Niederhorn, Mountain summit in Bern, Switzerland
Niederhorn is a mountain summit in the Bernese pre-Alps, forming the westernmost point of the Güggis ridge in the Emmental Alps. A restaurant sits at the top, and the views from there take in surrounding peaks, valleys, and on clear days the Bernese Oberland beyond.
In 1946, an aerial cable car was built from the village of Beatenberg up to the summit, opening the mountain to a wider public for the first time. A restaurant followed shortly after, turning the place into a day-trip destination for visitors from the region.
At the Niederhorn, ibexes often walk close to visitors without showing much fear, making them easy to spot near the summit path. The Justistal valley below is also a place where red deer can be seen, especially around dusk.
The Beatenberg-Niederhorn cable car brings visitors up without a long hike, though sturdy shoes are still a good idea on the rocky summit paths. Weather can change quickly at this height, so bringing a warm layer is worth it even when the valley below looks sunny.
In 1949, three male ibexes were released on the Niederhorn to rebuild a local population that had disappeared. Today the herd numbers between 75 and 100 animals, making this one of the few places in the Swiss Alps where ibexes are regularly seen close to a cable car station.
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