Bergschrund

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title: "Bergschrund" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["glaciology", "geological-hazards", "geographical-terminology-in-mountaineering"] description: "Crevasse between moving glacier ice and the stagnant ice or firn above" topic_path: "philosophy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergschrund" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Crevasse between moving glacier ice and the stagnant ice or firn above ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Glacial_Cirque_Formation_EN.svg" caption="Cross section of a [[cirque glacier]] showing the bergschrund" alt="Refer to caption"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Hintere_Schwaerze_Nordwand_HQ.jpg" caption="A bergschrund—the long crack at the foot of the mountain slope—in the [[Ötztal Alps" alt="Three mountaineers on a snow-covered icefield with mountain peaks in the distance"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Bergschrunds_am_Mont_Dolent.JPG" caption="Open bergschrunds at [[Mont Dolent" alt="Rocky peaks protruding from undulating ice masses"] ::

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. It is often a serious obstacle for mountaineers. Bergschrunds extend to the bedrock, and can have a depth of well over 100 m.

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. However, a randkluft is sometimes called a bergschrund. 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.

References

References

1. Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 61. {{ISBN. 0-14-051094-X.
2. Benn, D.I. & Evans, D.J.A. ''Glaciers and Glaciation'' (1998) {{ISBN. 0-340-58431-9
3. Burchfield, R.W. ed. ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]] supplement'' (1987) {{ISBN. 0-19-861211-7
4. "Everest South Col Route".

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