Periglacial Landscapes and Protection Measures Above Pontresina

Abstract

The landscape above Pontresina in the Eastern Swiss Alps is characterized by mountain peaks reaching around 3,000 m a.s.l, steep rock walls, ice-bearing scree slopes and dynamic rock glaciers in a corrie—all located above a precipitous gully leading down to the village. A strong visual impact is caused by the presence of over 15 km of avalanche defence structures and a large retention dam. These protection measures were progressively built over the past 130 years. The most recent ones are specially adapted for unstable permafrost conditions and to provide protection against both avalanches and debris flows triggered in over-steepened ice-bearing terrain. The Foura da l’Amd Ursina site (also known as Schafberg) above Pontresina displays the ideal implementation of research results in the development of practical solutions against natural hazards in a mountain environment undergoing climate-related changes.