Oberalp Pass ( rm, Alpsu or ''Cuolm d'Ursera''; german: Oberalppass) (2044 meters above sea level) is a high
mountain pass
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human a ...
in the
Swiss Alps
The Alpine region of Switzerland, conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps (german: Schweizer Alpen, french: Alpes suisses, it, Alpi svizzere, rm, Alps svizras), represents a major natural feature of the country and is, along with the Swiss ...
connecting the
cantons
A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared with other administrative divisions such as counties, departments, or provinces. Internationally, t ...
of
Graubünden and
Uri Uri may refer to:
Places
* Canton of Uri, a canton in Switzerland
* Úri, a village and commune in Hungary
* Uri, Iran, a village in East Azerbaijan Province
* Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, a town in India
* Uri (island), an island off Malakula Islan ...
between
Disentis/Mustér
Disentis (German) or Mustér (, Romansh), with its official name Disentis/Mustér is a village and a municipality in the Surselva Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
The skiing and summer tourism resort high up in the Rhine valley is the ...
and
Andermatt
Andermatt ( rm, ) is a mountain village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. At an elevation of above sea level, Andermatt is located at the center of the Saint-Gotthard Massif and the historical center cross of north-south and e ...
.
Winter closure
The public road that crosses the pass is closed in winter, but the
Furka-Oberalp railway line, now part of the
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn is a narrow gauge railway line and a railway company (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn AG, MGB) in Switzerland. The track width is . It was created in 2003 through an amalgamation of Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO) and BVZ Zermatt- ...
, runs year round and provides a limited shuttle for cars in winter (reservation required). When the road closes depends on snowfall and varies between the end of October and the beginning of December. The road opens again in spring, usually by the end of April but sometimes not until mid May.
In winter, a ski area extends to the Graubünden side, connecting the pass well into the
Tujetsch
Tujetsch (; german: Tavetsch) is a municipality in the Surselva Region in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is the westernmost municipality of the canton, connected to Urseren ( canton of Uri) by the Oberalp Pass.
History
The uppe ...
territory to Dieni, near Rueras.
Source of the Rhine river
The
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
springs from a source nearby (
Tomasee
The Tomasee ( rm, Lai da Tuma or ) is a lake at the northern face of Piz Badus, above the village of Tschamut in Grisons, Switzerland. Its surface area is .
It is the source of the Anterior Rhine and is deemed to be the official source of the Rh ...
), which can be accessed by hiking two hours from Oberalp Pass. A multiday trekking route is signposted across Oberalp pass and along the young Rhine called ''Senda Sursilvana''.
Hiking Switzerland on Senda Sursilvana across the pass
Oberalpsee is located 20 m below, in the direction of Andermatt.
Railway station
A railway station is located next to the Oberalppass road. It is at the base of the Oberalp ski area. The station is owned and run by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn is a narrow gauge railway line and a railway company (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn AG, MGB) in Switzerland. The track width is . It was created in 2003 through an amalgamation of Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO) and BVZ Zermatt- ...
. It has 3 platforms, one of which is a bay platform from Andermatt
Andermatt ( rm, ) is a mountain village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. At an elevation of above sea level, Andermatt is located at the center of the Saint-Gotthard Massif and the historical center cross of north-south and e ...
, and is often closed during the winter. The railway on both sides of the station is a single line, so Oberalppass is an important passing place. The station is the highest point on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn network.
Ski Area
The Oberalp Pass passes the Oberalp ski area, which is part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena.
There are currently plans for the ski area to be linked up with Nätschen
Nätschen is a mountain location and ski area above Andermatt, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland. Higher up on Nätschen the mountain is known as Gütsch. Its highest point is . It is one of the mountains in the Gotthard Oberalp Arena, as is Ge ...
, the neighbouring mountain, which is also part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena.
Gallery
File:Galeriestraße cropped.jpg, Oberalp Pass
File:Oberalpsee, September.JPG, Oberalpsee and railway/road protection tunnel
File:MGB Deh 4-4 I bei Oberalppasshöhe.jpg, Summit of the road (railway uses short tunnel)
File:Tomasee.jpg, Tomasee
The Tomasee ( rm, Lai da Tuma or ) is a lake at the northern face of Piz Badus, above the village of Tschamut in Grisons, Switzerland. Its surface area is .
It is the source of the Anterior Rhine and is deemed to be the official source of the Rh ...
File:Switzerland ski resort and lighthouse on Oberalp Pass.jpg, Oberalp in the winter
See also
* List of highest paved roads in Europe
This is a list of the highest paved roads in Europe. It includes roads that are over long and whose culminating point is at least above sea level. This height approximately corresponds to that of the highest settlements in Europe and to the t ...
* List of mountain passes
This is a list of mountain passes.
Africa
Egypt
* Halfaya Pass (near Libya)
Lesotho
* Moteng Pass
* Mahlasela pass
* Sani Pass
Morocco
* Tizi n'Tichka
South Africa
* Eastern Cape Passes
* Western Cape Passes
* Northern Cape Passes
* Kwa ...
* List of the highest Swiss passes
This is a list of the highest road passes in Switzerland. It includes passes in the Alps and the Jura Mountains that are over above sea level. All the listed passes are crossed by paved roads. These are popular with drivers, bikers and cyclists ...
* Gotthard Oberalp Arena
The SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun (previously the Gotthard Oberalp Arena and the Gotthard Oberalp Skiarena (until 2013)) is a ski area located in Andermatt, Sedrun, and Oberalp in Switzerland. It has 16 ski lifts and approximately 30 runs, and jus ...
References
External links
Profile on climbbybike.com
Map, photos, cycing elevation chart - both sides
{{Authority control
Mountain passes of Switzerland
Mountain passes of the Alps
Mountain passes of Graubünden
Mountain passes of the canton of Uri
Ski areas and resorts in Switzerland
Graubünden–Uri border
Rail mountain passes of Switzerland
Andermatt
Tujetsch