Simplon Pass

Simplon Pass
Elevation		2,006 m (6,581 ft)[1]
Traversed by	Road
Location	Valais, Switzerland
Range	Alps
Coordinates	46°15′6″N 8°2′0″E / 46.25167°N 8.03333°E / 46.25167; 8.03333
Location in Switzerland

The Simplon Pass (

was built beneath the vicinity of the pass in the early 20th century to carry rail traffic between the two countries.

The lowest point of the

Rotelsee is a lake located near the pass at an elevation of 2,028 m (6,654 ft).

There are several high peaks around that can be climbed directly from the pass. These include

.

History

There had been a locally used passage through the mountains here for several centuries, but the pass acquired international significance during the Napoleonic occupation. Between 1801 and 1805 the Simplon Road was constructed by the engineer

.

The road was periodically improved and in 1950 the cantonal authorities created a plan whereby the pass could be kept open all through the year, and not closed to traffic between October and late April, like most Alpine passes at this altitude.

) was named after the pass.

The Simplon Pass was also outfitted with rails for train service. The 20 km (12 mi)-long Simplon Tunnel was opened in 1906. The historic Orient Express used the Simplon route intermittently during the twentieth century, as it carried passengers between Istanbul and Paris.^[4]

The Hospice du Simplon, at the top of the pass, is owned by the Congregation of Canons Regular at Grand-Saint-Bernard.

Monuments

During the

(a town near the pass) to build a statue about nine meters high. The monument was inaugurated in September 1944.

In 2005, a memorial was built representing the 200th anniversary of the construction of the "Napoleon Road".

See also

• Val Divedro
• List of highest paved roads in Europe
• List of mountain passes
• List of the highest Swiss passes

Picture

Gallery

• 
  Pack animal on Simplon pass 2020
• 
  Mount Fletschhorn seen from Simplon pass
• 
  Rotelsee on Simplon Pass
• 
  Col du Simplon
• 
  Scenery of the area
• 
  Retaining wall from Napoleon Road on summit of pass

Bibliography

• ISBN 978-88-8191-281-0

References

External links

• Coolidge, William Augustus Brevoort (1911). "Simplon Pass" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). p. 135.
• Profile on climbbybike.com