Switzerland in images
Discover the beautiful or mysterious objects that are hidden in the aerial images of swisstopo.
The unique Switzerland
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.
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Images for downloading
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Grande Dixence (VS)
JPEG, 4640x3080 px, 18 MB -
Chillon Castle (VD)
JPEG, 3841x2161 px, 9 MB -
The Allalin Glacier (VS)
JPEG, 8192x5441 px, 19 MB -
The Dufourspitze (VS)
JPEG, 7420x4720 px, 12 MB
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Further information
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Topography
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