Gemmi Pass, Mountain pass between Leukerbad and Kandersteg, Switzerland.
The Gemmi Pass is a mountain crossing in the Bernese Alps at 2,314 meters (7,592 ft) that links the canton of Valais to the canton of Bern. It sits between Leukerbad to the south and Kandersteg to the north, running through rocky terrain with wide views of the surrounding peaks.
The pass served as a trade route between northern and southern Switzerland from medieval times. In the 18th century the path was widened and improved to make it more manageable for travelers and pack animals.
The Gemmi Pass was a route traveled by writers and thinkers in the 18th and 19th centuries, including Goethe, who crossed it on foot. Walking the same paths today gives a sense of how the landscape once shaped the imagination of those who passed through.
From Leukerbad a cable car brings visitors directly to the top, while the approach from Kandersteg goes through the Sunnbüel area on foot. Mountain weather can change quickly, so solid footwear and warm layers are a good idea regardless of the season.
Right at the top of the pass sits the Daubensee, a mountain lake that has no visible outflow at all. The water drains underground through a layer of karst rock beneath the lake bed, which makes it a rare natural feature for this part of the Alps.
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