Engstligenalp
Encyclopedia
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of the western Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
. It lies south of Adelboden
Adelboden
Adelboden is a municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland.-Geography:Adelboden lies in the west of the Berner Oberland, at the end of the valley of the Engstlige river, which flows in Frutigen into the Kander river.Adelboden is a...
on 1900 - 2000 m above sea level. Since 1996 it belongs to the Swiss culture landscapes of national importance
Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments
The Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments in Switzerland aims to protect landscapes of national importance. The inventory is part of a 1977 Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council implementing the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage.The sites are of three...
.
The 7 square kilometre plateau, belonging to the community of Adelboden has the form of an oval measuring in north-south direction 1 km in east-west direction 2 km and is surrounded by mountains, dominated by the Wildstrubel in the southwest. It is covered by alpine pastures and crossed by numerous mountain streams springing from the slopes. At the exit of the valley they collect to form the Engstligen falls
Engstligen falls
The Engstligen falls near Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland are the second highest waterfalls in Switzerland. They are listed in the Swiss inventory of landscapes of national significance....
which cascade in of the most impressive waterfalls of the western Swiss alps 600 m down to the Engstligen valley.
Access from the north is a mule track blasted into the 600 m high rock beside the waterfalls. Since the 1920 there exists also a cable car. A hiking trail leads south over three mountain passes (Chindbettipass, Rote Chumme, Gemmi) to Leukerbad
Leukerbad
Leukerbad is a municipality in the district of Leuk in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.- History :The story of Leukerbad dates back to the 4th century B.C. Graves and ceramics attest the presence of habitation in Leukerbad...
in the Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, another leads west to the Lenk
Lenk
Lenk may refer to:Places:* Lenk im Simmental, a municipality in the district of Obersimmental in the canton of Bern in SwitzerlandPeople:* Arthur Lenk, an Israeli diplomat* Maria Lenk, a Brazilian swimmer...
valley.
From the milk of the cows the Alpine dairymen using old handicraft techniques produce a Bernese Alp cheese which is so searched for that it is sold in private and not available in open market. (Ernst Roth, z'Bärg im Frutigland, volume three of Wege zum Alpkäse)
In the 20th century, the Engstligenalp opened up to a moderate tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
with two guest houses. In summer it offers hikes
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
routes and, as a specialty, a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
route of 5 km including the necessary infrastructure in the two guest houses, offering to handicapped
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
people the chance to enjoy an unspoilt alpine landscape.
In winter there are two cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
routes and winter hiking routes usable from December to April on the plateau and a winter hiking path also usable for Nordic alpin hiking http://www.engstligenalp.ch/24.0.html?&no_cache=1 as well as several skilifts at the northern slope offering easy and difficult downhill passages and a special area for off-piste snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
.