 Until at least 1866 the Glacier Noir and Glacier Blanc were combined into a single glacial system above the "Pré de Madame Carle".But whilst the foot of the Glacier Blanc has retreated today to a height of around , the snout of the Glacier Noir descends a further 200 metres in height to about .A glacier covered in moraine debris is generally referred to in French as a "glacier noir".