Author: Maarten Koning

Wonders of Nature in Switzerland

There are many caves and stalactite formations, gorges, roaring rivers and waterfalls, underground lakes and steep rocky slopes in Switzerland:

The Vialama Gorge, the Rhine Gorge, the Tamina Gorge, springs in Graubünden, the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge near Meiringen and the St. Beatus Caves near Interlaken in Canton Bern, the Kobelwald Crystal Cave in Oberriet in Canton St. Gallen, the Lac Souterrain (the underground lake) in St. Lèonard in Valais, the Areuse Gorge or the Creux du Van in Canton Neuchàtel.

The caves, stalactite formations and underground lakes near Vallorbe in Vaud, the cave-hole course in the Muothatal in Canton Schwyz, the Chälengraben Gorge in Hofstetten-Flüh in Canton Solothurn or the many smaller and larger gorges in Schwarzbubenland in Canton Basel-Landt are just a few of the many magnificent wonders of nature in Switzerland.

Various websites give information, for example www.myswitzerland.com and www.naturwunder-schweiz.ch.

the Safien Valley and the Walser

The Walser immigrated to the Safiental (canton of Graubünden) in the fourteenth century. One of the characteristic features of the Safier cultural landscape is the fragmented construction of houses, stables and mountain huts.

The oldest buildings were erected in the 17th century. Hundreds of stables and barns are reminiscent of traditional agriculture.

Many stables and barns are now without function. The exhibition in Thalkirch, near the Turrahaus, presents this history and the cultural landscape of Safien.

(Source and further information: www.safierstaelle.ch).

The world of Grimsel

The world of Grimsel (die Grimselwelt) is a world of hydropower, waterfalls, mountains, reservoir lakes, and Europe’s largest water castle.

The mountains, glaciers, and their granite rocks, gorges, the Trift cable car, alpine meadows, bridges, hiking trails, deep valleys, and the 120-meter-high Reichbach waterfall are all part of it.

Sherlock Holmes challenged his arch-enemy Professor Moriarty to a fight at this waterfall.

With its 106% gradient, the Gelmerbahn is also Europe’s steepest open cable car. The Aare Gorge is the gateway to this world. The gorge is 1400 meters long and 200 meters deep.

(Source and further information: www.grimselwelt.ch).

The nature reserves Chablais de Cudrefin and Fanel

The nature reserves of Chablais de Cudrefin and Fanel, located on the southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel, are part of the Grande Cariçaie.

Many rare and endangered species breed in the reed beds or rest here on their migration between breeding grounds and winter quarters.

The Nature Centre offers interactive exhibitions, observation huts, a nature trail, guided tours and events.

(Source and further information: www.birdlife.ch/lasauge).

Eggrank-Thurspitz Valley

The water area (Auengebiet) Eggrank-Thurspitz valley (Canton of Zurich) is one of the most valuable floodplains in Switzerland. Due to the variety of species, the area is of national importance.

The rich flora and fauna are promoted by revitalisation measures and the “Hochwasserschutz und Auenlandschaft Thurmündung” project.

(Source and further information: www.naturzentrum-thurauen.ch).

ViaSurprise

ViaSurprise is a seven-day hiking trail through the Jura in the cantons of Solothurn and Basel-Landschaft. The cities of Basel, Liestal, Olten and Solothurn are the starting points for individually planned walks.

Roman roads, pilgrim paths, castles, monasteries, museums, industrial history and many cultural aspects of beautiful nature can be enjoyed in this region. Waterfalls, gorges, streams, forests, meadows and low mountains are the backdrops.

The seven stages (from Basel, Solothurn, Olten or Liestal) lead to Balsthal (the centre of the Thal Nature Park), Seewen, Dornach-Arlesheim, Mariastein, Laufen, and Beinwil.

(Source and further information: www.viasurprise.ch).

Campione Exit

Since 1 January 2020, a kind of Brexit has occurred at Lake Lugano. As of this date, the Italian town of Campione, an enclave in the canton of Tessin, is no longer part of the Swiss toll union, but of the Italian/EU toll union. Additionally, Swiss license plates, postal codes (6911), and postal services have expired and become Italian. Swisscom also operates the telephone traffic.

The Swiss Franc is also no longer the official currency. This Italian enclave in Tessin has historical roots, dating back to the opening of the casino in 1917. The casino experienced decades of golden times, and most of the 2000 inhabitants worked directly for the casino.

However, things went wrong with the introduction of the euro. The casino paid out in Swiss Francs (including salaries), but the source of income was in euros.

The casino went bankrupt.  The exchange rate in 2002 was still 1-1.55. The exchange rate is now almost 1 to 1. Campione is a symbol of the eurozone’s deplorable state.