Smoky quartz
-
Gotthard Pass – Wikipedia
The Gotthard Pass or St. Gotthard Pass (Italian: Passo del San Gottardo, German: Gotthardpass) at 2,106 m (6,909 ft) is a mountain pass in the Alps traversing the Saint-Gotthard Massif and connecting northern and southern Switzerland. The pass lies between Airolo in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, and Andermatt in the German-speaking canton of Uri, and connects further Bellinzona to Lucerne, Basel, and Zurich. The Gotthard Pass lies at the hearth of the Gotthard, an important north-south axis in Europe, and it is crossed by three major traffic tunnels, each being the world’s longest at the time of their construction: the Gotthard Rail Tunnel (1882), the Gotthard Road Tunnel (1980) and the Gotthard Base Tunnel (2016). With the Lötschberg to the west, the Gotthard is one of the two main north-south routes through the Swiss Alps. Since the Middle Ages, transit across the Gotthard played an important role in Swiss history, the region north of Gotthard becoming the nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the early 14th century.
-
St. Gotthard Pass – Nostalgia on the Tremola
The famous Gotthard Train Tunnel, and thus the Gotthard Railway was opened in 1882. The highway tunnel was built about 100 years later. But you will be missing something well worth experiencing if you always take the tunnel. One should take the path through the Schöllenen Ravine and through the barren Urseren Valley up to the Pass Heights at least once: whether on foot, in a nostalgic PostBus or in a horse carriage like in the days of the famous Gotthard Post in the 19th century. The ride across the cobblestone paved Tremola on the southern side of the Gotthard Pass is breathtaking. The Tremola takes you in hairpin turns and serpentine curves from the peak of the pass to Airolo and is considered to be Switzerland’s longest historical monument.
First train throught the St Gotthard tunnel, Switzerland, 1880.
SWITZERLAND – APRIL 29: Plate from the �Illustrated London News� (Vol 80/1 p 257). The Gotthard route, running from Northern Switzerland to the border with Italy, was a challenge to railway engineers because of its steep inclines. The most complex part was the almost ten-mile long Gotthard tunnel under the Alps. Work began in 1872 on both sides of the mountains, at Goeschenen in the North and Airolo in the South. Workers and locals here celebrate the meeting of the two bores of the tunnel in 1880. The full train service started in 1882 when the approach lines had been completed. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)spacerSt Gotthard Switzerland – Image Results
-
St. Gotthard Pass, mountain pass in the Lepontine Alps of southern Switzerland, an important motor and railway route between central Europe and Italy. The pass lies at an elevation of 6,916 feet (2,108 metres) and is 16 (2x8)miles (26 km)(2+6=8) long.
-
In St. Gotthard Pass. Beneath the pass the St. Gotthard Tunnel (constructed 1872–80) extends for more than 9 miles (14 km) and reaches a maximum elevation of 3,773 feet (1,150 metres). The railway (opened 1882) through the tunnel connects Lucerne, Switzerland, with Milan. This route includes several spiral tunnels in the Reuss and… Read More
-
THE HISTORY OF THE ST. GOTTHARD
The St. Gotthard, the most mythical and historical mountain concerning the communication routes in Switzerland.
During the Roman era, the Gotthard Pass could only be crossed by foot or with mules. Despite it being the shortest transit way (North-South), travellers rather chose other ways because of its impracticability. In the 13th century and thanks to their remarkable technical skills, the Walser built the first bridge in the Schöllenen gorge, known as the devil’s bridge, and the Twärrenbrücke, to cross the Reuss River. With the realization of these constructions, for the first time the pass gained European importance, a determining turning point for the destiny of the populations of the two mountain faces.The Gotthard Pass is quoted in the Annales Stradenses (13th century), a guide for pilgrims who wanted to reach Rome or the Holy Land. In 1230 the chapel dedicated to St. Gotthard was consacrated and the hospice lead by the Humiliati order was built: the latter allow completed the assistance network for travellers. In 1595 a stone arch bridge was built in the Schöllenen gorge. The road was essentially still a mule track that only allowed for the transportation of goods by mule, up to the beginning of the 19th century.
The Gotthard Pass is known as the “people’s route”, a name that fittingly illustrates its function in the past, namely that of comfortable route for people but a less comfortable one for goods.
In 1708 the road was improved considerably and in 1775 we find documentation of the first carriage crossing, realized by the English geologist Greville. In 1799, the Russian army led by Marshal Aleksandr Vasil’evič Suvorov crossed the pass and fought against the French, in the Reuss gorges.
The situation only improved remarkably in the 19th century with, on the one hand, the construction of a real surfaced road – five meters wide throughout the whole route – and, on the other hand, a new bridge in the devil’s gorge, which was completed in the 1830s.
In 1850 a train trip from Milan to Basel required about 50 hours, by train from Milan and Camerlata and by boat between Flüelen and Lucerne.
spacer
spacer
Quartz from Central St Gotthard Pass
|
|
A lot of ancient bridges across Europe are referred to as the Devil’s Bridge. These bridges were built under such challenging conditions that successful completion of the bridge required a heroic effort on the part of the builders and the community, ensuring its legendary status. This particular devil’s bridge or Teufelsbrücke is located across the Schöllenen Gorge in the scenic Reuss valley in the canton of Uri, in Switzerland. According to the legend, it was so hard to build a bridge here that a desperate Swiss herdsman wished the devil would make a bridge. The devil appeared and offered to build the bridge on the condition that the soul of the first to cross would be given to him. After the bridge was built, the villagers outsmarted the devil by sending a goat across the bridge. Angered by the trick, the devil picked up a large stone in order to smash the bridge to pieces. On his way to the bridge the devil met an old woman wearing a cross, which scared the devil causing him to drop the stone and flee.
The old Devil’s bridge (below) and the new Devil’s Bridge (above) and the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway. Photo credit
The Schöllenen Gorge is an important access route and the shortest transit to the St. Gotthard Pass, but it was generally not used until the early 13th century because it involved crossing the turbulent Reuss river, swollen with snowmelt during the early summer. The first bridge across the river was built in 1230. It was a wooden bridge and needed frequent maintenance.
In the 16th century, the wooden bridge was replaced by a stone arch bridge. The road was essentially a mule track that only allowed for the transportation of goods by mule, up to the beginning of the 19th century. In 1799, this bridge witnessed one of the most dramatic battles of Suvorov’s Italian and Swiss expedition which took place during the Napoleonic Wars. During this battle the bridge was heavily damaged by the retreating French army. The bridge gave away in a storm in 1888.
A new bridge was built in 1820 and it took 10 years to complete, demonstrating the difficulty of the task. By the middle of the 20th century, the second bridge was no longer able to handle the volume of traffic it received, and a concrete bridge, featuring two lanes was built in 1958 to accommodate heavier flow. The second devil’s bridge still exists today but is not used.
In 1994, the Swiss government issued a commemorative coin for the Teufelsbrücke. The obverse features a stylized scene of the devil holding the devil’s stone – the Teufelsstein – approaching the bridge to smash it. The 220 ton rock, allegedly picked up by the devil, is still there, though it had to be moved by 127 meters in order to make room for the new Gotthard road tunnel.
The Devil’s Bridge in the Schöllenen Gorge on the Way across the St. Gotthard Pass with a Mule Train, before 1805. A painting by Swiss painter Peter Birmann (1758 – 1844). Photo credit
The old devil’s bridge in a 1934 picture of the Schöllenen Gorge. Photo credit
Leaning bridge of the Schöllenen railway near the devil’s bridge. Photo credit
The old devil’s bridge Photo credit
Sources: Wikipedia / Passo San Gottardo
Driving the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland in a Ferrari 360 Spider – FULL version [1080p HD]
On May 23, 2012 we drove the St. Gotthard Pass in Switzerland in a 2001 Ferrari 360 Spider 6-speed manual. This was the first day the Pass was open and as you can see there’s still a lot of snow on the mountains. The views were incredible and breathtaking! The St. Gotthard Pass (in Italian: Passo del San Gottardo) is a high mountain pass in … youtube.com 7 years ago
So, it appears that the reason the connection to Gotthard Tunnel was made in relation to cairns is because of the quartz found on the mountain. However, there are obviously many more connections in the spirit. There is so much more going down than we realize. It all has to do with the basic elements wind, water, fire and EARTH. It all has a lot to do with FALLEN ANGELS and MAGICK. It is all beyond our understanding. BUT NOT BEYOND GOD’s! We MUST GET AS CLOSE TO GOD AS POSSIBLE AND LEARN TO HEAR HIS VOICE! HE IS THE ONLY ONE WE CAN COUNT ON, AND THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN LEAD, GUIDE, PROTECT and SAVE US!!!
A bit of historyCrossing the Gotthard is nothing new. Back in the 13th century it was already being used as a mule track. Then with the advent of the mail coach everything changed. The mail coach was the DHL or Fedex of the time – just as effective, if not quite as fast – with horse-drawn carriages carrying letters and parcels across the Alps.
Spotlight on 1882
The next major advance came with the arrival of the train, which completely transformed the journey from northern to southern Switzerland. The first Gotthard tunnel was inaugurated in 1882: a magnificent, brand-new double-track tunnel, 15 km long, linking Göschenen in the north, in the canton of Uri, to Airolo in the south, in the canton of Ticino.
In 1883, its first full year of operation, some 250,000 passengers and 300,000 tonnes of goods passed through the new tunnel. A few years later, in 1909, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) took over the running of this legendary railway line, which by then had become indispensable.
Then and now
Since that time, much water has passed under the bridge. Quite literally. Though it was not wasted during the construction of the tunnel, but rather was used intelligently and recycled. Indeed, depending on the thickness of the rock excavated, the temperature of the water escaping from it varied between 20 and 40 degrees. The sheer volume and high flow rate of this water made it a valuable resource to heat homes near the tunnel geothermally.
It took construction works on an enormous scale and 17 years of hard labour to complete this masterpiece of civil engineering. The new Gotthard base tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world, and is the epitome of Swiss precision, innovation and reliability. It stretches over 57 km, some 2,300 metres under rock. In just 20 minutes it gets you from Erstfeld, north of the Alps, to Bodio on the south side. By reducing the travel time in this way, Switzerland is helping to bring the cities, regions and countries of northern and southern Europe closer together.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOTTHARD TUNNEL OPENNING. IF you have never seen it… you MUST! This copy of the video is much abbreviated. The original was about 5 hours long. IT is the most demonic demonstration I have ever seen. Truly a Satanic RITUAL.
Published on Jul 4, 2016
This epic tale is by no means over, however: in 2020 the Ceneri tunnel will be opened,linking the cities of Bellinzona and Lugano by rail on a flat route. An extension of the Gotthard base tunnel, this final link will shorten the travel time between the two commercial capitals of Zurich and Milan to just under three hours, almost one hour less than the journey by rail currently takes.
What advantages are to be gained from this?
Thanks to its low gradient, the Gotthard base tunnel complements the existing mountain rail links, not only increasing the speed of transport but also enabling heavy freight trains to be used.
This New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) with its Gotthard, Lötschberg and Ceneri base tunnels provides an attractive and ecologically sound alternative to road traffic.
Switzerland has thus taken the Gotthard route to a new level, the culmination of a long history of achievements, making what initially seemed a far-fetched idea reality.
When rock from the Gotthard Base Tunnel heads to the beach
Environment
After lying dormant in the heart of the mountain for several million years, a portion of the 28 million tonnes of material excavated to build the Gotthard Base Tunnel has been given a new and somewhat more exotic lease of life. It now brings smiles to the faces of holidaymakers and sunbathers on the shores of Lake Uri and Sedrun. These projects, which were realised at no additional cost, are perfect examples of a sustainable commitment that benefits the environment, the economy and society.
The Lorelei bathing islands – Central Switzerland’s answer to the CaribbeanAlthough most islands are as old as Earth itself, there’s no need to go all the way to the Caribbean to experience the enjoyment of swimming in an idyllic archipelago. You only need to go as far as Lake Uri (Uri can mean:Fiery, Flame or Light) to appreciate this eco project and to soak up some sun. The innovative and long-term backfill project on the shoreline of Lake Uri was not only designed for the enjoyment of bathers. Its primary aim was to protect the wildlife and the landscape as it had been observed that when the foehn blew, the waves would hit the shores of the lake and end up eroding them. The islands of the Neptune nature reserve and those of the Lorelei were created to protect the shoreline from this climatic phenomenon. Moreover, this development has given rise to a shallow area, which is invaluable for wildlife and which provides a suitable environment for flora and fauna to flourish.
A safe place to swimThis mini archipelago, which covers an area of half a hectare (5,000 square metres), was built using the rubble extracted during the construction of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Following some five years of backfilling work using the material excavated from the site, the three new islands were officially inaugurated on 24 and 25 June 2005. The area was designed to be a place for people to enjoy time out with friends and family. The islands are strewn with large flat stones, inviting visitors to sit back and relax. Reefs and shoals were placed in front of the islands to act as wave-breakers. A trench with steps carved into the rock was also dug out between two islands to allow visitors to cross the bay. They can therefore relax and enjoy bathing in a safe environment.
In terms of flora and fauna, no fewer than 200 species of plant and 70 species of bird have made this area and the surrounding nature reserve their home. The project has therefore also benefited local wildlife.
Lag Claus Surrein in Sedrun
Construction of the Gotthard Base Tunnel also provided Sedrun with a new spot for swimming. Since the construction work generated more rubble than planned, the commune of Tujetsch decided to create a lake. Situated in an idyllic spot with stunning views of the mountains, this little piece of paradise invites visitors to sit back and take it easy. The water reaches very pleasant temperatures in the summer, much to the delight of local residents and tourists.
These developments are veritable assets for the region. Indeed, the Gotthard Base Tunnel not only allows you to travel from the north to the south of the country in 20 minutes, it has also given rise to a number of idyllic spots for rest and relaxation.
WORLD EVERESTING PROJECT – SAINT GOTTHARD PASS
Brandon Edwards and Dave Edwards
CLIMB STATS
Distance: 11.8km
Average Gradient: 7.5%
Elevation gain: 897 metres
Surface: Sealed/CobblestoneLink to the Strava segment here:
Saint Gotthard Pass is located 66 km south-east of Switzerland. With a summit at 2,106 metres, the Gotthard Pass is one of the highest mountain passes of the Alps and for centuries been one of the busiest routes linking south and the north of Switzerland side of the Alps. The first road over the pass was opened in 1830 and named after a chapel erected about 1300 in honor of Saint Gotthard, bishop of Hildesheim.
This climb offers some truly stunning views, and is well known for its collection of hairpins with the final 8 kilometers on Cobbles, and has been known as the Roobaix of climbing. If you suffer from Vertigo, a word of warning… don’t try this climb. There are some pretty impressive drops over the side of the road that you won’t want to test your tumbling skills on.
This is one of those climbs which no matter how hard it seems at the start, you don’t start earning your coin till you hit the cobbles. The cobbles will shake you to the core, and will use some physical effort to absorb the shock its putting on your body. You’re unlikely to see the impressive viewsas you’re paying close attention to the road, as you try to pick the ‘least’ bumpiest route across the road. Check out the YouTube clip below for what to expect from the cobblestones.
Once over the top your legs will thank you. This is one of those climbs you’ll wonder how you got up. Since you’ve put in the hard yards you may as well enjoy yourself. There is some great scenery nearby if you wanted to visit any of the three small lakes, or take a photo of your bike next to the monument to Adrien Guex, a Swiss pilot who crashed nearby in 1927. There are some great restaurants & Cafe’s, or you can pay a visit to the Gotthard Museum. Its a lovely spot to visit.
If you watched the video, you actually were able to see the serpentine road with cobblestone skin. It looks just like a SNAKE! Unbelieveable!
There are a number of rock cairns in the area but I was only able to grab a few samples:
Here is a huge cairn at the top of St. Gotthard mountain. I have not been able to find very much about the monument other than that it is dedicated to an English pilot. It is a CAIRN for sure. A mound of rocks! I wonder at its significance. I suspect there is something hidden about it. Here are the photos and the little bit of detail I was able to uncover.
Switzerland Passo S. Gottardo, Lake on St Gotthard and Guex Monument
File:Memorial Adrien Guex 03 11.jpg
Summary
English: Memorial for the downed pilot Adrien Guex on the Gotthard pass; Ticino, Switzerland.First lieutenant Adrien Guex (* 1901) crashed and was killed on 7 August 1927 at 9:02 a. m. in his Fokker D VII, 627 during a reconnaissance flight between the hospice and the fort (coord. 686590/156760) due to poor visibility.[1]
The monument by Fausto Agnelli was inaugurated on 18 August 1928.
Deutsch: Denkmal für den abgestürzten Piloten Adrien Guex auf dem Gotthardpass; Tessin, Schweiz.Oberleutnant Adrien Guex (* 1901) verunglückte am 7. August 1927 um 9 Uhr 02 mit seiner Fokker D VII 627 während eines Rekognoszierungsflugs wegen schlechter Sichtverhältnisse zwischen dem Hospiz und dem Fort (Koord. 686590/156760) tödlich.[1]
Das Denkmal von Fausto Agnelli wurde am 18. August 1928 eingeweiht.
View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap – Google Earth Date – Source – Own work Author – Хрюша |