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Pebbles, rocks and majestic formations

There is no single Swiss mountain landscape: a multitude of very different formations criss-cross the country. This diversity is reflected in the “Federal Inventory of landscapes and natural monuments of national importance", which is now available as a book.

Icy slopes, arid steppes, bizarre karst zones and colourful rock formations: the diversity of the alpine landscape is all this and more. Since 1977, the Federal InventoryExternal link has existed to protect the beauty of these sites – there are currently 162 of them – and exceptional landscapes.

A word of caution to hikers: at nearly 400 pages, the newly published book is a little heavy for a backpack. However, Naturerbe der SchweizExternal link (Natural Heritage of Switzerland) by Raymond Beutler and Andreas Gerth is sure to provide inspiration. The two authors describe each of the landscapes through text and images. What’s more, all the photographs were taken from places that are accessible even to a Sunday hiker. The authors note in the preface that they have not resorted to aerial photos, or shots from the bottom of lakes or the tops of mountains.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR