Water in Motion: Glacier Water from the Alps

Written and translated by Katharina Selich

Crystal Clear and Endangered: Glacial Lakes in the Alps

The Alps are home to countless glaciers. Although these icy formations lose mass every year, around 5,000 Alpine glaciers still exist today — including the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland, the Schneeferner in Germany, and the Mer de Glace in France. This distinctive mountain range stretches across eight countries, from Nice on the Côte d’Azur all the way to Vienna in Austria. As they melt, Alpine glaciers provide a primary source of water for many bodies of water, including glacial lakes such as Lake Tollense and rivers such as the Rhône.

The Alps: A Glacier Paradise in Transition

The Alps have existed for around 25 million years. This impressive mountain range was formed when the African and European tectonic plates collided. Of the Alps’ 82 peaks, the highest lies on the border between France and Italy: Mont Blanc, at 4,809 meters. The first glaciation of the Alps occurred about 2.5 million years ago — and even today, the Alps remain rich in glaciers. In Tyrol and southern Germany, glaciers are also called Ferner; in Switzerland, Firn; and in Austria, Kees.

But when does an ordinary ice field become a glacier? The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines a glacier as being at least 30.5 meters thick and covering an area of at least 0.1 km². And one more important fact: glaciers are constantly in motion.

Glacial Lakes and Other Bodies of Water

There are around 4,000 lakes in the Alps, more than 95% of which are glacial lakes. The erosive power of glaciers created basins that gradually filled with meltwater. But glacial water does more than just fill these lakes — it causes them to continue growing.

Meltwater from Alpine glaciers feeds major rivers, including the Po in Italy, the Rhine in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and the Rhône in Switzerland and France.

Powerful Yet Fragile: Alpine Glaciers in Motion

Glaciers are Ice Age marvels that are now at risk of disappearing, as they are melting rapidly. Measurements show that for years they have no longer alternated between annual growth and shrinkage as they once did—instead, they are now consistently losing mass. In just the two years 2022 and 2023, they lost as much mass as they did between 1960 and 1990 combined. This poses a major threat to the Alpine region and to the bodies of water that rely on glacial melt as their primary source.

As glaciers melt, there is also a risk that glacial lakes may drain completely. This happened, for example, in 2014 to the Faverge glacial lake in the Bernese Oberland, which no longer exists today. The Rhône, the Po, and the Rhine will also soon be affected by glacial retreat. Once the meltwater supply ends — after an initial period of excess water — these rivers will begin to dry up.

The full scale of the ecological and socio-political consequences is still unknown. Around 1.9 billion people could be affected by impacts on drinking water supplies and hydropower.

Fairytale Glacial Lakes in the Alps

Lake Sorapis

Lake Sorapis lies at an altitude of 1,928 meters, nestled among the rocks of the Belluno Dolomites, and is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the mountain range. The lake is fed by a waterfall whose water flows underground. Swimming has been prohibited since 2019, but visiting the sapphire-blue lake and its surrounding landscape is well worth the trip. The lake owes its striking color to glacial rock flour, which reflects the sunlight.

Rifflsee

High above the Pitztal Valley in Tyrol lies the Rifflsee, Austria’s highest mountain lake, at 2,232 meters. It is fed by three surrounding glaciers: Seekarlesferner, Löcherferner, and Riffferner. The water is too cold for swimming, but visitors can enjoy raft trips on the lake.

Königssee

The Berchtesgaden Alps are among the most popular holiday regions in the Alps. This is also where the famous Königssee is located — a fascinatingly blue “Alpine fjord.” Its name does not come from the word König (king), but most likely from the personal name Kuno. The lake itself is older than its name: it was formed during the last Ice Age from a glacier of the Steinernes Meer massif and a terminal moraine.

Landscapes in Time-Lapse

Few landscapes can rival the beauty of the Alps. At the same time, they are a region in constant transformation. The effects of climate change can be seen almost as if in time-lapse in glaciers, glacial lakes, and rivers. Anyone who wishes to experience the Alps — with their imposing glaciers and fairytale-like lakes in their current form — should do so now.