Bergschrund

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Cross section of a cirque glacier showing the bergschrund
Three mountaineers on a snow-covered icefield with mountain peaks in the distance
A bergschrund—the long crack at the foot of the mountain slope—in the Ötztal Alps
Rocky peaks protruding from undulating ice masses
Open bergschrunds at Mont Dolent

A bergschrund (from the German for mountain cleft; sometimes abbreviated in English to "schrund") is a crevasse that forms where moving glacier ice separates from the stagnant ice or firn above.[1] It is often a serious obstacle for mountaineers. Bergschrunds extend to the bedrock, and can have a depth of well over Script error: No such module "convert"..

A bergschrund is distinct from a randkluft, which is a crevasse with one side formed by rock. The randkluft arises in part from the melting of the ice due to the presence of the warmer rock face.[2] However, a randkluft is sometimes called a bergschrund.[3] The French word rimaye encompasses both randklufts and bergschrunds. In a corrie or cirque, the bergschrund is positioned at the rear, parallel to the back wall of the corrie. It is caused by the rotational movement of the glacier. In a longitudinal glacier, the bergschrund is at the top end of the glacier at a right angle to the flow of the glacier. It is caused by the downwards flow of the glacier.

In winter, a bergschrund is often filled by snow from avalanches from the mountain above it. In later summer, due to melting, it lies open and can present a very difficult obstacle to mountaineers.

On the South Col route to reach the summit of Mount Everest, a deep bergschrund lies at the bottom of the Lhotse face, separating Camp II from Camp III.[4]

References

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  1. Whittow, John (1984). Dictionary of Physical Geography. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 61. Template:ISBN.
  2. Benn, D.I. & Evans, D.J.A. Glaciers and Glaciation (1998) Template:ISBN
  3. Burchfield, R.W. ed. Oxford English Dictionary supplement (1987) Template:ISBN
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External links

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