Natural hazards Level of the glacier lake above Lenk begins to fall
The level of the Faverges glacier lake above Lenk has been slowly dropping since Saturday morning. This was announced by the municipal authorities on their website.
20.07.2024, 10:04
SDA
Whether the lake on the Plaine Morte plateau is actually emptying cannot yet be confirmed. However, the situation is being closely monitored. The municipality sent out a text message calling for machinery and equipment to be moved out of the danger zone.
The lake formed due to ice retreat on the south-eastern edge of the Plaine Morte glacier on the border between the cantons of Bern and Valais. In early summer, meltwater collects in an elongated depression between the rock and ice. As soon as the lake reaches a critical threshold, it used to empty spontaneously.
In 2018, this led to damage in the valley. The following year, an artificial drainage channel was dug into the glacier ice. Since then, the lake can normally empty slowly and in a controlled manner into this overflow.
The water then flows northwards through ice channels in the glacier. There it first flows into the channel of the Trübbach and then into the Simme. The emptying always takes place between mid-June and the end of August. Natural hazard experts have set up a monitoring system around the lake.
