|
The
Alps
form
an
important
divide
for
Western
Europe.
The
Rhine,
although
it
its
the
only
river
from
these
regions
to
flow
to
the
North
Sea,
drains
away
70
per
cent
of
the
Swiss
water.
The
Rhône
–preferring
sunnier
regions,
and
flowing
into
the
Mediterranean
–
drains
18
per
cent.
The
rest
is
drained
by
the
Ticino
rivers,
which
flow
into
the
Po,
and
by
the
River
Inn,
which
rises
in
Grisons
Canton,
flows
eastward,
and
joins
the
Danube.
Heavy
precipitation
in
the
high
mountains
and
on
the
great
glaciers
provides
Switzerland
with
ample
water
resources.
It
is
always
a
moving
experience
to
see
the
modest
source
of
a
great
river.
A
mountain
rivulet
bubbles
out
beneath
the
terminal
moraine
of
a
glacier,
trickling
peacefully
between
the
bizarre
shapes
of
erratic
boulders.
its
cold
water
is
milky
with
sand
and
mud.
Bowing
to
the
irresistible
force
of
gravity,
it
flows
downwards
towards
the
plains.
But
there
are
numerous
obstacles
on
the
way,
and
the
glacial
stream’s
journey
turns
into
a
breathtaking
adventure.
At
times
the
water
course
drops
abruptly, forming
a
waterfall,
which
is
particularly
impressive
in
April,
when
the
snow
is
melting,
or
in
July
and
August,
when
the
summer
thunderstorms
echo
round
the
mountains.
The
water,
loaded
with
sand
and
stones,
cuts
into
hard
rock,
forming
deep,
narrow
gorges.
Gradually
the
stream
grows
into
a
torrent,
thundering
and
seething
downwards,
throwing
up
a
fin
spray
in
which
the
sun
forms
wonderful
miniature
rainbows.
The
erosive
power
depends,
of
course,
on
the
amount
of
water
and
the
speed
at
which
it
travels.
Further
down
the
valley,
the
gradient
slowly
flattens
out,
but
the
River’s
erosive
power
is
kept
fairly
by
the
acquisition
of
fresh
water
from
small
tributaries.
The
gorges
from
an
unusual,
fascinating,
and
impressive
world,
bearing
witness
to
the
power
of
water,
and
constituting
one
of
the
main
attractions
of
the
Alpine
regions. Rivers
often
have
tributaries
very
near
their
source.
These
frequently
originate
in
funnel-shaped
basins
which
open
to
the
skies
to
receive
the
rain
or
snow
falling
on
the
mountains.
These
streams
down
the
slopes,
cutting
channels
through
accumulations
of
debris.
Down
in
the
lower
reaches,
they
join
the
river,
adding
to
its
load
of
sand,
pebbles,
and
fragments
of
vegetation.
Mountain
people
have
long
had
a
healthy
respect
for
the
temperamental
and
unruly
mountain
streams
whose
flow
can
vary
abruptly
and
unexpectedly.
A
rainstorm
in
the
high
mountains
can
lead
to
a
dangerous
increase
in
the
flow
of
water.
Earthslides
and
floods
can
be
extremely
destructive,
destroying
woodland,
crops,
barns,
and
houses.
Now,
as
the
flat
country
opens
out
in
front
of
it,
the
river
can
begin
to
relax.
The
rate
of
flow
decreases,
and
it
meanders
along,
nibbling
at
the
banks,
especially
high
water
periods;
an
action
which
can
have
tragic
consequences
for
the
population.
Dikes
and
course
corrections
prove
inevitable.
They
provide
effective
protection
against
floods
for
the
fields
and
villages.
These
measures
are
supplemented
by
re-afforestation
of
the
most
exposed
slopes,
partly
with
a
view
to
preventing
disastrous
earth
slides.
When
the
river
is
finally
clear
of
the
mountains
it
may
flow
into
a
lake,
emerging
again
at
the
other
end
to
continue
its
journey.
It
gets
further
and
further
away
from
its
origins,
flows
across
borders,
and
becomes
an
international
waterway.
By
the
time
it
finally
flows
into
the
sea
it
has
achieved
more
than
local
fame.
The
Swiss
are
proud
of
their
country’s
lakes,
which,
not
surprisingly,
feature
in
every
travel
guide.
There
are
hundreds
of
them
in
the
Alps,
filling
glacial
basins,
or
valleys
blocked
by
moraines.
Even
the
tiny
ones
add
a
touch
of
variety
to
what
might
otherwise
be
a
somewhat
monotonous:
they
act
like
mirrors,
doubling
the
beauty
of
the
trees
and
mountain
peaks.
Lakes
at
lower
altitudes
can
take
on
impressive
proportions.
They
have
frequently
been
major
factors
in
the
history
of
their
regions.
The
mountain
lake
owe
their
wonderful
colours
to
the
depth
of
their
waters,
the
climate,
and
the
vegetation
growing
round
their
shores.
They
regulate
the
water
of
the
outlawing
rivers.
The
lager
the
mass
of
water,
the
smaller
the
fluctuations
in
level.
The large lakes also have
another
advantage:
they
have
a
moderating
effect
on
the
climate,
storing
heat
in
summer
and
releasing
it
again
in
winter.
This
encourages
the
growth
of
numerous
forms
of
vegetation
which
would
otherwise
not
be
able
to
survive
here. |
