Val Minor

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Val Minor

The valley Val Minor ( [ˌvalmiˈnoːr] ? / I ) is located in the municipal area of Pontresina north of the Bernina Pass , at an altitude of around 2400 m. The valley entrance is between the Piz Lagalb and the Piz Alv . The Val Minor is flanked by Piz Alv and Piz Minor on the right and Piz Lagalb on the left. Mining used to be carried out in the valley . However, only small amounts of lead and silver were mined. At the end of the valley of the lake lies Lej Minor . Audio file / audio sample

Naming

There are two hypotheses for the name of the valley: The derivation of Rhaeto-Romanic “mina” (German mine ) with reference to historical mining and the derivation of Latin “minor” (German smaller ), although there is no corresponding Val Maior . Even if the name was given over the Piz Minor ( 3,049  m above sea level ), which dominates the valley , there is no equivalent Piz Maior . After all, there is a (difficult to access) lake called “Lej Grand” ( Great Lake ) in the neighboring Val da la Fain and a lake called “Lej Minor” ( Smaller lake ) in Val Minor at the end of the valley , although the Lej is Minor about 45% larger than the Lej Grond, which speaks against this etymology . The naming of the Val Mingèr in the Lower Engadine speaks for the etymology with reference to mining .

activities

The Val Minor is popular with hikers and bikers and can be explored on foot or by bike.

Mining history educational trail

The mining history educational trail leading into Val Minor provided information on mining activities between the 13th and 16th centuries. Explanations were given about the rock deposits in the area and how the tunnels were formed. Eight information boards led from the Lagalb valley station to the height of the Bernina Pass in the Camino tunnel, the only one that is still accessible, then to the pyrite - arsenic gravel deposit and also over the Fuorcla Minor . The two tunnel districts and the Fuorn d'Plattas hut from 1458 were also among the stops.

literature

  • E. Sury, Val Minor Mining History Educational Trail, Bernina . In: Bergknappe, 74, 4/1995, November ( PDF )

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Private page Zisler , accessed on July 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ swisstopo , accessed on July 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ Private Pictures and Videos , accessed on July 24, 2012.

Coordinates: 46 ° 26 '  N , 10 ° 1'  E ; CH1903:  seven hundred and ninety-seven thousand five hundred seventy-six  /  146184