The Eiskar is the only existing glacier in the Carnic Alps, a mountain range in Austria and Italy. It is a typical cirque glacier that, thanks to its shady location and to avalanche breaks in its catchment area, has been able to survive at the relatively low height of 2160–2390 metres above sea level. Although the ice sheet in good times could calve over a rock wall down to the pasture of Valentinalm below, currently it is rapidly becoming a sheet of dead ice. In the period 2007–2014, however, no significant retreat was observed.[2][3][4] The glacier may be accessed from below up a klettersteig, and from above quite easily via the Kellerwand rock face. Remains of defensive positions witness to the mountain war of 1915-1918.

Eiskar
TypeCirque glacier
LocationCarinthia, Austria
Coordinates46°36′38″N 12°54′23″E / 46.61056°N 12.90639°E / 46.61056; 12.90639
Area0.151 sq km [1]
Length0.4 km[1]
Highest elevation2390 m[1]
Lowest elevation2160 m[1]
StatusOnly remaining glacier of the Carnic Alps

References

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  1. ^ a b c d World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS): Fluctuations of Glaciers 2005–2010 (Vol. X). Zürich 2012, S. 118 (PDF; 5 MB Archived 2014-03-05 at the Wayback Machine)
  2. ^ "Gletscherbericht 2010/11" (PDF). OeAV. p. 6. Retrieved 26 Apr 2012. Der Eiskar Gletscher war heuer zum vierten Mal in Folge stationär.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Gletscherbericht 2011/12" (PDF). OeAV. pp. 6f. Retrieved 3 May 2012. [...] der Eiskar Gletscher blieb zum fünften Mal in Folge stationär.
  4. ^ "Gletscherbericht 2013/14" (PDF). OeAV. p. 7. Retrieved 7 Apr 2014. Damit wird der Eiskargletscher zum siebten Mal in Folge als stationär eingestuft.
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