Eiger Glacier

{{Short description|Glacier in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland}}

{{Infobox glacier

| name = Eiger Glacier

| other_name = Eigergletscher

| photo = Image:Eigergletscher20070715.JPG

| photo_caption = The Eiger Glacier, passing between the Little Eiger and the Mönch

| map = Switzerland#Alps

| map_caption = Location in Switzerland

| embedded = {{Infobox mapframe | wikidata = yes | zoom = 12 |coord = {{WikidataCoord | display = i}} }}

| type = Alpine glacier, hanging glacier

| location = Lauterbrunnen, Bern, Switzerland

| coordinates = {{Coord|46|34|02|N|7|59|20|E|type:glacier_region:CH-VS|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area = {{convert|1.54|km²|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|2.59|km|abbr=on}}

| elevation_max = {{convert|3700|m|abbr=on}} above sea level

| elevation_min = {{convert|3200|m|abbr=on}} above sea level

| status = Retreating

}}

The Eiger Glacier ({{langx|de|Eigergletscher}}) is a glacier situated on the north-west side of the Eiger in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland, within the municipality of Lauterbrunnen in the canton of Bern.{{cite map | publisher = Swiss Confederation | title = Maps of Switzerland | url = https://map.geo.admin.ch/#/map?lang=en¢er=2642228.55,1157480.74&z=6&topic=ech&layers=ch.swisstopo.swissboundaries3d-gemeinde-flaeche.fill@year=2025;ch.swisstopo.swissboundaries3d-kanton-flaeche.fill&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo.pixelkarte-farbe&featureInfo=default | year = 2025 | access-date = 2025-01-31}} It extends from a height of {{convert|3700|m|abbr=on}} above sea level behind the Little Eiger, a secondary peak to the west of the Eiger, and runs towards the valley in the direction of the Eigergletscher railway station. Another tongue, at {{convert|3200|to|3500|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, is in the form of a hanging glacier between the Eiger and Little Eiger.

The glacier is {{convert|2.59|km|abbr=on}} with an area of {{convert|1.54|km²|abbr=on}}, reduced from an area of {{convert|2.13|km²|abbr=on}} recorded in 1973.{{cite web | url = https://www.glamos.ch/en/factsheet#/A54m-03 | title = Factsheet: Eigergletscher | publisher = GLAMOS (Glacier Monitoring Switzerland) | accessdate = 2025-01-31}} From 1993 to 2017 it retreated by around {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} as the glacier melted. In 1990, a large, continuous crack was discovered during a helicopter flight, leading the {{ill|Research Institute for Hydraulic Engineering, Hydrology and Glaciology at ETH Zurich|de|Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie der ETH Zürich}} to begin research work, to gain knowledge about hanging glaciers and develop measures to protect the Jungfrau railway station. The threatened collapse occurred in 1990, but without causing any damage. Since then an automatic camera has taken a photo of the glacier every day.{{cite book|first=Peter|last=Krebs|chapter=Eisschlauch – Die eisige Westside-Story|editor-first=Daniel|editor-last=Anker|title=Eiger – Die vertikale Arena|edition=4th|publisher=AS Verlag|location=Zürich|year=2008}}

File:Schilthorn 2970m Panorama Wetterhorn bis Louwihorn 20160823.jpg. Glaciers, from left to right: {{ill|Gutz Glacier|de|Gutzgletscher}}, Chrinnengletscher, Upper Grindelwald Glacier, Eigergletscher, {{ill|Nollen Glacier|de|Nollengletscher (Lauterbrunnen)}}, {{ill|Guggi Glacier|de|Guggigletscher}}, {{ill|Giessen Glacier|de|Giessengletscher}}, {{ill|Silberhorn Glacier|de|Silberhorngletscher}}, Hochfirn (Jungfrau), Rottal-Hochfirn, and {{ill|Rottal Glacier|de|Rottalgletscher (Lauterbrunnen)}}]]