April 26, 2009 - 3:01 PM

Appenzell clamps down on nudist hikers

Naked ramblers face a fine of SFr200 ($176) if caught pursuing their hobby in a region of eastern Switzerland.

Citizens of Appenzell Inner Rhodes on Sunday voted to ban nude hiking in public.

The traditional open-air assembly in Appenzell decided overwhelmingly to clamp down on a sudden influx of nudists, particularly from nearby Germany.

The government of Appenzell Inner Rhodes recommended approval of the ban saying the local population was opposed to the "indecent" practice.

At least one naked hiker was detained in the mountain region last summer but could not be fined as naked rambling was not outlawed.

swissinfo with agencies