Tete Rousse glacial waters filling up again
More drilling work has been scheduled for the end of this month to investigate the extent of the underground flooding of the troublesome Tete Rousse glacier.
As previously reported, a huge 65000m³ lake was discovered beneath the surface of the glacier last summer (enough to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools!), causing concern that it could burst and put the town of St Gervais in danger.
A huge engineering project was carried out to pump away about 70% of the excess water, but since then it has continued to fill back up and there is now thought to be about another 4000m³ of water that has accumulated under the ice.
New studies are being carried out to assess the situation and calculate the risk of the glacier bursting. The water pocket is situated in a cavern 40m under the ice; which sounds deep until you consider that the ice itself is only 6m thick in places.
The cost of the studies today is estimated to be about 500,000 euros and should take place this autumn with a report to be made before the end of the year.
Drilling will take place on 29th and 30th June to give access to the underground cavern and barriers will be put in place by the end of the month to prevent hikers and climbers from straying into areas off potential collapse.
We will publish details of closed/restricted areas once they have been confirmed. In the meantime, keep an eye out for warning signs when in the Tete Rousse area.
Check out the video below to see what the inside of a glacier looks like, not easy viewing if you are claustrophobic!
Source: Radio Mont Blanc
