Quaternary paleoenvironments

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LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION

Historical methods

Historical methods (500 to 700 years ago) involve the study of historical material such as written accounts, visual records, maps and relief models. These are only available in any adequate quantity for those glaciers which drew the attention of travellers, scientists and artists through their reputation and scenic attraction. Most of the written accounts that can be used date from the 16th century onwards. Paintings and drawings date from as early as the beginning of the 17th century, but became far more abundant with the emerging popularity of Switzerland as a tourist destination in the 18th century. Photographs are available from as early as 1849.

Written accounts

In earlier times the Alpine meadows at the edge of the Great Aletsch, the †ssers Aletschji and Inners Aletschji Alpine pastures, were used intensively. The Inners Aletschji pastures lie between the Oberaletsch Glacier and the Middle Aletsch Glacier. Access to the Inners Aletschji was limited by the extension of both the Upper Aletsch and the Great Aletsch Glaciers. The disappearance of the Upper Aletsch Glacier after 1860 forced residents of the valley to seek a new route across the ice of the Great Aletsch Glacier which still filled the lower regions of the gorge. In time, the surface area of the Great Aletsch Glacier also diminished and this route became impassable. When the Great Aletsch Glacier recedes to the point where it is smaller than it was in 1935-1940, access to the Inners Aletschji becomes impossible. This source from the year 1480 reports use of the Alpine pastures in the Inners Aletschji. The Great Aletsch glacier was more extended than today.

1 - Report on the use of Alpine pastures in the Inners Aletschji

Maps

Figure 2 - An old map shows the terminal part of the tongue of the Great Aletsch glacier in 1755 (left side). The glacier was about 900 to 1000 m shorter than it was in 1859/60.

Figure 3 - This map shows the Great Aletsch glacier in 1849. The map is handdrawn an one of the first accurate map in Switzerland.

2 - Great Aletsch glacier in 1755

3 - Great Aletsch glacier in 1849

After 1860 the Great Aletsch glacier began to retreat. On this map from 1882 we see the Great Aletsch glacier in its retreating period. The tongue is shorter than it was in 1849.

4 - Great Aletsch glacier in 1882

Visual records

The following images show the Rhone glacier in the Valais (Switzerland) during different time periods. Note the considerable retreat of this glacier between 1849 and 2002 (images 8 and 10)!

5 - The Rhone glacier around about 1710. Etching by Johann Melchior Füssli.

6 - The advance of the Rhone glacier in August 1824. Aquarell from Samuel Birmann (Kupferstichkabinett des Kunstmuseums Basel).

7 - The Rhone glacier in 26 August 1848. Lithography from Henri Hogard.

8 - One of the first photographs of an alpine glacier: The Rhone glacier in 1849. Photographer: Gustave Dardel.

9 - A postcard shows Gletsch with the hotel Glacier du Rhone around about 1900. The Rhone glacier has retreated since the last maximum extension in 1856.

10 - A photograph taken in the summer 2002. From Gletsch only a little from the Rhone glacier can be seen.

29 August 2011 © ALPECOLe 2002-2007