Niesen

Niesen
The Niesen from Wimmis
Highest point
Elevation 2,362 m (7,749 ft)
Prominence 407 m (1,335 ft) [1]
Isolation 2.3 km (1.4 mi) [2]
Parent peak Albristhorn
Coordinates 46°38′46″N 7°39′09″E / 46.64611°N 7.65250°E / 46.64611; 7.65250Coordinates: 46°38′46″N 7°39′09″E / 46.64611°N 7.65250°E / 46.64611; 7.65250 
Geography
Niesen
Location in Switzerland
Location Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Parent range Bernese Alps
Climbing
Easiest route Niesenbahn

The Niesen is a mountain peak of the Bernese Alps in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The summit of the mountain is 2,362 metres (7,749 ft) in elevation.

It overlooks Lake Thun, in the Bernese Oberland region, and forms the northern end of a ridge that stretches north from the Albristhorn and Mannliflue, separating the Simmental and Kandertal valleys.[3]

Geography

Administratively, the summit is shared between the municipalities of Reichenbach im Kandertal to the southeast, and Wimmis to the west and north. Both municipalities are in the canton of Bern.[3]

The summit can be reached easily by using the Niesenbahn funicular from Mülenen (near Reichenbach). The construction of the funicular was completed in 1910.

Alongside the funicular is the longest stairway in the world, with 11,674 steps. It is only open to the public once a year for a stair run event.[3][4][5]

The literal translation of the German word Niesen is sneeze.[6] Because of its shape, the Niesen is often called the Swiss Pyramid. The Niesen may have influenced some modernist paintings by Paul Klee, in which an abstracted pyramidal form is seen.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps. The key col is located south of the summit on the Niesegrat at 1,955 metres.
  2. ↑ Retrieved from Google Earth. The nearest point of higher elevation is northeast of the Fromberghorn.
  3. 1 2 3 map.geo.admin.ch (Map). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  4. ↑ "Niesen Funicular Info". Niesenbahn. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Niesenlauf" [Niesen Stair Run]. http://www.niesenlauf.ch/ (in German). Retrieved 23 August 2017. External link in |work= (help)
  6. ↑ "Niesen". dict.cc. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
View of pyramidal Niesen mountain and the Bernese Alps from Lake Thun.
View of Niesen's peak from Fromberghore mountain, with Kandertal, Engstligental, and Simmental valleys.
View from Niesen's summit of 360° degree panorama.
View from Niesen's summit of Stockhorn mountain, Lake Thun, and the Jura Mountains.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.