Theodul Glacier

The Theodul Glacier (also spelled Theodule Glacier; German: Theodulgletscher) is a glacier of the Alps, located south of Zermatt in the canton of Valais. It lies on the Swiss side of the Pennine Alps, although its upper basin touches the Italian region of the Aosta Valley. The glacier descends from the west side of the Breithorn (4,164 metres (13,661 ft)) and splits into two diverging branches above Gandegg: the Upper Theodul Glacier (Oberer Theodulgletscher), spilling on a high plateau near Trockener Steg and the Lower Theodul Glacier (Unterer Theodulgletscher), reaching a height of about 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) above the Gorner Glacier. Both branches are part of the Rhone basin, through the rivers Gornera and Vispa. Slightly above the glacier splitting is the Theodul Pass, crossing the border between Switzerland and Italy, and connecting Zermatt to Breuil-Cervinia. On the west, the Theodul Glacier is overlooked by the Matterhorn.

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 and the Klein Matterhorn. The Breithorn Pass (3,814 m) separates the Breithorn from the Gobba di Rollin. The saddle between the Gobba di Rollin (3,795 m) is unnamed. This area can be easily accessed by several cable cars connecting Zermatt to the Klein Matterhorn.

Ski facilities on the glacier

At around 3,500 metres is the Plateau Rosa, whose name derives from the Valdôtain patois term Rosà, meaning "frozen" (as for the nearby Monte Rosa). This area lies between Testa Grigia (3,479 m) and the Klein Matterhorn, south of and slightly above the Theodul Pass. 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^[1] marketed as Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest and largest in Europe. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise links the ski areas of Zermatt and Breuil-Cervina. Ski lifts connect Trockener Steg, Theodul Pass, Testa Grigia, Gobba di Rollin and the Klein Matterhorn. A chair lift also connects Trockener Steg to the Furggsattel (3,349 m), north of the Theodul Pass.

Several lakes formed at the bottom of the Upper Theodul Glacier, west of Trockener Steg. The largest, the Theodulgletschersee is 7.76 ha wide and lies at an elevation of 2,851 metres above sea level.

References

• Swisstopo topographic maps (1:25,000)