Mer de GlaceLength: 12 km; orientation: north; surface area: 32 km2 (biggest glacier in France). |
![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_morning.jpg) Classical view from Montenvers over the tongue of Mer de Glace towards Grandes Jorasses. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_ogives.jpg) Typical for this glacier are prominent ogives (view from Echelets). | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/ogives_tongue.jpg) Due to faster ice movement in the middle of the glacier the ogives are deformed more and more towards the glacier terminus. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_panorama.jpg) Panorama photo over the tongue of Mer de Glace from the true right valley side. |
![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_restaurant.jpg) Tourist infrastructure near the upper end of the Montenvers railway. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_tourists.jpg) Descending towards the Mer de Glace ice cave. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_icecave_entrance.jpg) Because of the ice movement the caves have to be rebuilt every year. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_tunnel.jpg) Tourists in the access tunnel; view towards the entrance. |
![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/ice_cave_colours.jpg) Artificially illuminated sculptures; note prominent foliation in the ice. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_climbers_ladders.jpg) Access to the glacier via ladders. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_climbers_crevasse.jpg) Practicing ice climbing in a zone of crevasses on the glacier tongue. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_rocks.jpg) Blocks of light Mont Blanc granite on the tongue of Mer de Glace. |
![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/ice_reflection.jpg) Early morning on Mer de Glace; below the confluence of Glacier de Leschaux and Glacier du Tacul. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/icefall.jpg) Ogives on Mer de Glace are formed below the great icefall «Séracs du Grant»; La Tour Ronde in the background (3792m). | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/giant_glacier_table.jpg) Extremely big glacier table near the confluence of Glacier de Leschaux and Glacier du Tacul. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_meltwater_stream.jpg) High temperatures cause strong ablation and a lot of runoff; Dent du Géant in the backbround (4013m). |
![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/ablation_mound_meltwater_channel.jpg) A meltwater stream has eroded one side of this ablation cone. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/dent_du_geant.jpg) Dent du Grant and several hanging glaciers. Note the prominent firn stratification. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/vallee_blanche.jpg) Firn basin above the great icefall. Sahara dust causes the yellowish colour of the firn. | ![Mer de Glace Mer de Glace](icons/mer_de_glace_foliation.jpg) Foliation in a crevasse field on Glacier du Tacul. |
All photos 4 to 6 August 2008, Jürg Alean |