Mer de Glace

Classical view from Montenvers over the tongue of Mer de Glace towards Grandes Jorasses.

Typical for this glacier are prominent ogives (view from Echelets).

Due to faster ice movement in the middle of the glacier the ogives are deformed more and more towards the glacier terminus.

Panorama photo over the tongue of Mer de Glace from the true right valley side.

Tourist infrastructure near the upper end of the Montenvers railway.

Descending towards the Mer de Glace ice cave.

Because of the ice movement the caves have to be rebuilt every year.

Tourists in the access tunnel; view towards the entrance.

Artificially illuminated sculptures; note prominent foliation in the ice.

Access to the glacier via ladders.

Practicing ice climbing in a zone of crevasses on the glacier tongue.

Blocks of light Mont Blanc granite on the tongue of Mer de Glace.

Early morning on Mer de Glace; below the confluence of Glacier de Leschaux and Glacier du Tacul.

Ogives on Mer de Glace are formed below the great icefall «Séracs du Grant»; La Tour Ronde in the background (3792m).

Extremely big glacier table near the confluence of Glacier de Leschaux and Glacier du Tacul.

High temperatures cause strong ablation and a lot of runoff; Dent du Géant in the backbround (4013m).

A meltwater stream has eroded one side of this ablation cone.

Dent du Grant and several hanging glaciers. Note the prominent firn stratification.

Firn basin above the great icefall. Sahara dust causes the yellowish colour of the firn.

Foliation in a crevasse field on Glacier du Tacul.