Nature in Switzerland.
2 September 2023
Koblenz (canton of Aargau) is the confluence site of the Aare and the Rhine. The Aare is the largest tributary of the Rhine, with more cubic metres of water per second than the Main or the Moselle at Koblenz in Germany. Switzerland is the water castle of Europe. The area in the triangle of Brugg, Turgi, and … Read more » “The Reuss, Aare, Aareschlucht, Rhine, Limmat and Swiss Koblenz”
22 August 2023
The Doctor and scholar Lauzenz Zellweger (1692-1764) discovered the healing effects of hiking on the Gäbris mountain near Trogen (Appenzeller Ausserrhoden) at a time when hiking was not appropriate for gentlemen (and ladies). He founded a society in Trogen after he studied medicine in Leiden. He combined the healthy effects of hiking and medicine and “climbed … Read more » “The Arcadian Appenzeller Landscape”
18 August 2023
One of Switzerland’s beautiful but somewhat forgotten hiking and cycling regions is the Rhine Valley of St. Gallen (St. Galler Rheintal). Situated at an altitude of approximately 700 metres, this region in eastern Switzerland boasts a fairytale setting, nestled between Lake Constance (Bodensee), the Sarganserland, and the Old Rhine (Altrhein). Numerous historical sites, museums and … Read more » “The Rhine Valley of St. Gall”
4 August 2023
The ancient episcopal town of Chur is located near Reichenau, where the Hinterrhein and Vorderrhein converge to form the Alpine Rhine in the Rhine Valley, continuing up to Lake Constance (Bodensee). Chur is also the traffic hub for the direction of Arosa, Lenzerheide, Disentis/Mustér and the most beautiful village in Switzerland and Liechtenstein: Tschiertschen. Chur … Read more » “Arosa, Lenzerheide and Tschiertschen”
9 July 2023
The Jura mountain range extends over several cantons in western Switzerland. It borders the Swiss Plateau region and covers 10% of the country’s area. In French-speaking Switzerland, the Jura mainly encompasses the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Bern, and Jura. In German-speaking Switzerland, the Jura is primarily found in the cantons of Solothurn, Basel-Land, and … Read more » “The Jura Mountain Range”
29 June 2023
Switzerland has hundreds of larger and smaller lakes, mountain lakes and reservoirs. One of the most remarkable in terms of shape, history, nature and location is Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee). This lake was created from the meltwater of the Reuss Glacier. In the last ice age, this glacier had a height of 1 400 metres and … Read more » “Lake Lucerne, Nature, Culture, History”
25 June 2023
Around 150 million years ago, a sea covered the entire Jura region on the site of the current Vallorbe caves in the canton of Vaud. The complex geological history of cave formation took another 120 million years. Seven million years ago, the sea withdrew from the region as the African and European continents collided, giving … Read more » “The Fairytale of the Vallorbe Caves”
24 May 2023
Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) in the canton of Tessin (Ticino) is named after Lugano, the most populous city but not the canton’s capital. Lago di Lugano is also called Ceresio. This name occurs in connection with the village of Morcote, called the “la perla del Ceresio”, one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. … Read more » “Morcote, la perla del Ceresio”
27 April 2023
A canton of the Swiss Confederation since 1815 (or 1803), Tessin (Ticino) has traditionally been a haven for refugees, writers, painters, sculptors and other artists. It was also an economically poor area, however, until 1945. While many intellectuals and refugees settled in Tessin, many young people left the canton searching for work. What it meant … Read more » “The Natural beauty of Tessin”
24 April 2023
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