Bern The Lenk glacial lake has run dry

The Faverges glacial lake on the Plaine Morte above Lenk BE has slowly drained. There were no complications, the authorities announced on Wednesday.

The Trübbach and Simme rivers were still carrying a lot of water due to the melting snow, the statement added. The hiking trail along the Simme Falls to the Barbara Bridge therefore remains closed.

Last weekend, there were initial indications that the lake could be slowly emptying. The water level began to drop.

The lake formed on the south-eastern edge of the Plaine Morte glacier on the border between the cantons of Bern and Valais due to the retreat of the ice. Melt water collects in an elongated depression between the rock and ice in early summer. 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 emptying always takes place between mid-June and the end of August. Natural hazard experts have set up a monitoring system around the lake.