerland (Valais). It overlooks the Plateau Rosa section of the Theodul ...

(french: Tête grise) (3,479 m) and the Klein Matterhorn, south of and slightly above the

. Southeast of Testa Grigia is a saddle named ''Passo di Ventina Nord'' (3,445 m). This area can also be easily accessed by several cable cars connecting Breuil-Cervinia to Testa Grigia. Most of the glacier is part of the year-round ski area marketed as ''Matterhorn Glacier Paradise''. It is the highest in Europe and largest summer ski area in the world, with 21 kilometres of prepared pistes. The culminating point is on the summit of Gobba di Rollin and the lowest is above Trockener Steg. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise links the ski areas of Zermatt and Breuil-Cervina. Ski lifts connect Trockener Steg, Theodul Pass, Testa Grigia, Klein Matterhorn and Gobba di Rollin. A chair lift also connects Trockener Steg to the Furggsattel (3,349 m), north of the Theodul Pass. Several lakes recently formed at the bottom of the Upper Theodul Glacier, west of Trockener Steg. The largest, named ''Theodulgletschersee'' is 7.76 ha wide and lies at an elevation of 2,851 metres above sea level. It is the highest lake over 4 ha in Switzerland and the largest lake in the Matter Valley (the valley of Zermatt). The second-largest, named ''Furggsee'' is 2.57 ha wide and lies at 2,874 metres.Primary surfaces VECTOR25 (Swisstopo)

Climate

The Theodul Glacier has an

alpine climate Alpine climate is the typical weather (climate) for elevations above the tree line, where trees fail to grow due to cold. This climate is also referred to as a mountain climate or highland climate. Definition There are multiple definitions of ...

(Koppen: ET)

References

Swisstopo Swisstopo is the official name for the Swiss Federal Office of Topography (in German language, German: ''Bundesamt für Landestopografie''; French language, French: ''Office fédéral de topographie''; Italian language, Italian: ''Ufficio fed ...

topographic maps (1:25,000)

External links

* {{Matter Valley Glaciers of Valais Glaciers of the Alps Skiing in the Alps Skiing in Switzerland