Oberalp Pass
| Oberalp Pass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Elevation | 2,044 m (6,706 ft) |
| Traversed by | Road, rail |
| Location | Graubünden/Uri, Switzerland |
| Range | Alps |
| Coordinates | 46°39.54′N 08°40.26′E / 46.65900°N 8.67100°ECoordinates: 46°39.54′N 08°40.26′E / 46.65900°N 8.67100°E |
  Oberalp Pass | |
Oberalp Pass (Romansh: Alpsu or Cuolm d'Ursera, German: Oberalppass) (el. 2044 m.) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis and Andermatt.
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, 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.[1]
In winter, a ski area extends to the Graubünden side, connecting the pass well into the Tujetsch territory to Dieni, near Rueras.[2]
Source of the Rhine river
The Rhine springs from a source nearby (Tomasee), which is marked by a working lighthouse. A multiday trekking route is signposted across Oberalp pass and along the young Rhine called Senda Sursilvana.[3]
Oberalpsee is located 20 m below, in the direction of Andermatt.
Railway station
| Oberalppass | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | Oberalp |
| Municipality | Tujetsch |
| Canton | Graubünden |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Line(s) | Brig - Disentis/Mustér |
| Other information | |
| Platforms | 3 (2 during the winter) |
| Owner | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Line ops | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Connections | |
Oberalppass railway station is located just below the Oberalp ski area. It has three platforms, and is owned and run by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. It has 3 platform, one of which is a terminating platform from Andermatt, and is not used during the winter.
Public trains are operated every half hour each direction. The station also has Glacier Express trains and car shuttle trains (during the winter only) passing through it. The station has a waiting room.
| Preceding station | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nätschen
toward Andermatt |
Regional services Swiss timetable 143 |
Tschamut
toward Disentis/Mustér |
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, the neighbouring mountain, which is also part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena.
Gallery
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Oberalp Pass
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Oberalpsee and railway/road protection tunnel
-
Summit of the road (railway uses short tunnel)
-
Oberalp in the winter
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
- List of the highest Swiss passes
- Gotthard Oberalp Arena
References
- ↑ Statistic opening period of the pass (german)
- ↑ Swiss Ski resort Oberalp Pass and Sedrun (English)
- ↑ Hiking Switzerland on Senda Sursilvana across the pass (English)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oberalp Pass. |