Splügen Pass, Switzerland Sep 16, 2023

Splügen Pass, Switzerland

With their twists and turns, record heights and breathtaking vistas, mountain roads like Umling La and Pico de Veleta are steeped in history. One such route of the Lepontine Alps - Splügen Pass - is pictured here today. Located on the border of Switzerland and Italy, the 2,114-metre-high pass is one of the highest paved roads in Europe. Although its modern form was built between 1818-1823, the Splügen Pass is rich in history with links to Roman times. The pass has been much quieter since the nearby San Bernardino road tunnel opened in 1967. The now quiet pass, which has 51 marked hairpin bends, remains closed during winter. So, if spectacular mountainside views and picturesque lakes tickle your fancy, you can enjoy this ascent between June and mid-October. Has your interest in a Swiss-sational time "peaked" yet?

© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nimble and stealthy
Sep 16, 2024Wallabies at sunrise, Australia
Sep 16, 2025Nighttime view over the Gulf Coast

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 8, 2024International Womens Day
Apr 23, 2024World Book Day
Jun 4, 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Bardia National Park, Nepal
A vibrant, sun-drenched island
Mar 10, 2024Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India
Oct 14, 2024Fishing boats at Coco Beach in Goa
May 22, 2026International Day for Biological Diversity
Sep 3, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
May 21, 2024International Tea Day
Feb 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Sep 28, 2024Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, USA
Jun 13, 2026Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Sep 28, 2023Container ship near a port in Thailand
Dec 27, 2024Lake Bled, Slovenia
An architectural wonder in Rajasthan
Dec 8, 2024Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
Purple bliss as far as the eye can see
103 years of Zion
Mar 17, 2025Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
Jellies in a world all their own
Apr 5, 2024The Bahamas
A beautiful labyrinth
A one-of-a-kind splash
Jun 3, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Whats so funny?
Mar 14, 2024Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
Kings of the north
Heaven meets Earth!
Jun 6, 202581st anniversary of D-Day
This museum sets the prairie on fire