Massa Gorge

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Wooden jug in the Massa gorge.
Hiking trail in the Massa gorge.
Tension band bridge over the Massa on the Belalp-Riederalp hiking trail

The Massaschlucht is a 6.5 kilometer long gorge , which begins in Blatten near Naters at the Gibidum dam . The height difference of the gorge is a total of 600 meters.

history

The impressive rocky landscape was created over thousands of years by ice and meltwater. The Suone Riederi , which leads through the Massa Gorge , was first mentioned in 1385 . The water was led around the rock walls in wooden jugs. The construction and maintenance of the bisse was life-threatening and repeatedly claimed deaths.

Today the Massa Gorge is a destination for hikers and adventure seekers. In addition to the Massaweg high above the gorge, you can experience it up close while canyoning.

Route

The hiking trail closes the gap between the BLS southern ramp and the Gommer Höhenweg . In Blatten ( 1,327  m above sea level ) you cross the village and hike through the Blattner Gorge to the Gebidembrücke . Via Gragg you reach the Riederi, an aqueduct first mentioned in 1385, and follow its route on a newly blasted, airy path high above the Massa Gorge. The steepest rock face, around which six long canals led at a dizzying height until the end of the 1930s, is now bypassed by a short tunnel. The hiking trail continues in the footsteps of the Riederi. After about 3 hours you reach Ried-Mörel (1175 m above sea level).

Development

  • 1964: Electra-Massa AG built the 120 meter high dam in the Gibidum in order to be able to use natural water energy. In the beginning, however, only hunters and crystal seekers dared to venture into the drained gorge.
  • The entire length of the gorge was then made accessible by mountain guides from the Aletsch region by setting up fixed abseiling points.
  • In 1998, Blatten created its own access to the Massaweg . It leads along the partly renovated bisse to Ried-Mörel. The hike takes about 3 hours.
  • In 1999 a new via ferrata was built around the reservoir.
  • In 2008 the new 124-meter-long tension band bridge was opened over the 80-meter-deep Massa Gorge in the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch . The Belalp - Riederalp hiking trail, which is no longer over the glacier due to the melting of the glacier, was shortened from 8 to 5 hours.

Web links

Coordinates: 46 ° 21 '12 "  N , 7 ° 59' 50"  E ; CH1903:  643000  /  133700