Valais to light up 13 peaks for 200th birthday
The canton of Valais is illuminating 13 Alpine peaks on Wednesday night to celebrate the canton’s 200th anniversary as a member of the Swiss confederation.
Organizers are using bright flares to light up such peaks as the Dent Blanche (4,357 metres), Grand Combin (4,184 metres), Bietschorn (3,934 metres), Dom (4,545 metres) and Taeschorn (4,491 metres), as well as the three peaks of the Dents du Midi.
They expect around 100,000 people to watch the simultaneous illuminations to fete the canton’s entry into Switzerland in 1815.
The canton recommends as best spots to view the light show places in Saas-Fee, villages in the Val d’Hérens, Ovrannaz, Verbier and various villages in the Portes du Soleil ski area, such as Champéry, Champoussin, Les Crosets and Morgins.
The lights on the Dents du Midi will be visible as far away as the Lake Geneva region.
The illumination was developed with a 350,000-franc budget and involves 70 guides who who helped place the flares, the ATS news agency reported.
A video to promote the event highlights a test conducted in November 2013 in Arolla.
One of Valais’ most famous mountains is excluded from the festive program.
A few months ago, climbers used glowing red beacons to illuminate the route taken to the top of the Matterhorn, 150 years earlier.
Check out the video showing the test illumination in Arolla:
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Organizers are using bright flares to light up such peaks as the Dent Blanche (4,357 metres), Grand Combin (4,184 metres), Bietschorn (3,934 metres), Dom (4,545 metres) and Taeschorn (4,491 metres), as well as the three peaks of the Dents du Midi.
They expect around 100,000 people to watch the simultaneous illuminations to fete the canton’s entry into Switzerland in 1815.
The canton recommends as best spots to view the light show places in Saas-Fee, villages in the Val d’Hérens, Ovrannaz, Verbier and various villages in the Portes du Soleil ski area, such as Champéry, Champoussin, Les Crosets and Morgins.
The lights on the Dents du Midi will be visible as far away as the Lake Geneva region.
The illumination was developed with a 350,000-franc budget and involves 70 guides who who helped place the flares, the ATS news agency reported.
A video to promote the event highlights a test conducted in November 2013 in Arolla.
One of Valais’ most famous mountains is excluded from the festive program.
A few months ago, climbers used glowing red beacons to illuminate the route taken to the top of the Matterhorn, 150 years earlier.
Check out the video showing the test illumination in Arolla:
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