Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area

This protected area encompasses 823 square kilometers of high-altitude Alpine terrain, featuring the longest glacier in the Alps, the Aletsch Glacier, which extends over 23 kilometers through dramatic mountain landscapes including peaks exceeding 4,000 meters such as the Finsteraarhorn, Jungfrau, and Eiger.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, this region became the first natural heritage site in the Alps to receive this recognition, with its glacial formations and mountain landscapes shaped over thousands of years through glacial erosion and climatic conditions.

Local Alpine communities maintain centuries-old traditions of mountain farming and dairy production, while the region serves as an important center for mountaineering heritage, scientific research, and environmental education, reflecting Switzerland's commitment to preserving natural landscapes.

Visitors can access the area via the Jungfrau Railway, which reaches Jungfraujoch at 3,454 meters above sea level, known as the 'Top of Europe,' with guided tours available for geology and glaciology education, though weather conditions should be checked before traveling due to rapid mountain climate changes.

The region contains the largest glaciated area in western Eurasia and serves as a natural laboratory for climate change research, with its glaciers providing crucial data on environmental shifts while supporting approximately 1,800 plant species and 1,500 fauna species adapted to extreme high-altitude conditions.