Trümmelbachschlucht

Trümmelbachwasserfälle - Trümmelbach Waterfalls

Useful Information

Location:	Lauterbrunnen, Lauterbrunnental, near Interlaken. From Bern N6, from Luzern N8 to Interlaken. Near Interlaken take exit Winterswil, then roat towards Wilderswil and Lauterbrunnen.
Open:	APR to JUN daily 9-17. JUL to AUG daily 8:30-18. SEP to OCT daily 9-17. [2006]
Fee:	Adults CHF 11, Children (6-16) CHF 4. Groups (10+): Adults CHF 10.50. Groups (20+): Adults CHF 10. Groups (30+): Adults CHF 9.50. Groups (40+): Adults CHF 9. [2006]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=600 m, VR=140 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Trümmelbach Fälle, Familie von Almen, CH-3824 Trümmelbach/Stechelberg, Schweiz, Tel: +41-33-855-3232, Fax: +41-33-855-3233. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1877	start of developmment of lower gorge.
1886	opened to the public.
1913	funicular and more tunnels and galeries at the upper gorge constructed.
1986	uppermost galleries constructed.
1990	lower and upper gorge connected.

Description

The Trümmelbachfälle is is advertised as underground waterfalls. We categorized it as a gorge with waterfalls, but nevertheless most of a visit takes place underground. The small river Trümmelbach is fed by the glaciers of the famous Eiger (3,970 m asl), Mönch (4,099 m asl) and Jungfrau (4,158 m asl). These are some of the most impressive mountains of Switzerland and the Alps, two a little above 4,000 m asl, one slightly below. This catchment area has a size of 24 square kilometers. The high mountains are a major tourist destination, developed for mass tourism by several cable cars and a famous rack railway.

During snow melt in spring, and sometimes after heavy rains, the Trümmelbach may have a yield of 20,000 l/s. The river transports about 20,000 tons of rocks every year by the power of the water, and so it created a narrow gorge over the millennia. This gorge is so narrow, the visitor has the impression to be underground. Ten of the waterfalls have been developed with stairs, tunnels, and galleries. An underground funicular brings up to 500 visitor per hour up to the waterfalls,

The gorge formed during the last 15,000 years, when the end of the last cold period of the Ice Age came. The glacier in the deep Lauterbrunnental, a typical U-shaped valley which was formed by a glacier, started to melt. Water from the surrounding mountains had to descent deeper and deeper into the valley. Forming a waterfall over the rim, the Trümmelbach started to millcut and saw into the hard rocks. The rocks were very hard, but the water was powerful, and the gravel it transported gave it a lot of abrasive power. The gorge cut in fast and thus narrow, the ravine is steep and the water has a very high energy.

The underground elevator is a funicular, which is a sort of cable car on rails. Two cabins are connected by a steel rope which runs over a wheel on top, thus the weight of both cabins is in an equilibrium. The motor has to lift the wheight of the passengers, accelerate and decelerate the cabins and to overcome friction. This one is a little different: there is only one cabin, the counterpart is just a weight, which is about the weight of the cabin plus 15 persons. The first elevator was built in 1913, since then it was renovated twice. The current cabin from 1983 has a glass ceiling, enough space for 40 passengers and lifts them 100 m on a distance of 105 m.

The whole path through the gorge is today 600 m long, 400 m of galleries, five tunnels, and 30 meters of bridges. The deep and dark gorge is lighted by 16 floodlights and 32 spots.