Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona World Heritage Site

Official name

Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona | UNESCO

Country

Switzerland | Map

Continent

Europe

Location

Cantons of Glarus, St. Gallen and Graubünden
46.9166° Lat, 9.2500° Lon | Map

Code

1179

Time Zone

Europe/Zurich (CET, +0100)

Current Time

Category

Natural

Description

Inscribed 2008. The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona in the north-eastern part of the country covers a mountainous area of 32,850 ha which features seven peaks that rise above 3,000 m. The area displays an exceptional example of mountain building through continental collision and features . excellent geological sections through tectonic thrust, i.e. the process whereby older, deeper rocks are carried onto younger, shallower rocks. The site is distinguished by the clear three-dimensional exposure of the structures and processes that characterize this phenomenon and has been a key site for the geological sciences since the 18 th century. The Glarus Alps are glaciated mountains rising dramatically above narrow river valleys and are the site of the largest post-glacial landslide in the Central Alpine region.