Jungfrau

 

(yʊng'frou) , peak, 13,642 ft (4,158 m) high, S central Switzerland, in the Bernese Alps. It was first ascended by the Meyer brothers in 1811. Aletsch Glacier is on the south side. The Jungfraujoch (–yôkh') is a mountain saddle 11,333 ft (3,454 m) high, the highest point in Europe reached by rail. It has a scientific institute and is popular with tourists. A meteorological station is on the nearby Sphinx summit, 11,723 ft (3,573 m) high. The region is noted for its scenery and winter sports.

Jungfrau
Northern wall of the Jungfrau, with the Silberhorn (right)
Elevation	metres ( ft)
Location	Switzerland
Range	Bernese Alps
Prominence	m ( ft)
Coordinates	46°32′12.5″N 7°57′45.5″E / 46.536806, 7.962639
First ascent	1811 by J. Meyer, H. Meyer
Easiest route	basic snow/ice climb

Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Switzerland
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, viii, ix
Reference	1037
Region†	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Inscription	2001  (25th Session)
Extensions	2007
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

The Jungfrau (German: "maiden/virgin") is the highest peak of a mountain massif of the same name, located in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, overlooking Wengen. The other two peaks are the Eiger (3,970 m) with its famous north face, and the Mönch (4,099 m).

The summit of the mountain was first reached in 1811 by the Meyer brothers of Aarau. Once difficult to access, the Jungfraubahn cog railway now runs inside the mountain, up to the Jungfraujoch railway station at  m ( ft), the highest in Europe.

The train into the mountain leaves from Kleine Scheidegg, which can be reached by trains from Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. The train enters the tunnel running eastward through the Eiger shortly after leaving Kleine Scheidegg.

It runs close behind the Eiger's north face, stopping at Eigerwand, where there is a window about 8 m long and a metre high, halfway up the face. The windows have been placed in holes used to remove excavated rock from the tunnel during construction, and are also occasionally used as access points to rescue climbers. This window was used for one of the final scenes of a Clint Eastwood spy movie the The Eiger Sanction. There one can get off the train to admire the view before the train continues five minutes later. The tunnel then turns west, heading towards the Jungfrau. There is a second stop at a window looking out on the Eismeer ("Sea of Ice") before the train continues to the Jungfraujoch. The tunnel was constructed between 1898 and 1912; it is about 7 km (4 mi) long, with gradients of up to 25%. The journey from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch takes approximately 50 minutes including the stops at Eigerwand and Eismeer; the downhill return journey taking only 35 minutes.

A large complex of tunnels and buildings has been constructed at the Jungfraujoch, mostly into the south side of the Mönch. There is a hotel, two restaurants, an observatory, a research station, a small cinema, a ski school, and the "Ice Palace", a collection of elaborate ice sculptures. Another tunnel leads outside to a flat, snow-covered area, where one can walk around and look down to the Konkordiaplatz and the Aletsch Glacier, as well as the surrounding mountains.

External links

• Jungfraujoch Top Of Europe
• Live Webcam at Jungfraujoch Top Of Europe
• Photo Eiger Mönch and Jungfrau
• Photo Jungfrau from Kleine Scheidegg

World Heritage Sites in Switzerland
Old City of Berne · Convent of St. Gall · Convent of St. Johann · Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn · Lavaux Vineyard Terraces · Monte San Giorgio · Castles, Wall and Ramparts of Bellinzone

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