The Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn area has been inscribed as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site since 2001. This means that Switzerland is responsible for providing effective protection to this unique Alpine region and passing it on to future generations unharmed.

The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and the Great Aletsch Glacier undoubtedly form the most famous mountain landscape in Europe. Since the advent of tourism in the Alps, the spectacular mountain scenery in the Bernese Oberland has attracted visitors from all over the world. Today, popular tourist locations can be found there right next to almost inaccessible valleys.

At 23 kilometres in length the Aletsch glacier is the biggest glacier in the Alps. It is currently shrinking, however, at a rate of up to 50 metres per year.

The Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2001 and extended in 2007. Maintaining this mountain landscape in its overall variety poses a particular challenge as it includes both unspoiled natural features and the cultural landscape formed as a result of traditional farming methods. Of particular value in the latter context are the cleverly designed irrigation channels (known locally as Suonen) which can be found in the southern part of the Bietschhorn area.

Nature reserves and landscape protection areas
A large part of this area is listed, inter alia, in the following federal inventories:

• Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance (BLN object no 1507/1706 “Berner Hochalpen und Aletsch-Bietschhorn-Gebiet”/ “Bernese Alps and the Aletsch-Bietschorn Area”)
  More


• Interactive map browser displaying the object included in the BLN (available in German and French)
  More

Other links

• All of the federal Swiss inventories can be displayed on an interactive map using this map browser (available in German and French)
  More


• Detailed information on the effects of outdoor sport and leisure activities on nature (available in German and French)
  More


• Additional information on the UNESCO world heritage sites in Switzerland (in German and French)
  More


• More detailed information on the area
  More


• Information on the Aletsch nature conservation centre
  More


• Suggested hiking routes with the “Suonen” irrigation channels (in French and German)
  More