Mountaineers hike on the peak of the Breithorn mountain near Zermatt at an altitude of 4,164 metres on August 2 (Keystone)
Keystone
Trying to gain a few more metres at the Snowpark Zermatt on the Theodul glacier on August 2 (Keystone)
Keystone
Heading towards the Cabane de Plan Névé, above Les Plans-sur-Bex, on June 26 (Keystone)
Keystone
The melting Theodul glacier in Zermatt on August 2. With an air temperature of 8C - at an altitude of around 3,300 metres - rivers of melting ice flow over the surface of the glacier. (Keystone)
Keystone
Hiking near the peak of Mount Säntis (2,502 metres) on July 31. (Reuters)
Reuters
Looking down from the 2,877-metre Risihorn over Bellwald on July 25. (Keystone)
Keystone
As the mercury climbs in Switzerland, so are many people – heading up mountains in search of lower temperatures and glaciers on which to ski or snowboard.
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Born in London, Thomas was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. He speaks all three official Swiss languages and enjoys travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.
This summer is the driest on record in Switzerland since 1921, with temperatures in cities set to peak at around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) next week.
Although the record of 41.5C (set in Grono, southeast Switzerland, in 2003) is unlikely to be broken this year, the heatwave is playing havoc with crops and water levels. The authorities have banned fires in or near virtually all forests – several cantons have banned fires anywhere outdoors – and the country’s nuclear power plants are struggling to keep cool.
Not that everyone’s complaining. Lakes and rivers are teeming with overheated locals and tourists and owners of restaurants and bars are rubbing their sweaty hands.
Those wanting to cool down without getting wet can head to the mountains, where the temperature is around a pleasant 19C at 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) and 10C at 3,000 metres. The 0C freezing line is at 4,500 metres.
While few people will be tempted to reach the summit of the Matterhorn (4,478 metres) or the Dufourspitze, Switzerland’s highest point at 4,634 metres, many have been enjoying the benefits of a bit of altitude around the country.
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