Protected Areas and Natural Landscapes Surrounding Aue Plaun la Greina in Graubünden

Greina, Piz Medel: Exploring the Geography of a Swiss Protected Landscape

High-alpine plateau, glacier forelands, and mountain peaks.

The Greina, Piz Medel protected area is defined by the contrast between its broad, level plateau and the surrounding ring of summits in the Adula Alps. This high-altitude region holds nationally important floodplains, diverse dry meadows, and active glacial basins that cross the European watershed, providing a profound study in alpine terrain and environmental conservation.

Area

150 km²

Established

1996

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Naturpark Beverin: Exploring Alpine Gorges and Cultural Landscapes in Graubünden

A regional nature park shaped by high alpine ridges and ancient settlement traditions.

Naturpark Beverin encompasses a vast, multi-layered environment in the Swiss Alps. The area is defined by the sharp vertical contrast between carved river gorges like the Viamala and high-elevation ridges. Beyond the rugged mountain terrain, this protected landscape preserves centuries of pastoral history through the distinct settlement traditions of its Romanesque and Walser valleys.

Area

515 km²

Established

2013

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Naturpark Calancatal: Protected Alpine Valleys and Mountain Geography in Graubünden

Mapping regional landscapes and mountain terrain in Southern Switzerland

Spanning 13,900 hectares, Naturpark Calancatal protects a near-entire alpine side valley defined by the Calancasca stream. From high glacier-fed headwaters to Mediterranean-influenced gorges, the park offers a unique look at the diverse mountain terrain, alpine pastures, and protected forests within the Canton of Graubünden.

Area

139.21 km²

Established

2024

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Naturschutzgebiet Rhäzünser Rheinauen: Protected River Landscape and Floodplain Geography

Graubünden Alpine floodplain and alluvial river system

Located in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, Naturschutzgebiet Rhäzünser Rheinauen encompasses 157 hectares of rare, free-flowing river landscape. This protected area supports a diverse succession of plant communities, ranging from pioneer species on shifting gravel bars to mature softwood and hardwood floodplain forests, framed by the dramatic mountain terrain of the Hinterrhein valley.

Area

1.569 km²

Established

1992

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Auenschutzgebiet Maggia: Protected Floodplain Geography and Alpine River Dynamics

Nature reserve located within the Canton Ticino, Switzerland

Investigate the natural topography of Auenschutzgebiet Maggia, a protected floodplain system spanning thirteen kilometers through the Lepontine Alps. This reserve provides a detailed look at how alpine hydrology maintains a diverse mosaic of gravel islands, wet meadows, and riparian forests in a high-energy mountainous environment.

Rhonegletschervorfeld Protected Area: Alpine Glacier Geography and Mapping

Proglacial landscape and glacial history in the Swiss Alps.

The Rhonegletschervorfeld provides an unparalleled view into the geomorphology of the Swiss Alps, showcasing a continuous record of ice loss through moraines, exposed bedrock, and emerging meltwater systems. Situated near the Furka Pass, this protected area serves as an essential reference for glaciology, offering a clear visual timeline of glacier retreat that has shaped modern alpine tourism and climate science. Explore the mapped terrain where the Rhone River headwaters emerge from the retreating ice.

Area

13.58 km²

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Access

Easy access

Ibergeregg Nature Reserve: Mapped Protected Landscapes and Alpine Geography of Schwyz

A highland pass and wetland ecosystem in the Swiss pre-Alps

The Ibergeregg nature reserve represents a high, flat saddle in the Schwyz pre-Alps, serving as a landmark for its expansive raised bogs, flat moors, and protected moor forest systems. This documentation details the geographic features, watershed position, and protected status of the pass as it transitions from alpine pasture to high-altitude wetland habitat.

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Access

Easy access

Scope

Terrestrial

Chessibidmer Nature Reserve: Glacial Granite and Protected Alpine Moorland Landscapes

Protected alpine bog and granite terrace in the Bernese Oberland

Chessibidmer offers a detailed look at a nationally significant flat bog and moorland landscape situated above the upper Aare valley in the Bernese Oberland. The area provides an exceptional map of glacial geomorphology, featuring granite domes, rock-bound tarns, and successional peatlands that sit as a protected mosaic within the surrounding high-alpine terrain of the Swiss Alps.

Area

0.5 km²

Established

1998

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Parc Ela: Regional Nature Park and Alpine Geography in the Canton of Graubünden

A vertical protected landscape in the Swiss Alpine arc.

Parc Ela encompasses a remarkable span of Swiss Alpine geography, protecting everything from low-lying forested gorges at seven hundred meters to high-altitude peaks over three thousand meters. The park serves as a vital refuge for threatened insect species and large alpine mammals, while preserving the linguistic and architectural heritage of the Albula and Oberhalbstein valleys. Explore the mapped terrain where paleontological treasures meet historic trade routes.

Area

659 km²

Established

2012

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Naturschutzgebiet Mederlouwenen: Alpine Moor and Protected Glacial Terrain in the Bernese Oberland

A high-elevation nature reserve featuring rare flat-moor vegetation and peat-forming bogs.

Naturschutzgebiet Mederlouwenen occupies a distinctive series of glacial granite terraces in the Bernese Oberland, where high-altitude slope bogs and relict conifer forests create a vital refuge for rare alpine flora. This protected area stands as a primary example of Swiss mountain ecology, blending ancient geological history with the fragile, moisture-dependent ecosystems found at the head of the Aare valley.

Area

0.053 km²

Established

2004

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Naturschutzgebiet Gauligletscher: Glacial Landscape and Nature Reserve in Bern

A high-alpine protected area in the Bernese Oberland

Discover the unique geography of Naturschutzgebiet Gauligletscher, a protected area in Bern featuring a wide amphitheater of moraines, glacial lakes, and retreating ice. This site functions as an active laboratory for river dynamics and alpine vegetation colonization across an expansive, mineral-dominated valley floor.

Area

5.7 km²

Established

2001

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Val di Mello Nature Reserve: Mapping the Granitic Geography of the Italian Alps in Lombardia

A study of protected vertical relief, glacial cirques, and Alpine terrain.

Val di Mello offers a profound look at high-altitude Alpine geography, characterized by its immense, light-colored granitic walls and deeply carved tributary valleys. This protected nature reserve acts as a gateway to the broader mountainous terrain of the Lombardia region, showcasing the geological evolution of the Italian Alps through its steep gullies, high summits, and expansive valley floor.

Established

2009

Relief

Mountain

Access

Moderate access

Scope

Terrestrial

Kaltbrunner Riet Nature Reserve and Wetland Landscape in the Canton of St. Gallen

Mapping the protected fen habitats and agricultural wetland remnants of the Linthebene.

Kaltbrunner Riet serves as a primary nature reserve in the canton of St. Gallen, encompassing critical lowland fen and amphibian spawning habitats. As a protected Ramsar wetland, the reserve offers an essential window into the historic Linthebene landscape, showcasing how traditional meadow management sustains biodiversity across the Swiss plateau.

Area

0.5 km²

Established

1914

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Lago di Piano Nature Reserve: Glacial Geography and Protected Wetland Landscapes

Protected marshland basin in the Lombardy pre-Alps

Lago di Piano sits as a rare lowland wetland oasis carved by ancient glacial activity in the Lombardy foothills. This reserve preserves a complex network of floating vegetation, reed beds, and drumlin-framed valleys, providing a vital study of pre-Alpine geography and protected-area conservation within northern Italy.

Area

0.72 km²

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Access

Easy access

Val Grande National Park: National Park Protected Landscape in Piedmont

Explore its mapped boundaries and regional geographic context.

Val Grande National Park represents a key protected landscape within the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. This canonical page offers detailed insights into the park's designated status as a national park, its specific geographic placement, and its mapped protected boundaries. Users can navigate its atlas-level details to understand its role in the regional geography and conservation landscape, providing a structured foundation for further discovery of Italy's natural protected areas.

Area

170.21 km²

Established

1992

IUCN

II

Relief

Mountain

Glaziallandschaft Lorze, Sihl mit Höhronenkette und Schwantenau: Landscape and Terrain Atlas

A study of glacial formations and protected Swiss ecosystems.

Trace the moraine-dominated terrain and river gorges of this nationally recognized protected landscape. From the drumlin fields near Menzingen to the rare peatland habitats of the Schwantenau, this area offers a comprehensive look at the geological and hydrological history of the Swiss Pre-Alps.

Area

10.808 km²

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Access

Moderate access

Landschaftspark Binntal: Alpine Geography and Regional Protected Area in Valais, Switzerland

Mapping deep mountain valleys and glacial alpine terrain

Landschaftspark Binntal serves as a vital protected area in the Valais Alps, showcasing a vertical sequence of ecosystems from river gorges to 3000 meter peaks. The park preserves a living cultural landscape alongside significant mineralogical heritage, offering a detailed view into the high-altitude geography and remote valleys that define this distinctive corner of the Swiss mountain landscape.

Area

180 km²

Established

2008

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Naturschutzgebiet Isla Glischa-Arvins-Seglias Nature Reserve in Graubünden

Mapped alluvial terrain and alpine river geography

Situated in the broad valley floor of the Upper Engadin, this nature reserve protects one of the most significant alpine floodplain zones in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The area features a complex network of river channels, gravel lakes, and marshes that are currently undergoing active revitalization to restore natural riverine processes and support rare riparian ecosystems.

Area

0.867 km²

Established

1992

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Roseggletscher Natural Monument: Alpine Glacier Geography and Proglacial Lake Mapping

Protected landscape data for the Bernina range in Graubünden.

Examine the geographic boundaries and terrain of the Roseggletscher, a protected natural monument situated in the upper Val Roseg. This record captures its glacial extent, the emergence of the Lej da Vadret proglacial lake, and its role within the wider Bernina glacier ensemble of southeastern Switzerland.

Area

6.38 km²

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Access

Moderate access

Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal: Regional Geography and Protected Alpine Landscapes

A mapped conservation zone within the Vorarlberg Alps

Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal encompasses a protected valley characterized by significant geological diversity. Explore the transition from the soft flysch ridges of the Walserkamm to the dramatic limestone crests of the Kalkhochalpen, reflecting a modern approach to managing Alpine natural resources and cultural heritage in western Austria.

Area

192.31 km²

Established

2000