Kleine Scheidegg
Encyclopedia
The Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass
below and between the Eiger
and Lauberhorn
peaks in the Bernese Oberland
, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald
with Lauterbrunnen
. The name means "minor watershed
", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg
. Possibly this is because Kleine Scheidegg is a watershed between the two arms of the Lütschinen river, while Grosse Scheidegg divides the Lütschinen valleys from the Reichenbach.
On the Kleine Scheidegg are hotels, as well as the station
which serves the two rack railways, the Wengernalpbahn
(since 1893) and the Jungfraubahn
(since 1896). The Wengernalpbahn has two branches: one begins at Grindelwald
; the other commences at Lauterbrunnen
and climbs to the pass via Wengen
. The Jungfraubahn climbs steeply through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch
mountains up to its terminal at the Jungfraujoch
.
In winter, the Kleine Scheidegg is the centre of the ski area around Grindelwald and Wengen. In summer it is a popular hiking destination, and is one of the passes crossed by the Alpine Pass Route
. The Jungfrau Marathon
, a mountain race that takes place every year in early September, ends in Kleine Scheidegg.
The advantage of the position of the pass, which has made it celebrated beyond almost any other in the Swiss Alps
, arises from the fact that it stands just north of the point where the Bernese range
makes a salient angle, whose apex is the Eiger. From thence a series of high peaks rise in line towards the north-east, ever on the left hand of the traveller who follows a direct route from Meiringen
, south-west across the Grosse Scheidegg, to this point. On the south side of the apex at the Eiger the still higher summits of the Mönch, Jungfrau, Gletscherhorn
, and Mittaghorn follow in succession from north to south. Concealed by the Eiger from the neighbourhood of Grindelwald, and but imperfectly seen from the Faulhorn
, some 10 km to the north-east, the Mönch and Jungfrau here break upon the traveller in full grandeur, rising from the narrow gorge of the Trümmletental. Three comparatively large glaciers, with several minor accumulations of ice, are found in the hollows and on the shelving ledges of the three peaks that rise above the Trümmletental. The Eiger Glacier
lies in the recess between the Eiger and the Mönch. This is separated by a huge projecting buttress of the latter mountain from the Guggi Glacier. Farther on is the Giessen Glacier, formed, at a higher level than the two last, on a shelf of the north-west side of the Jungfrau.
and Gran Turismo 5
.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
below and between the Eiger
Eiger
The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
and Lauberhorn
Lauberhorn
The Lauberhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland, located between Wengen and Grindelwald. Its summit is at an elevation of 8110 feet above sea level....
peaks in the Bernese Oberland
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese...
, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
with Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
. The name means "minor watershed
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg
Grosse Scheidegg
Grosse Scheidegg is a high mountain pass in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, connecting Grindelwald and Meiringen.The road over the pass is open only to bus traffic...
. Possibly this is because Kleine Scheidegg is a watershed between the two arms of the Lütschinen river, while Grosse Scheidegg divides the Lütschinen valleys from the Reichenbach.
On the Kleine Scheidegg are hotels, as well as the station
Kleine Scheidegg railway station
Kleine Scheidegg railway station serves the mountain pass tourist attraction of Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is on the Wengernalpbahn and the beginning of the Jungfraujochbahn....
which serves the two rack railways, the Wengernalpbahn
Wengernalpbahn
Wengernalpbahn is a 19.091 km long, gauge rack railway line in Switzerland, which runs from Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg, making it the world's longest continuous rack and pinion railway....
(since 1893) and the Jungfraubahn
Jungfraubahn
The Jungfraubahn is an gauge rack railway electrified at 3-phase 1,125 volts 50 Hertz, which runs 9 kilometres from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch...
(since 1896). The Wengernalpbahn has two branches: one begins at Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
; the other commences at Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and climbs to the pass via Wengen
Wengen, Switzerland
Wengen is a village in the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern, located in central Switzerland at an elevation of 1274 m above sea level, and is part of the Jungfrauregion. Wengen has approximately 1,300 year-round residents...
. The Jungfraubahn climbs steeply through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch
Mönch
The Mönch is a mountain in the Bernese Alps, in Switzerland. Together with the Eiger and the Jungfrau it forms a highly recognisable group of mountains visible from far away....
mountains up to its terminal at the Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
.
In winter, the Kleine Scheidegg is the centre of the ski area around Grindelwald and Wengen. In summer it is a popular hiking destination, and is one of the passes crossed by the Alpine Pass Route
Alpine Pass Route
The Alpine Pass Route is a long-distance hiking trail through the Alps in Switzerland. It starts in Sargans in eastern Switzerland, and crosses the heart of country westwards to finish in Montreux on the shore of Lake Geneva...
. The Jungfrau Marathon
Jungfrau Marathon
The Jungfrau Marathon is one of the best known mountain marathons in the world, in full view of the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains in the Bernese Oberland area of the Swiss Alps....
, a mountain race that takes place every year in early September, ends in Kleine Scheidegg.
The advantage of the position of the pass, which has made it celebrated beyond almost any other in the 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....
, arises from the fact that it stands just north of the point where the Bernese range
Bernese Alps
The Bernese Alps are a group of mountain ranges in the western part of the Alps, in Switzerland. Although the name suggests that they are located in the Bernese Oberland region of the canton of Bern, portions of the Bernese Alps are in the adjacent cantons of Valais, Lucerne, Obwalden, Fribourg and...
makes a salient angle, whose apex is the Eiger. From thence a series of high peaks rise in line towards the north-east, ever on the left hand of the traveller who follows a direct route from Meiringen
Meiringen
-References:...
, south-west across the Grosse Scheidegg, to this point. On the south side of the apex at the Eiger the still higher summits of the Mönch, Jungfrau, Gletscherhorn
Gletscherhorn
The Gletscherhorn is a mountain to the south of the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps. It forms the eastern edge of the Lauterbrunnen Wall....
, and Mittaghorn follow in succession from north to south. Concealed by the Eiger from the neighbourhood of Grindelwald, and but imperfectly seen from the Faulhorn
Faulhorn
The Faulhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
, some 10 km to the north-east, the Mönch and Jungfrau here break upon the traveller in full grandeur, rising from the narrow gorge of the Trümmletental. Three comparatively large glaciers, with several minor accumulations of ice, are found in the hollows and on the shelving ledges of the three peaks that rise above the Trümmletental. The Eiger Glacier
Eiger Glacier
The Eiger Glacier is a 2.5 km long glacier situated in the Bernese Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of 2.13 km².-External links:*...
lies in the recess between the Eiger and the Mönch. This is separated by a huge projecting buttress of the latter mountain from the Guggi Glacier. Farther on is the Giessen Glacier, formed, at a higher level than the two last, on a shelf of the north-west side of the Jungfrau.
Use in games
The hiking track in the area is the basis for the fictional Eiger Nordwand tracks in Gran Turismo HD, Gran Turismo 5 PrologueGran Turismo 5 Prologue
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is a PlayStation 3 exclusive title which was announced at the E3 2007. This short version title was a precursor and sampling of Gran Turismo 5 and replaced Gran Turismo HD Concept...
and Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo 5
is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing video game series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010...
.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes