Swiss info

Swiss Mountains

Key facts about the Swiss mountains

One third of the country's surface area is covered by mountains

The mountains are of major historical, geopolitical and economic importance to the country; they have been the main selling point of the Swiss tourist industry for more than 100 years.

There are 48 peaks standing over 4,000 metres high (13,120 feet)

Swiss mountains can lay claim the following records:

Swiss Alps

Formation & Geology of the Alps:

Glaciers, Permafrost, Snow:

There are over 1000 glaciers in the Swiss Alps; most are small but 20 are large ones.

The glaciers are shrinking fast - they have lost 1/3 of their volume in past 50 years - most will disappear by 2050

Europe's largest glacier is the Aletsch Glacier (best seen from Jungfraujoch); it is 23 km/14 mi long or 80 sq km/31 sq mi

Permafrost is melting making the mountainsides less stable; many are liable to collapse or set off massive rockfalls or landslides.

Aug 2017 - there were 2 massive landslides in Val Bondesca

June 2023 - the village of Brienz/Brinzauls was evacuated due to an imminent landslide

Global warming is heavily affecting snowfall - in many places there is no longer enough snow of suitable depth or continuity of snowfall. This has forced the winter resort/skiing industry to reinvent itself as "wellness" centers and invest in attractions that don't rely on snow.

Conquest of the mountains - Alpinism

Until 16th century people had a superstitious dread of the mountains - they could influence weather, thunder, lightening - the people had little scientific knowledge to be able to explain such occurrences.

From 17th C onwards, naturalists searching for new plants for medicinal use began climbing higher and higher and dispelling long-held myths about the mountains.

19th century = Golden Age of Mountaineering

From 1840 onwards, the Brits recorded most of the famous first ascent of Alpine Peaks:

 

See also