The Upper Engadine: Headwater Region of the River Inn. A Swiss Hot Spot of Plant Diversity and Premium Tourism Region

Abstract

This contribution to Danube’s tributary river Inn (En) covers its headwater region, i.e. the upper part of the Upper Engadine Valley. This region of continental climate includes an attractive lake district and the mountain topography of Bernina belonging to the Swiss National Inventory of Landscapes and Nature Sanctuaries. The area is covered approx. 10.2% of glaciers (year 2015). Within an altitudinal interval between 1600 and 4000 m a.sl. 600 to 900 flowering plant species and ferns occur in an area of about 500 km2. This is a remarkable species diversity compared to similar regions in the Swiss Alps. There is a high proportion of arctic-alpine and boreal species. Most of them immigrated during the Late Glacial and Holocene mostly from the eastern Alps. 70% of all plant species are not endangered, 30% species are potential endangered whereas ca. 15% of them are vulnerable, critically endangered or regionally extinct. There are three hot spots of high plant diversity: (1) the area of Grevasalvas, (2) the slope north of St. Moritz-Celerina and Val Fex, and (3) the Bernina pass area. The Upper Engadine is a Swiss premium touristic region providing a wide selection of touristic opportunities like ski slopes, walking and bike trails and offers to wellness programs. In the tourist centres a construction boom of holyday apartments occurred during 1970–2000. This led to an increase of 6121 holyday apartments or 246%. About 55% of all apartments are used as holyday apartments. The whole Upper Engadine region offers a wide range of 344 one to five stars hotels with a price range of 100–2000 CHF per overnight. The main and high priced period is the winter season, especially between Christmas and New Year.