Gletscher, Ferner or Kees?

by Leanne Mills

In Austria, there’s a great deal of regional and local variation with the labelling of geographical features on maps. While preparing the article on Foundation Alpine Skills training, the author and the editor reviewed ÖAV 1:25,000 maps of the Öztal and – by way of comparison – the Venedigergruppe/Hohe Tauern and Silvrettagruppe, and noticed that glaciers are called different things in each location.

The glaciers mentioned in the course report in the Pitztal are Mittelbergferner and Karlesferner. Where there is a prevalence of Bavarian German spoken, in the majority of Tirol and the other seven Austrian provinces, glaciers are indeed referred to as Ferner but also as Kees (for example, the Schlatenkees and Obersulzbachkees).

However, in Vorarlberg and a small number of areas in Tirol, where Alemannic German is spoken, a glacier is shown on maps as a Gletscher.

Alpine pasture is another term where differences appear; in Alemannic you’ll find Alp or Alpe used, whereas in Bavarian mostly Alm

Somewhat confusing for the poor English-speaking alpinist, but now you know!

Source:
Austrian Board on Geographical Names (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kartographische Ortsnamenkunde), ‘TOPONYMIC GUIDELINES FOR MAP AND OTHER EDITORS, FOR INTERNATIONAL USE’, AUSTRIA 7th Edition 2012, pages 7-8.

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