Oberalp Pass
| Oberalp Pass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Elevation | 2,044 m (6,706 ft)[1] |
| 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 Location in Switzerland | |
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.[1]
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.[2]
In winter, a ski area extends to the Graubünden side, connecting the pass well into the Tujetsch territory to Dieni, near Rueras.[3]
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.[4]
Oberalpsee is located 20 m below, in the direction of Andermatt.[1]
Railway station
Oberalppass | |
|---|---|
| Location |
Oberalp, Tujetsch, Graubünden Switzerland |
| Owned by | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Operated by | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Line(s) | Brig – Disentis/Mustér |
| Platforms | 3 (sometimes 2 during winter) |
Oberalppass 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. It has 3 platforms, one of which is a bay platform from Andermatt, 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.
Regional trains to Andermatt and Disentis/Mustér are operated hourly in each direction, with additional services to and from Andermatt at peak times during the ski season. The station also has several Glacier Express trains and, during the winter season when the adjacent road is closed, car shuttle trains passing through each day. The station has a waiting room. The station is the highest point on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn network.
| Preceding station | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
toward Andermatt | Regional services Swiss timetable 143 | Tschamut-Selva
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
Oberalp Pass
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
- 1 2 3 Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps.
- ↑ Statistic opening period of the pass (german)
- ↑ Swiss Ski resort Oberalp Pass and Sedrun (English)
- ↑ Hiking Switzerland on Senda Sursilvana across the pass Archived March 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. (English)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oberalp Pass. |