Gorges du Durnand
The Gorges du Durnand (German: Durnandschlucht) is a rocky canyon and a tourist attraction in the Swiss canton of Wallis / Valais. The Durnand flows through the gorge .
location
This natural wonder, which has been open to tourists since 1877, is located near the country road between the towns of Les Valettes and Champex-Lac on a curve of numerous serpentines. That road branches off from the main road 21 (E 27) in the village of Les Valettes .
Visitor route, situation
The spectacular visit begins at an inn and leads up a 400 meter long staircase, suspended from a steep wall of the rocky gorge, under which the raging brook falls to the valley of the Dranse . A height difference of 100 meters is overcome. In the area made accessible to visitors, 14 cascades can be observed. In the middle of the ascent there is a bridge that ends on the opposite rock face. It enables a view from a different perspective.
The rocky gorge is around 1000 m long and the stream that flows through it branches out into the watercourses Durnand de la Jure and Durnand d'Arpette. The water catchment areas are the north-eastern slopes of the Mont Blanc massif .
In late spring (usually open from May to October), the impression is particularly interesting because of the amount of water. Sprayed water creates a rainbow in sunlight and the noise level from the roaring water can increase significantly. Sturdy and waterproof footwear is strongly recommended for the inspection. The visit is chargeable.
geology
The gorge is located in the contact zone between the gneiss and the granite in the Mont Blanc massif. During the inspection, the gneiss surfaces, ground round by the water, are easily recognizable due to their foliation structure. The debris that was carried along cut the gorge deep and created interesting micrographs.
Hiking trail in the gorge
Rainbow in the canyon
Cascades in the canyon
Cascades in the canyon
Web links
Coordinates: 46 ° 3 '53 " N , 7 ° 4' 24" E ; CH1903: five hundred and seventy-one thousand seven hundred thirty-one / 101533