Switzerland is Under Attack!

(photo by World of Stock, Swiss Alps)
(This photo shows three types of weathering happening simultaneously. They are listed below. The nutrient -rich debris benefits the people by enriching the soil they grow crops in.)

The Marble, Limestone and Granite that comprise the Alps is slowly weathering. Exposed joints in the rock are subject to frost weathering and root wedging. The surface of the rock is slowly being consumed by lichens and various mosses. Erosion takes these sediments to the Swiss plateau.

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(mass wasting occurring in Switzerland from snow slides)

Switzerland's most famous area of mass wasting are the Sedrun landslides in Eastern Switzerland. This was due to some instability and bending in the rock layers triggering the mass wasting. If any further disruption was to occur, it would ruin some of the infrastructures including Oberlap national road and regional railway line.

(Muller Marketing Und Druck AG)
(Seen here is an example of a flash flood in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland) 

Switzerland's weather is very extreme, depending on the season. Constant heat and cold cause many streams, lakes and waterfalls to melt. This run-off can cause heavy flash floods, such as the flash flood here in Saanen.

Photo by Alanna Weber

(Clean glacial water provides a source of drinking water for its citizens )

Known for its heavy rainfall, Switzerland is home to many tributaries. Shown here are first and second order tributaries. This runoff most likely came from a melted glacier.

(Bodenserien-Karte der Schweiz; AuthorPallman H. von; Gessner, H)
(The above picture shows the soil mapping of Switzerland. The Alps, Swiss plateau, and the Jura Valleys each contain a different variety of soils to make up their beautiful landscapes)

Switzerland contains three of the twelve soil orders. These three orders are Mollisols, Alfisols, and Spodosols. When broken down further, we find the Swiss plateau contains podzolic soils, loess, and alluvium. The Jura Valleys are built upon Redzinas, and heavier glacial clays. Meanwhile, the Alps contain Lithosol and Podzolized soils.