Trümmelbach Falls
| Trümmelbach Falls | |
|---|---|
| German: Trümmelbachfälle | |
View from the Trümmelbach Falls | |
Interactive map of Trümmelbach Falls | |
| Location | Lauterbrunnental, District of Interlaken, canton of Bern |
| Coordinates | 46°34′8.65″N 7°54′53.94″E / 46.5690694°N 7.9149833°E |
| Type | Tiered |
| Total height | 140 m (460 ft) |
| Number of drops | 10 |
| Total width | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Average flow rate | 3 m3/s (110 cu ft/s) |
Trümmelbach Falls (German: Trümmelbachfälle) are a series of ten waterfalls within a mountain in the Lauterbrunnen Valley of the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. The stream is fed by meltwater from glaciers on the flanks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and descends about 140 metres through the mountain. The waterfalls have been accessible to visitors since the late 19th century via tunnels, galleries and stairways and are listed in Switzerland’s Federal Inventory of Natural Monuments.
Description
Located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the Trümmelbach is fed by meltwater from glaciers on the flanks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The stream drains a catchment area of about 24 square kilometres, roughly half of which is covered by snow and glaciers.[1] The waterfalls can carry up to 20,000 litres of water per second.[2]
Unlike many other waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the water does not fall freely over cliffs but flows through a gorge inside the mountain. During the spring and early summer, when glacier melt is strongest, discharge through the gorge can reach around 20 cubic metres of water per second.[3] Along its course through the mountain, the stream descends about 140 metres.[4]
In addition to water, the stream transports large quantities of glacial debris each year.[1] The water is typically more turbid in spring, when glacier melt carries sediment through the gorge, while in autumn it often becomes clearer as the flow decreases.[4]
Tourism
Walkways and bridges providing access to the waterfalls were first constructed in 1877. Visitors can enter the mountain through tunnels and galleries and follow a route of about 600 metres through tunnels and stairways providing close views of the waterfalls.[3][4]
The falls are listed in Switzerland’s Federal Inventory of Natural Monuments.[1]
Gallery
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The 'Corkscrew' chute
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Trümmelbachfälle". Lauterbrunnen Tourismus. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "Trümmelbach Falls". Switzerland Tourism. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Die vielfältigen Stimmen der Trümmelbachfälle". SWI swissinfo (in German). 20 February 2003. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Die Geheimnisse der Trümmelbachfälle Wieso das Wasser im Herbst kristallklar ist". Berner Zeitung (in German). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2026.