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Year 9

The Mer De Glace

I know what the Mer de Glace is and how it is changing.

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New
New
Year 9

The Mer De Glace

I know what the Mer de Glace is and how it is changing.

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Mer de Glace is the largest glacier in France.
  2. The Mer de Glace is a tourist attraction.
  3. Climate change has had an impact on the Mer de Glace.

Keywords

  • Glacier - a huge accumulation of ice and snow that moves slowly over land

  • Tourist attraction - a place of interest for visitors

  • Climate change - long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns

Common misconception

Tourism at the Mer de Glace only has negative impacts.

Tourism at the Mer de Glace has both positive and negative impacts. Positive impacts include boosts to the local economy and an awareness of climate change.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: The Mer De Glace, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use Google Earth to explore the Mer de Glace and look at the features.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
A __________ is a huge accumulation of ice and snow that moves slowly over land.
Correct answer: glacier
river
sand dune
Q2.
What conditions are needed for a glacier to form?
Heavy rainfall and warm weather
High temperatures and strong winds
Correct answer: Cold temperatures and snowfall over a long period
Q3.
Where can glaciers be found?
Deserts
Correct answer: High mountains and polar regions
Polar regions only
Tropical rainforests
Q4.
How does climate change affect glaciers?
Glaciers become more solid
Glaciers grow larger
Correct answer: Glaciers shrink and melt
Q5.
What happens when glaciers melt?
More snow is produced
Correct answer: Sea levels rise
The landscape stays the same
Q6.
Why are glaciers popular tourist attractions?
They are located near cities
Correct answer: They offer stunning natural beauty and unique landscapes
They provide warm weather
They are easy to climb

4 Questions

Q1.
Where is the Mer de Glace located?
The Himalayas
Correct answer: The French Alps
The Rocky Mountains
Q2.
Why is the Mer de Glace a popular tourist attraction?
Correct answer: It is the largest glacier in France
It has warm weather all year
People can swim in the glacier
Q3.
How long is the Mer de Glace?
3 km
5 km
Correct answer: 7.5 km
Q4.
How is climate change affecting tourism at the Mer de Glace?
More people are visiting every year
The glacier is growing larger
Correct answer: The glacier is shrinking, making access more difficult
Tourism is not affected