The beautiful Swiss Alps forms the central part of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Since the mountain ranges lie in the central position they are also famously known as Central Alps. The highest peak in the Swiss Alps is the Dufourspitze, towering at 4,634 meters (15,202 ft) close to the Swiss-Italian border. The highest mountain which lies completely in Swiss region is the Dom, at 4,545 meters (14,911 ft).
The Swiss Alps Mountains cover 61% of Switzerland's surface area consequently making her the second most alpine nation after Austria. Tourism in the Swiss Alps has always been extensive. As a matter of fact, tourism in the Swiss Alps first began with the conquest of the main peaks of the Alps- Jungfrau in the year1811 and Matterhorn in 1856 by British mountain climbers. The creation of conveniences and services for tourists and visitors started in the mid nineteenth century with the erection of hotels and mountain huts and the commencing of mountain train lines - Mount Rigi in 1873, Gornergrat in 1898.
Switzerland prides itself for having an excellent network of 62,000 km well-maintained trails out of which 23,000 are situated in hilly areas. Many mountains in Swiss alps attract a large number of mountain climbers from across the world to explore its challenging terrains. Some of the well known places of interest and tourist attractyions in Swiss Alps include Northern wall of the Jungfrau- Bernese Alps, Weissmies from Hohsaas- Pennine Alps, The north face of Eiger- Bernese Alps, Jungfraujoch- Bernese Alps and Lac des Dix- Pennine Alps among others. |
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