The infancy of the Swiss National Park

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The Jufplaun fen, looking towards the Murtiröl summit and the border with Italy. Nationalpark

The national park's first ranger, Hermann Langen, observing wild animals. During the summer, he lived with his family in the Cluozza hut. Nationalpark

Chamois are the only ungulates (large mammals with hooves) in the national park that neither became extinct nor were eradicated. Since 1920, there have been between 1,000 and 1,700 of them living in the park. Nationalpark

Monitoring plant development, which was carried out in specific zones, included photographic observations (photo from around 1920) Nationalpark

An excursion with some of the park's founders (Carl Schröter and Steivan Brunies) and the builder of the ranger hut in the Val Cluozza (Curdin Grass) Nationalpark

The Lai dal Dragun (Dragon Lake) in the Macun lake district. Nationalpark

A team of horses pulls a postal coach over the dirt surface of the Fuorn Pass road between Switzerland and Italy. Nationalpark

A rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) in its winter guise. Ornithologists say this species is especially well adapted to the cold and harsh conditions found in the high mountains. Nationalpark

Local teacher and nature conservationist Steivan Brunies (left) from S-chanf was the park's first supervisor, from 1914 to 1941. Nationalpark

In 1920, ibex were released in the Piz Terza area. The animals were transported there in crates over difficult terrain. Nationalpark

Steivan Brunies (rear, right) was one of the founding members of the Swiss National Park. His sister married the landlord of the traditional Il Fuorn hotel near the Fuorn pass. The building was first mentioned in 1490 and today is at the heart of the park. Nationalpark

Theo Langen, the son of the park's first ranger, Hermann Langen, heads off down the valley. Nationalpark

A stag enjoying the evening sun. Deer had vanished from the area in the middle of the 19th century but returned after the park opened. Nationalpark

Fallen trees became a hallmark of the national park, which benefits from complete protection. Nationalpark

The Tantermozza Valley with the Piz Linard summit in the background Nationalpark

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The Swiss National Park and its natural environment have been the subject of scientific observation and research over the past 100 years, relying notably on photography to chart changes.

The first national park anywhere in the Alps was founded in 1914 by conservationists concerned about increasing industrialisation in mountain regions. They set up a Swiss branch of the Society for the Protection of Nature and won approval from parliament to set aside an area in southeastern Switzerland.

Similar reserves had already been established in the United States back in 1872. The aim then was to counter colonisation of the Western territories.

One of the founding fathers of nature protection in Switzerland was Paul Sarasin, who travelled far and wide in Europe and southeast Asia as a scientist at the end of the 19th century. During his trips he was shocked to see how the colonial powers and industrialisation threatened natural environments.

Campaigners for a national park in Switzerland could count on broad public support. But the project really kicked off only at the beginning of the 20th century, when plans made to build a railway to the Matterhorn failed to get public backing.

The park’s founders finally located an area in the Lower Engadine Valley. In 1909 they were able to lease the Cluozza valley from the municipality of Zernez for 25 years.

The Swiss conservationists weren’t seeking to preserve nice scenery, however; they wanted to make sure some part of nature would remain unspoilt by human activities.

The park finally opened on the Swiss national holiday, August 1, 1914.

(Pictures: Swiss National Park, Text: Christian Raaflaub, swisssinfo.ch)