Peaks
Piz Tantermozza
3,067 m
Park geography
Analyzing the alpine terrain, forest ecosystems, and mountain topography of this protected area.
Comprehensive Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Swiss National Park in Graubünden
This geographic profile details the physical characteristics of Swiss National Park in the Graubünden region of Switzerland. Spanning 170.3 square kilometers, the park encompasses rugged mountain terrain and diverse habitats ranging from alpine meadows to montane forests, with peaks reaching altitudes of 3174 meters above sea level.
The oldest national park in the Alps, where nature is left to follow its own course.
Swiss National Park
The Swiss National Park is the only national park in Switzerland and the oldest of its kind in the Alps and Central Europe. Located in the Engadin valley of the canton of Graubünden, it occupies a roughly triangular area between Zernez, S-chanf, the Ofenpass, and Scuol, spanning about 170 square kilometers around the lower Engadine Dolomites. Classified by the IUCN as a Category Ia strict nature reserve (wilderness area), the park allows natural processes to unfold without human interference. Visitors must stay on marked trails; hunting, logging, grazing, fire-making, and even staying overnight are prohibited. The protected landscape includes forest, alpine meadows, bare rock, scree, snowfields, and small lakes, and supports diverse flora and fauna, with ongoing research tracking the recovery of ecosystems largely undisturbed since before human arrival in the Alps. Beyond its conservation role, the Swiss National Park is an important site for long-term ecological research and public environmental education. Since 1979 it has been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network, the first such area in Switzerland, and it remains a key reference point for understanding how Alpine ecosystems recover when left to themselves.
- Location
- Switzerland
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1914
- Area
- 170.3 km²
- Highest point
- 3,174 m
Location overview
Mapped location memberships across Switzerland and Graubünden
Swiss National Park Geographic Setting and Regional Context
Swiss National Park is situated within Switzerland and the regional territory of Graubünden. Recorded administrative assignments outline the protected area context without coastal or transboundary designations.
- Countries
- Switzerland
- Regions
- Graubünden
- Primary location
- Graubünden
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Interactive mapped perimeter and derived spatial dimensions
Swiss National Park Boundary Map and Geographic Extent
Interactive boundary geometry provides spatial context for the protected territory. Accompanying dimensional metrics outline recorded area and coordinate limits without implying legal survey precision.
- Boundary area
- 170.3 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 103.6 km
- Northernmost point
- 46.7699° N
- Southernmost point
- 46.5751° N
- Easternmost point
- 10.314° E
- Westernmost point
- 10.0371° E
- Geographic centre
- 46.6591° N, 10.1727° E
- North–south span
- 21.6 km
- East–west span
- 21.2 km
Elevation and terrain
Vertical range profile and recorded natural features within the park boundaries
Swiss National Park Elevation Summary and Mountain Terrain Geography
Recorded elevation metrics outline a vertical range spanning from 1400 meters to a high point of 3174 meters across mountainous terrain. Individual cards document named peaks, valleys, rivers, and saddles located within the protected area.
- Minimum elevation
- 1,400 m
- Maximum elevation
- 3,174 m
- Highest point
- 3,174 m
Selected named natural features
Peaks
Piz Quattervals
3,165 m
Viewpoints
Grimmels
Peaks
Piz dals Vadès
3,139 m
Mountain saddles
Fuorcla Val Nüglia
2,846 m
Rivers
Spöl
Environmental setting
Alpine relief, forest cover, and habitat types across recorded zones
Swiss National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting
Recorded environmental classifications group alpine relief, partial forest cover, and water presence into complementary physical settings. Connected data categories link stored habitat types to broader atlas destinations where available.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
- Water
- Minor water
- Forest cover
- Partial forest
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Mountains · Forest · Lakes · Rivers · Glacier
Habitat types
Alpine meadow · Montane forest · Grassland
Park atlas
Compare adjacent Alpine terrain and regional conservation areas
Explore Other Parks Near Swiss National Park and Protected Landscapes
Discover protected areas and nearby national parks that share the rugged ecological characteristics of the Engadin valley. Compare surrounding mountain terrain and protected landscapes to understand regional conservation patterns across the Alps.
Nature reserveGraubünden
Mapped location lies within the park boundary#1 closest
Northwest
Macun-Seen Nature Reserve: Protected Alpine Plateau and Cirque Lake Landscape
High-altitude basin and crystalline geological features in Graubünden
Located in the Lower Engadine region of Graubünden, the Macun-Seen nature reserve is a significant high-altitude basin formed by glacial action. This protected exclave contains 23 small cirque lakes across a silicate plateau, offering a distinct ecological profile and expansive views of peaks approaching 3000 metres. It stands as a prime example of preserved alpine terrain within the broader Swiss National Park context.
- Area
- 3.6 km²
- Established
- 2000
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
National parkTrentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Park boundaries overlap#2 closest
Southeast
Stelvio National Park National Park: Protected Landscape and Regional Geographic Context
Explore its mapped boundaries and natural terrain.
Navigate Stelvio National Park, a designated national park in Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region, through a map-centric lens. This page provides critical context for understanding the park's protected landscape, its geographic position within the Alps, and its mapped terrain. Utilize MoriAtlas to grasp the park's boundaries and its place in regional geography for structured natural landscape discovery.
- Established
- 1935
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
- Scope
- Terrestrial
Regional parkGraubünden
About 7.9 km away#3 closest
Southeast
Biosfera Val Müstair Regional Park: Alpine Landscapes and UNESCO Biosphere Geography
Protected glacial terrain and cultural alpine valleys in eastern Switzerland.
Discover the distinctive natural geography of Biosfera Val Müstair, where a dry inner-Alpine climate meets high-altitude glacial features like the Lai da Rims. This regional park protects an extensive area of Graubünden, balancing rare ecosystems, broad alluvial fans, and the traditional alpine economy of the Romansh-speaking community.
- Area
- 198.65 km²
- Established
- 2011
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
Nature reserveGraubünden
About 11 km away#4 closest
Southwest
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
Regional parkCanton of Graubünden
About 26 km away#5 closest
West
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
Natural monumentGraubünden
About 29 km away#6 closest
Southwest
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
Regional parkGraubünden
40 km away#7 closest
West
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
Nature reserveLombardia
About 48 km away#8 closest
Southwest
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
MoriAtlas Explorer
Continue Exploring the Swiss National Park Landscape and Alpine Terrain
Delve into the mapped boundaries and natural history of the Swiss National Park. MoriAtlas provides a structured look at the ecological characteristics, geomorphology, and protected status of this essential Graubünden wilderness area for researchers and enthusiasts.
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