Pumping work starts on Tete Rousse glacier
Work started this week on the drainage of the water pocket below the Tete Rousse glacier. As previously reported scientists have recently discovered 65000 cubic metres of water trapped in an underground lake beneath the glacier.
Heavy machinery has been lugged up the mountain and engineers have been hard at work digging a borehole to reach the water table 45 metres down. The well was finished by yesterday evening and now pumps will be installed to start draining the water away at a rate of 80 cubic metres per hour.
The pumping operation is due to last until mid-October, when the inhabitants of Saint Gervais will be able to breathe a sigh of relief...
In the meantime, certain hiking routes are still open and the tram is still running, but on a reduced service.
Check out this video to see how engineers got all their kit up the mountain >>
Source : Radio Mont Blanc
