Märjelensee

Arisen in the 19th century Ice Lake

The Märjelensee is a lake in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, on the eastern edge of the Aletsch Glacier at an altitude of 2'348 m above sea level. M. It lies in a valley between the Eggishorn ( 2'927 m) and the beam Horn ( 3'026, 5 ​​m).

History

The Märjelensee was in the 19th century at the high level of the Aletsch glacier in a natural way to an Ice Lake (or " Gletscherrandsee " ) dammed.

The outbreaks of the lake by a sudden outflow of the dammed water through crevasses caused at this time always strong flood damage below the Aletsch Glacier in the Valley of Massa.

Glacier reports noted outbreaks at the following times: August 1813, July 1820, July 1822, July 1828, Autumn 1840, August 1848, 1858, 1859, July 1864, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, July 19, 1878, 9 ./10. June 1882, January 1883, August 1884, September 4, 1887, June 24, 1889 July 25, 1890, 1892, 1894 24 September, 1895.

In addition to these outbreaks occurred in the 19th century to damage floods into the white water in the Fieschertal.

To prevent further damage from Ice Lake outbreaks, was a relief tunnel to Fiesch created in the summer of 1895 for the Märjelensee, with the maximum Staukote should be limited.

Due to the glacier retreat in the 20th century, however, this discharge tunnel was only once in operation. Since 1901, the now much smaller Märjelensee runs per year with few exceptions. The Staukote is now well below the ancient relief tunnel. In addition, since also the dam Gibidum was applied, the Massa- floods can no longer flood the valley of the Rhone. By the old discharge tunnels, today Tälligrattunnel, now a hiking trail.

The Märjelensee in September 1887

The Märjelensee in July 2007, morning mood