Jump to content

Bernese Alps in the wide meaning

Coordinates: 46°21′15″N 8°07′34″E / 46.35417°N 8.12611°E / 46.35417; 8.12611
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bernese Alps in the wide meaning
German: Berner Alpen i.w.S.
French: Alpes Bernoises d.l.s.l.
Aerial view on the Finsteraarhorn (4275m)
Highest point
PeakFinsteraarhorn[1]
Elevation4,274 m (14,022 ft)
Coordinates46°21′15″N 8°07′34″E / 46.35417°N 8.12611°E / 46.35417; 8.12611
Geography
Bernese Alps i.w.s. (section nr. 12) within the Western Alps
CountrySwitzerland
CantonsBern, Vaud, Valais, Lucerne, Uri, Nidwalden and Obwalden
Parent rangeAlps
Borders onLepontine Alps, Pennine Alps, Graian Alps, Savoy Prealps, Swiss Prealps and Glarus Alps i.t.w.m.
Geology
OrogenyAlpine orogeny

The Bernese Alps in the wide meaning (in German Berner Alpen i.w.S.,[2] in French Alpes Bernoises D.l.s.l.[3]) are a mountain range in the northwestern part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland.

Geography

[edit]

The range covers parts of several Swiss cantons: Bern, Vaud, Valais, Lucerne, Uri, Nidwalden and Obwalden.

SOIUSA classification

[edit]

According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the range is an Alpine section, classified in the following way:[4]

  • Main part = Western Alps
  • Major sector = North Western Alps
  • Section = Bernese Alps i.t.w.m.
  • code = I/B-12

Subdivision

[edit]

The range is divided into three subsections:

Notable summits

[edit]
Eiger north face
The Diablerets from the Pic Chaussy

Some notable summits of the range are:

Name Elevation
(m)
Alpine subsection
Finsteraarhorn 4,274 Bernese Alps s.s.
Aletschhorn 4,193 Bernese Alps s.s.
Jungfrau 4,158 Bernese Alps s.s.
Mönch 4,105 Bernese Alps s.s.
Schreckhorn 4,080 Bernese Alps s.s.
Fiescherhorn 4,049 Bernese Alps s.s.
Grünhorn 4,043 Bernese Alps s.s.
Lauteraarhorn 4,042 Bernese Alps s.s.
Gletscherhorn 3,983 Bernese Alps s.s.
Eiger 3,967 Bernese Alps s.s.
Äbeni Flue 3,962 Bernese Alps s.s.
Fiescher Gabelhorn 3,876 Bernese Alps s.s.
Doldenhorn 3,643 Bernese Alps s.s.
Dammastock 3,630 Urner Alps
Galenstock 3,583 Urner Alps
Sustenhorn 3,503 Urner Alps
Titlis 3,238 Urner Alps
Les Diablerets 3,210 Vaud Alps
Grand Muveran 3,051 Vaud Alps
Lohner 3,048 Bernese Alps s.s.
Wendenstöcke 3,042 Urner Alps
Sparrhorn 3,021 Bernese Alps s.s.
Torrenthorn 2,998 Bernese Alps s.s.
Dent de Morcles 2,980 Vaud Alps
Eggishorn 2,934 Bernese Alps s.s.

Notable passes

[edit]
Furka pass west side

Some notable mountain passes of the range are:

Name Route (from/to) Type Elevation
Furka Pass Rhône Glacier Andermatt Road 2436 m 7992 ft
Gemmi Pass Kandersteg Leukerbad Bridle path 2329 m 7641 ft
Mönchjoch Grindelwald Eggishorn Snow 3560 m 11,680 ft
Jungfraujoch Wengernalp Eggishorn Snow 3470 m 11,385 ft
Grünhornlücke Great Aletsch Glacier Fiescher Glacier Snow 3305 m 10,844 ft
Grimsel Pass Meiringen Rhone Glacier Road 2164 m 7100 ft
Kleine Scheidegg Grindelwald Lauterbrunnen Path, railway 2064 m 6772 ft
Col de Cheville Sion Bex Bridle path 2049 m 6723 ft
Grosse Scheidegg Grindelwald Meiringen Road (restricted to bus traffic) 1967 m 6454 ft
Brünig Pass Meiringen Lucerne Road, railway 1035 m 3396 ft
Petersgrat Lauterbrunnen Lötschental Snow 3205 m 10,516 ft
Lötschenlücke Lötschental Eggishorn Snow 3204 m 10,512 ft
Susten Pass Meiringen Wassen Road 2262 m 7422 ft
Sanetsch Pass Sion Saanen Bridle path 2234 m 7331 ft

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Highest summit elevation as reported on map.geo.admin.ch of Swiss Federal Office of Topography
  2. ^ I.w.S. = in weitesten Sinne - in English: in the wide meaning
  3. ^ d.l.s.l. = dans le sens large - in English: in the wide sense
  4. ^ Marazzi, Sergio (2005). Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA (in Italian). Priuli & Verlucca. p. 145. ISBN 978-88-8068-273-8.
  5. ^ s.s. = stricto sensu
  6. ^ I.e.S. = in eigentlichen Sinne - in English: in the narrow meaning

Maps

[edit]