Gotthard Pass, Mountain pass between Uri and Ticino cantons, Switzerland
Gotthard Pass sits at 2,106 meters (6,909 feet) and links the northern Swiss Alps with Ticino through the Saint-Gotthard Massif. The road winds in tight hairpins across a stony plateau, flanked by peaks and snowfields that remain visible even in summer.
Building the first wooden bridge through Schöllenen Gorge in 1220 opened regular trade traffic across the Alps. Since then, the route has been upgraded several times to handle growing commerce between northern and southern Europe.
The name comes from Saint Gotthard of Hildesheim, whose chapel once welcomed travelers at the crossing. Today, wayside crosses and small shrines along the route recall the centuries-old tradition of asking for safe passage here.
Vehicles cannot reach the summit from late October until early July; during open months, overnight driving is banned between 18:00 and 08:00. Strong winds often blow during the day, so warm clothing is advisable even in sunny weather.
Three tunnels cross beneath the pass: the 1882 railway tunnel, the 1980 road tunnel, and the 2016 base tunnel, each holding world records for length when opened. Each of these bores cut travel time sharply and shifted much of the traffic underground.
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