Rock glaciers, Lombardy, Italy, Version 1

Lombardia is one of the administrative regions into which Italy is divided. The more eastern part of Italian sector of the Lepontine Alps and a large part of the Rhaetian Alps are located in this region.. The highest point is Bernina peak (4052 m asl). There are 305 glaciers, and the total glaciated area is about 113 sq km. The glaciers are more widespread in the northeastern part of the region (Ortles-Cevedale Group). In this region, 498 rock glaciers have been identified and classified according their degree of morphological activity-- 92 active (18%); 94 doubtful (19%); 27 complex (5%); and 285 inactive (58%). After the first work was carried out in the mid-1920s, thisrock glacier inventory began at the end of 1987. This inventory was carried out by the analysis of color aerial photographs at 1-to-20.000 scale. In addition, for approximately 10% of the land forms, a geomorphological survey in the field was performed. Data are presented in the CAPS Version 1.0 CD-ROM, June 1998.