Switzerland in images
Discover the beautiful or mysterious objects that are hidden in the aerial images of swisstopo.
The unique Switzerland
Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe
At 3,466 m above sea level, the Jungfraujoch marks the lowest point in the ridge connecting the Mönch and Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps. It is located on the border between the cantons of Berne and Valais. The Joch is covered by a deep layer of snow and ice throughout the year and is characterised by constant winter conditions. However, it sinks several decimetres every year due to the melting of the ice. Each year, around one million tourists visit the world-famous vantage point. Visitors have been transported to the top of Europe by the Jungfrau Railway for 110 years. The end of the railway line lies deep inside the mountain at 3,454 m above sea level – directly below the Sphinx Observatory, which is perched on free-standing rock. The terminal station of this rack railway is the highest in Europe – hence the name ‘Top of Europe’. Together with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau triumvirate, the Jungfraujoch forms part of the ‘Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch’ UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ufenau Island (SZ)
The island of Ufenau, or Ufnau, is located in Lake Zurich, only a short distance from the dam separating the lower and the upper lake in Pfäffikon in the canton of Schwyz. With an area just over eleven hectares, it is the largest island in Switzerland which is not connected to the mainland by a bridge. Due to its beautiful landscapes and cultural-historical continuity, Ufenau still enjoys special protection status to this day. Together with the smaller neighbouring island of Lützelau, it is part of the Frauenwinkel nature reserve. The moorland landscape is the largest nature reserve at Lake Zurich. Ufenau was given to monastery of Einsiedeln in 965, which still owns it today. Thanks to the monastic community, the island has remained a place of tranquillity, despite the hectic atmosphere on the Obersee, the upper part of Lake Zurich. The “Isle of Silence” concept is pursued. From April to October, the shore can be reached comfortably by boat.
Tremola Pass road (TI)
The old road across Gotthard Pass, also known as Tremola, is considered one of the longest roads of historic importance in Switzerland. Ascending from Airolo, on the southern slope of the Gotthard pass, it winds its way up through more than 20 hairpins. It spans an altitude difference of just over 1,000 metres. One distinctive feature of the road is its old granite cobblestones pavement. The Gotthard Pass is one of the most important routes across the Alps. The first postal routes over the mountain massif were established towards the end of the late middle ages. Some 200 years ago, the construction of the first road allowed the usage of stagecoaches to transport both people and goods. In 1882, the first train travelled through the Gotthard Tunnel, thereby revolutionising travel through the heart of Switzerland. Due to the steady growth of traffic, the routes are constantly developed and improved. Nowadays a journey through the Gotthard base tunnel, inaugurated in 2016, takes just under 20 minutes. In comparison, 150 years ago, a journey in a stagecoach took at least half a day.
Grande Dixence (VS)
The “Grande Dixence” hydroelectric dam is located at the end of the Val d'Hérémence, a side valley near Sion in the canton of Valais. The current structure was built in the 1950s and is a record-breaking dam in every respect. At 285 metres high, it is the largest gravity dam in the world. It even weighs more than the Cheops pyramids. It is also considered to be the largest structure in Switzerland. The dammed lake (Lac des Dix) contains a good 20 % of the energy potential which can be stored in Switzerland. Most of the inflowing water is produced in summer from the melting of the 35 glaciers in the catchment area. Down in the Rhône valley (at Bieudron), electrical energy equivalent to the output of an average nuclear power plant is generated in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Chillon Castle (VD)
Located at Veytaux, between Montreux and Villeneuve, Chillon Castle owes its name and design to the rock on which it was built in the 17th century. “Chillon” is a word used to describe a rocky platform in the old local dialect. The castle’s strategic location between mountain and lake made it ideal for controlling the route linking Northern and Southern Europe during the Savoy period. The fortress was also used as an arsenal, a prison, and a residence for the counts of Savoy. In the centuries since its construction, the castle rose to international acclaim thanks to its appearance in the works of renowned philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the English poet Lord Byron. Perched on a rocky islet in Lake Geneva, Chillon Castle is the most visited historic monument in Switzerland.
The Allalin Glacier (VS)
The Allalin Glacier is located in the rear section of the Saas Valley. It lies at the foot of the three 4000m summits: the Allalinhorn (4027m), Rimpfischhorn (4199m) and Strahlhorn (4190m). One of the possible origins of the name Allalin has been attributed to the Saracens who roamed the Valais over a thousand years ago. Allalin is said to be derived from the Arabic “ala ain” (beyond the spring). At the height of the glacial flooding, the glacier covered the valley floor. Today, it is barely visible from below: due to global warming, the glacier has retreated by about one kilometre since the 1980s. On 30 August 1965, the Allalin Glacier was the scene of a major natural disaster: a section of the glacier broke off and collapsed onto the construction camp of workers building the Mattmark Dam in the Saas Valley. It has been carefully monitored since this tragedy. On 30 July 2000, 1 million cubic metres of ice broke off again without causing any casualties or damage. The upper part of the Allalin Glacier is also an important part of the Saas-Fee ski area and provides skiers with optimum snow conditions, even in summer, at an altitude of over 3500 metres.
The Dufourspitze (VS)
At 4,634 metres (15,203 feet), the Dufourspitze is Switzerland’s highest peak. It forms part of the Monte Rosa massif, which towers over the town of Zermatt. Originally known as “Höchste Spitze” (“Highest Peak”), the Federal Council decided to rename the summit “Dufourspitze” in 1863 in honour of the cartographic achievements of General Guillaume Henri Dufour. A founding member of the Red Cross, Dufour is also known for setting up the “Bureau topographique fédéral” in Geneva in 1838, which later became the Federal Office of Topography.
Images for downloading
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Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe
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Ufenau Island (SZ)
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Tremola Pass road (TI)
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Grande Dixence (VS)
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Chillon Castle (VD)
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The Allalin Glacier (VS)
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The Dufourspitze (VS)
JPEG, 7420x4720 px, 12 MB
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Further information
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Relevant authority
Topography
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