Imposing mountain ranges, rustic valleys and the largest contiguous glaciated area in the Alps. The World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular high mountain landscapes in the world and represents the heart of the Alps with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as well as the Great Aletsch Glacier - the largest and longest glacier in the Alps in terms of area - covering 824 km2. The region unites the most diverse habitats, from glaciers to rocky steppes, and impressively demonstrates the effects of climate change. The landscape has played a correspondingly important role in European literature, art, mountaineering and Alpine tourism. Few other places on this planet can offer a comparable variety of contrasts and treasures.
The World Heritage label is the highest accolade for a natural landscape and at the same time an obligation to preserve it for the next generation. "The area should be preserved in all its diversity for present and future generations. The aim is economic, social and ecological sustainable development." This is also stated in the charter signed by the 23 local communities - 15 from the canton of Valais, 8 from the canton of Bern and 6 from the Jungfrau Region. The Swiss Federal Council's application for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List was approved in 2001, making the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch the first natural heritage site in the Alpine region. It consists mainly of natural landscapes in the high mountains. 85 per cent of the area lies at an altitude of over 2000 metres above sea level. Around 50 mountain peaks are higher than 3500 metres, and nine are even higher than 4000 metres. The proportion of unproductive vegetation and areas without vegetation is almost 90 per cent. With a few exceptions (e.g. the Jungfraujoch research station and railway station, SAC huts, the rear Lauterbrunnen valley or some cattle alps), the World Heritage area is uninhabited or only seasonally inhabited.
FACT
Sad but true: around 280 km2 of the World Heritage Site is currently covered by glacier ice. If we assume a temperature rise of 3 to 5 degrees, around 10 to 20 per cent of it will still be left in 2100.
World Nature Forum
The visitor centre of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch opened its doors in Naters on 24 September 2016. In the interactive exhibition, you can experience the World Heritage Site with all your senses and immerse yourself in the exciting and diverse world of the Alps. With exciting films, interactive experience stations, information graphics and artefacts, the spectacular exhibition awakens visitors' spirit of discovery and highlights key issues in dealing with this natural heritage. The highlight of the exhibition is the large panorama room, where never-before-seen film scenes from the UNESCO World Heritage Site inspire visitors on a 100 m2 large screen.
