Page 87 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

Must See
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ZERMATT AND ALETSCH GLACIER

THE MATTERHORN ! D5 ⌂ 69 km (43 miles) SE of Bern n Bahnhofstrasse 7, Riederalp;
www.aletsch.ch
A vast river of ice that stretches for more than 23 km (14 miles) from
! C5 ⌂ 130 km (80 miles) SE of Bern £ n Bahnhofplatz, Zermatt; www.zermatt.ch the Jungfrau region down to the Massa Gorge, the Aletsch Glacier
Although the Matterhorn is not Switzerland’s highest mountain, it is certainly its is the longest in the Alps and the most spectacular of all
most famous. With its distinctive peak, it has become a national icon. Nestling Switzerland’s eternal ice fields.
at its foot is the charming village of Zermatt, the country’s best-known resort. The result of a vast accumulation of snow around 18,000 years
ago, the glacier is part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area,
The Matterhorn (4,478 m/14,692 ft) is Switzerland’s most which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. The
recognizable natural sight. Often referred to as a pyramid, the HIKING best way to experience the Aletsch Glacier is to take one of the
mighty peak has, in fact, four sides divided by steep ridges. While mountaineers guided walks that traverse its expanse. These tours can vary in
Although it is only the tenth-highest mountain in the country, head straight for the length from a couple of hours to long hikes that run over two
the extreme difficulty of reaching its summit meant that it was Matterhorn, hikers of EXPERIENCE Mittelland, Bernese Oberland and Valais days. Setting off from the cable car station above the ski
the last of the great Swiss mountains to be conquered. In 1865, all abilities are spoilt for resort of Riederalp, these walks allow visitors to explore the
a team led by the British explorer Edward Whymper made it to choice by the scores of glacier, and its caves and tunnels, some of which are stun-
the top, but four of the climbers were killed during the descent. trails available around ningly lit when the light of the sun pene trat es the walls of
It is still a huge draw for experienced mountaineers from all Zermatt. The pick of the ice. Special night excursions into these caves and tunnels can
over the world to this day. The tiny pastoral village of Zermatt, lot is a four-hour walk be arranged with experi enced guides. The glacier is encircled
at the base of the Matterhorn, grew quickly at the end of the to the top of Gornergrat by 32 dramatic peaks, acces sible by cable car; the summits of
19th century to serve climbers. It soon became a major ski (3,089 m/10,135 ft). A Eggishorn and Bettmerhorn – both well over 2,500-m- (8,200-ft-)
resort, home to one of Europe’s largest networks of pistes cog railway, built in the high – offer awe-inspiring panoramic views of the glacier from above.
alongside a host of chic bars, restaurants and shops. Today 1890s, carries hikers
Zermatt is also busy in the summer, offering hiking, climbing, back down to Zermatt.
glacier skiing and snowboarding. The village has been car-free A mountaineer making a
for decades, with visitors arriving by train from Täsch. night-time descent into
one of the glacier’s caves
Carved wooden
memorial to Edward CLIMATE CHANGE
Whymper, in Zermatt
Although the sheer size
of the Aletsch Glacier
means that it is reacting
more slowly to climate
change than smaller
glaciers, since around
1870 this ice mass has
lost over 3 km (2 miles)
Mountaineers The spectacularly located Jungfraujoch in length; since 1980
heading up towards Station, high above the Aletsch Glacier alone, it has lost an
the Matterhorn incredible 1.3 km
(1 mile) and more than
300 m (980 ft) of its
thickness. By 2100, it is
estimated that around
90 per cent of the ice
will have disappeared.
In 2007, the American
photog rapher Spencer
Tunick had hundreds
of people pose naked
for a photoshoot on
the glacier in order to
draw attention to the
negative effects of
The Gornergratbahn global warming.
cog railway, offering A group of walkers standing back
fine Matterhorn views to admire a section of the glacier
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