58% of the Swiss state territory are situated in the middle part of the Alps. 100 mountain peaks are nearly 4,000 meters high or even higher. The highest mountain in Switzerland is the Dufour peak (see picture) with its 4,634 meters above sea level in the canton of Valais.
The development of the Alps started about 300 Million years ago (Paleozoic) and continues even today. The many elevations, erosions, folds and plates gave the Alps their variety with their many valleys, terraces, passes, ranges and peaks.
Alpine passes
The many mountain passes in the Swiss Alps have always been ideal ways of crossing the mountains. During the ice age, the glaciers found their way through the mountain ranges and created broad depressions for the passes.
Nearly all the mountain passes are closed in winter. Only few are kept open. San Bernadino (Chur-Bellinzona) and Gotthard (see picture) are open in winter due to road tunnels. The large Alpine road makes a crossing a spectacular natural experience when the weather is nice.
Glaciers
In Switzerland 140 glaciers with a total surface of 1,556 km square were left over after the ice age. The three largest ones are situated in the Valais: the Aletsch glacier (Europe's longest glacier) the Gorner glacier above Zermatt and the Fiescher glacier.
Especially characteristic for Switzerland are the valley glaciers which run over various terraces and partly nearly reach 1,000 meters (lower Grindelwald glacier). Like everywhere in Europe, the Swiss glaciers are also diminishing.
