Artificial and natural ice caves 2007Every spring a tunnel is dug into Rhonegletscher. During summer it serves as a major tourist attraction. For the first time in its 100 year history an accident occurred on 29 August 2007. After some very heavy rain a small amount of ice crashed into the tunnel and injured two people who then had to be hospitalized (Swiss national TV, SF1, 10 vor 10). | |||
 Entrance to the ice cave in August 2004. The glacier surface is dozens of metres higher than in August 2007. |  In the ice tunnel, August 2004. GOL author Michael Hambrey in the background. |  Entrance to the ice cave on 27. August 2007 (at the righthand glacier margin). |  The wooden bridge leading to the tunnel needs permanent modification because of the movement and ablation of the ice. |
 Tunnel entrance on 27 August 2007. On the top are sheets of material used to reduce ablation. |  Because of ablation, parts of the tunnel's roof have disappeared and protective sheets are hanging down. |  At the glacier front natural, albeit short-lived, cavities can be found (August 2004). |  Small natural ice cave and ice collapse on the glacier's western margin (August 2007). |
| Photos Jürg Alean | |||