Furka Pass, Mountain pass between Uri and Valais, Switzerland.
Furka Pass is a mountain crossing in the Swiss Alps that separates the cantons of Uri and Valais, with a road spanning roughly 22 kilometers and featuring numerous hairpin bends. The summit sits at approximately 2,429 meters (7,970 feet), and a railway tunnel beneath the pass allows year-round transportation.
The road was constructed between 1864 and 1866 to establish a military connection across the Alps. A railway tunnel was later completed beneath the pass to enable year-round passage.
The pass serves as a natural meeting point between two Alpine valleys, and the road that crosses it links communities on opposite sides of the mountains. This connection has shaped how people move and trade across the region.
The road is open to vehicles from June through October and may close during bad weather. During winter months, the railway tunnel continues to allow train passage across the mountains.
Near the western summit sits the Rhône Glacier Ice Grotto, where the ice shifts continuously due to glacial movement. Visitors can experience the pressure of the ice and watch how the glacier's walls move and reshape over time.
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