Calanda (mountain)
Encyclopedia
The Calanda is a mountain
in the Glarus Alps
with two main peaks Haldensteiner Calanda (highest) and Felsberger Calanda (2697 m), both located on the border between the cantons of St. Gallen
and Graubünden
in eastern Switzerland
. It looms over Chur
, the capital city of Graubünden
.
Although other peaks with 286 metres Topographic prominence
(for the Felsberger Calanda) would claim to be called mountain on their own, within this massive it is commonly spoken of only one mountain with different peaks due to its sole position - cut off by an old route of the Rhine river through Tamina Valley to its northwestern face and the actual Rhine Valley to the south and east.
The name Calanda derives from the Latin "calare", roughly meaning roll down, which refers to the ever moving southern face that can be seen at Felsberg and is still an active rock slide.
Due to the much steeper descent to the northwesterly Tamina valley most of the mountain lies on the territory of the canton
of Graubünden within the municipalities of Mastrils
, Untervaz
, Haldenstein
, Felsberg
and Tamins
, whereas all of the Tamina valley side north of the territory of Tamins (which reaches north across the Kunkels pass) lies in the Canton of St. Gallen
and the municipality of Pfäfers
.
Some secondary peaks are called Rossfallenspitz and Güllenchopf, whereas the names of Berger Calanda and Taminser Calanda do refer to points that could not really be called a peak but mark the end of a respective ridge.
On the northerly plateau of Felsberger Calanda there can be regularly seen Ibexes.
On the Haldenstein territory there is an alpine club
mountain hut Calandahütte on 2073 m.
The summits can be reached from south on a Swiss grade T3, (Felsberger Calanda T4) which requests experience in hiking and an absence of Acrophobia
to a certain degree.
At Felsberg, the local produced wine is called Goldene Sonne, a reminder of a gold mine in the southern face of Calanda.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in the Glarus Alps
Glarus Alps
The Glarus Alps are a mountain range in central Switzerland. They extend from the Oberalp Pass to the Klausen Pass, and are bordered by the Urner Alps to the west, the Lepontine Alps to the south and the Appenzell Alps to the northeast...
with two main peaks Haldensteiner Calanda (highest) and Felsberger Calanda (2697 m), both located on the border between the cantons of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
and Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
in eastern Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It looms over Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, the capital city of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
.
Although other peaks with 286 metres Topographic prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
(for the Felsberger Calanda) would claim to be called mountain on their own, within this massive it is commonly spoken of only one mountain with different peaks due to its sole position - cut off by an old route of the Rhine river through Tamina Valley to its northwestern face and the actual Rhine Valley to the south and east.
The name Calanda derives from the Latin "calare", roughly meaning roll down, which refers to the ever moving southern face that can be seen at Felsberg and is still an active rock slide.
Due to the much steeper descent to the northwesterly Tamina valley most of the mountain lies on the territory of the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden within the municipalities of Mastrils
Mastrils
Mastrils is a municipality in the district of Landquart in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Mastrils is first mentioned in 1318 as Ponstrils. In 1345 it was mentioned as Bastrils. In 1854 the municipality separated from Zizers to become an independent municipality.-Geography:Mastrils has...
, Untervaz
Untervaz
Untervaz is a municipality in the district of Landquart in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Untervaz is first mentioned between 768-800 as Uaze. Between 801-850 it was mentioned as Vazes and between 1210-1300 it was called Vatz inferiore....
, Haldenstein
Haldenstein
Haldenstein is a municipality in the district of Landquart in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Haldenstein is first mentioned in 1149 as Lanze. In 1370 it was mentioned as Lentz inferior.-Geography:...
, Felsberg
Felsberg
Felsberg may refer to:* Felsberg, Hessen, a town in Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, Hessen, Germany* Felsberg, Saar, a part of Überherrn, Landkreis Saarlouis, Saarland, Germany* Felsberg, Odenwald, a mountain in the Odenwald hills, Landkreis Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany...
and Tamins
Tamins
Tamins is a municipality in the district of Imboden in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Tamins is first mentioned in 1224 as Tuminne. In 1225 it was mentioned as Tvminnis and in 1399 as Tumins.-Geography:...
, whereas all of the Tamina valley side north of the territory of Tamins (which reaches north across the Kunkels pass) lies in the Canton of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
and the municipality of Pfäfers
Pfäfers
Pfäfers is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Sarganserland in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The villages Pfäfers, St. Margrethenberg, Vadura, Valens, Vasön and Vättis belong to the municipality.-History:...
.
Some secondary peaks are called Rossfallenspitz and Güllenchopf, whereas the names of Berger Calanda and Taminser Calanda do refer to points that could not really be called a peak but mark the end of a respective ridge.
On the northerly plateau of Felsberger Calanda there can be regularly seen Ibexes.
On the Haldenstein territory there is an alpine club
Swiss Alpine Club
The Swiss Alpine Club is the largest mountaineering club in Switzerland. It was founded in 1863 in Olten and it is now composed of 111 sections with 110,000 members...
mountain hut Calandahütte on 2073 m.
The summits can be reached from south on a Swiss grade T3, (Felsberger Calanda T4) which requests experience in hiking and an absence of Acrophobia
Acrophobia
Acrophobia is an extreme or irrational fear of heights. It belongs to a category of specific phobias, called space and motion discomfort that share both similar etiology and options for treatment.Most people experience a degree of natural fear when exposed to heights, especially if there is little...
to a certain degree.
At Felsberg, the local produced wine is called Goldene Sonne, a reminder of a gold mine in the southern face of Calanda.