Hinterrhein (river)
Encyclopedia
The Hinterrhein is one of the initial tributaries of the Rhine in the Canton
of Graubünden
in Switzerland
, flowing from the village Hinterrhein
near the San Bernardino pass
through the Rheinwald
valley into a gorge called Roflaschlucht. In this gorge a tributary, the Avers Rhine
, adds its waters from the very remote Avers
valley and its side valley Valle di Lei on Italian territory. After the Rofla Gorge
, the valley widens into a section called Schams
. The Hinterrhein then reaches Andeer
, before passing another gorge, Viamala
just before Thusis
. Now a tributary of the same size or bigger reaches the Hinterrhein as the Julia from the Julier pass
area joins via the Albula
coming from the Albula pass
, which names as well a railway line that has become a UNESCO world heritage. Another tributary of Albula river is Landwasser, coming from Landwasser Valley, which is commonly known as Davos. After flowing to Rothenbrunnen through a valley called Domleschg
with an incredible number of castles (showing the importance of transit in the area) again the river is left alone from civilisation in the floodplain
Isla Bella near Rhäzüns
, before it joins the Anterior Rhine at Reichenau, all of them also in Graubünden.
To learn about the importance of travel along the Hinterrhein, a multiday trekking route is signposted along the river from Thusis to Splügen
, where it turns south to Splügen pass
, a historically important transit route to Italy. Nowadays there is no traffic across Splügen pass in winter whereas the road across its ever competitor San Bernardino pass
had received a long road tunnel
in 1967 that made it possible to keep the road open all year.
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, flowing from the village Hinterrhein
Hinterrhein, Switzerland
-External links:...
near the San Bernardino pass
San Bernardino Pass
San Bernardino Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the Hinterrhein and the Mesolcina valleys between Thusis and Bellinzona . Located in the far eastern side of the Western Alps it is not to be confused with the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Little St. Bernard Pass...
through the Rheinwald
Rheinwald
The Rheinwald is a valley in the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland...
valley into a gorge called Roflaschlucht. In this gorge a tributary, the Avers Rhine
Avers Rhine
The Avers Rhine is a tributary of the Hinterrhein in the Swiss Canton of Graubünden.- Course :It rises in Avers at the confluence of the Bergalgabach with the slightly smaller Jufer Rhine. The Jufer Rhine rises in, and is named after, Juf, the highest permanent settlement in Europe, near the...
, adds its waters from the very remote Avers
Avers
Avers is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It includes Juf, the highest-altitude year-round settlement in Europe.-History:...
valley and its side valley Valle di Lei on Italian territory. After the Rofla Gorge
Rofla Gorge
The Rofla Gorge is an ancient and narrow section of the Hinterrhein river between Sufers and Andeer in the Canton of Graubünden. This narrow gorge was another obstacle on the approach to the two mountain passes Splügen Pass und San Bernardino Pass in addition to the Viamala gorge.- Modern era...
, the valley widens into a section called Schams
Schams
thumb | The Schams north of [[Andeer]]. In the top left, the ruins of [[Cagliatscha Castle]]The Schams is a section of the Hinterrhein valley in the Swiss Canton of Graubünden.- Geography :...
. The Hinterrhein then reaches Andeer
Andeer
Andeer is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. In 2009 Clugin and Pignia merged into Andeer.-History:...
, before passing another gorge, Viamala
Viamala
Viamala or Via Mala is an ancient and notorious section of the Hinterrhein River between Zillis-Reischen and Thusis in the Canton of Graubünden...
just before Thusis
Thusis
Thusis is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Thusis has an area, , of . Of this area, 18% is used for agricultural purposes, while 58.2% is forested...
. Now a tributary of the same size or bigger reaches the Hinterrhein as the Julia from the Julier pass
Julier Pass
The Julier Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, in the Albula Range of the Alps. It connects the Engadin valley with the rest of Graubünden...
area joins via the Albula
Albula
The term albula can refer to:*Albula Range, a mountain range in Switzerland*Albula , in Switzerland*Albula , a district in canton Graubünden, Switzerland*Albula Pass*Albula Railway, which forms part of the Rhaetian Railway...
coming from the Albula pass
Albula Pass
Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps...
, which names as well a railway line that has become a UNESCO world heritage. Another tributary of Albula river is Landwasser, coming from Landwasser Valley, which is commonly known as Davos. After flowing to Rothenbrunnen through a valley called Domleschg
Domleschg
The Domleschg is a valley in Graubünden in Switzerland. Geographically, the name "Domleschg" covers both sides of the valley. Politically, the villages on the left bank of the Poserior Rhine form the Kreis of Thusis and those on the right bank form the Kreis of Domleschg. Thusis is the main...
with an incredible number of castles (showing the importance of transit in the area) again the river is left alone from civilisation in the floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
Isla Bella near Rhäzüns
Rhäzüns
Rhäzüns is a municipality in the district of Imboden in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Rhäzüns has an area, , of . Of this area, 23.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 69.1% is forested...
, before it joins the Anterior Rhine at Reichenau, all of them also in Graubünden.
To learn about the importance of travel along the Hinterrhein, a multiday trekking route is signposted along the river from Thusis to Splügen
Splügen
Splügen may refer to:* Splügen, a municipality in the Swiss alps* Splügen Pass, an Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy...
, where it turns south to Splügen pass
Splügen Pass
The Splügen Pass is a high mountain pass which marks the boundary between the Lepontine and Rhaetian Alps....
, a historically important transit route to Italy. Nowadays there is no traffic across Splügen pass in winter whereas the road across its ever competitor San Bernardino pass
San Bernardino Pass
San Bernardino Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the Hinterrhein and the Mesolcina valleys between Thusis and Bellinzona . Located in the far eastern side of the Western Alps it is not to be confused with the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Little St. Bernard Pass...
had received a long road tunnel
San Bernardino (road tunnel)
The San Bernardino road tunnel is a road tunnel on the A13 motorway/expressway in southeastern Switzerland, completed in 1967 and replacing the San Bernardino Pass road. It begins near the town of San Bernardino, Graubünden and ends north in Hinterrhein....
in 1967 that made it possible to keep the road open all year.