Gotthard Pass

The Gotthard Pass or St. Gotthard Pass is a high mountain pass in the Alps, sitting at 2,106 meters (6,909 feet) above sea level. It connects northern Switzerland with southern Switzerland, running between the towns of Airolo in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino and Andermatt in the German-speaking canton of Uri. This pass has been very important for travel and trade for many years.

The Gotthard Pass is part of a major travel route in Europe. Three big tunnels cross under it: the Gotthard Rail Tunnel built in 1882, the Gotthard Road Tunnel from 1980, and the Gotthard Base Tunnel completed in 2016. Each of these tunnels was the longest in the world when it was finished.

Since the Middle Ages, the Gotthard Pass has been a key route for trade between Northern and Southern Europe. Because of its important location, the area north of the pass became the heart of the Swiss Confederacy in the 1300s. The Gotthard is often called the "King of Mountain Passes" because of how central and important it is for travel across the Swiss Alps.

Geography

The Gotthard Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps. It connects northern Switzerland with southern Switzerland, sitting between the cantons of Uri and Ticino. The pass reaches an elevation of 2,106 metres (6,909 ft). It links important valleys, including the valley of the river Reuss to the north and the valley of the river Ticino to the south.

Nearby towns include Hospental to the north and Airolo to the south. The area is also close to other mountain passes, making it an important route for travel. There are small lakes near the top of the pass, and a few dams and larger lakes a short distance away.

History

Further information: Schöllenen Gorge § History

The Gotthard Pass was not widely used until the early 1200s because travelers had to cross a dangerous, narrow gorge. Around 1220, the first wooden bridge was built, which helped make the pass more important for travel.

This pass connects two big rivers: the Rhine, which flows to the North Sea, and the Ticino, which flows to the Adriatic Sea. Over time, the pass became very important for trade and helped shape the early Swiss Confederacy. The Swiss worked to control the area south of the Alps to protect their trade routes.

In the 1700s, the first road tunnel in the Alps was built here. It wasn't until 1775 that the first carriage could make the journey, and it wasn't until 1830 that a new road wide enough for cars was built. Today, a big road tunnel opened in 1980 handles most of the traffic.

Roads, railways, and tunnels

Besides the main road, several tunnels make travel through the mountains easier. The first tunnel, the Gotthard Rail Tunnel, opened in 1882 for trains. The second tunnel, the Gotthard Road Tunnel, opened in 1980 for cars and closed for a short time in 2001 after a fire. Both tunnels start near Göschenen and Airolo.

The newest tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016. It is the longest and deepest railway tunnel in the world, offering a smooth path from Erstfeld to Bodio. This tunnel has made train trips faster and allows more trains to travel comfortably.

Illustrations

Many artists from different countries have been inspired by the amazing views of the Gotthard Pass, the Schöllenen Gorge, and the Teufelsbrücke.

Here are some famous artworks:

• The Gotthard Post (oil painting by Rudolf Koller, 1874)
• Winterreise 1790 über den Gotthard (colored drawing by Wilhelm Rothe after Johann Gottfried Jentzsch, 1790)
• Construction of the Devil's Bridge (oil painting by Carl Blechen, around 1833)
• The Teufelsbrücke, St. Gotthard (oil painting by J. M. W. Turner around 1803/04)
• Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov Crossing St. Gotthard Pass in 1799 (by Alexander von Kotzebue)

In popular culture

The Gotthard Pass appears in the historical manga series Wolfsmund by Mitsuhisa Kuji.