The Bernese Alps in the wide meaning (in German Berner Alpen i.w.S.,I.w.S. = in weitesten Sinne - in English: in the wide meaning in French Alpes Bernoises D.l.s.l.d.l.s.l. = dans le sens large - in English: in the wide sense) are a mountain range in the northwestern part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland.
Geography The range covers parts of several Swiss cantons: Bern, Vaud, Valais, Lucerne, Uri, Nidwalden and Obwalden.
SOIUSA classification According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the range is an Alpine section, classified in the following way: Main part = Western Alps Major sector = North Western Alps Section = Bernese Alps i.t.w.m. code = I/B-12
Subdivision The range is divided into three subsections:
Urner Alps (in German Urner Alpen) - SOIUSA code:I/B-12.I; Bernese Alps s.s.s.s. = stricto sensu (in German Berner Alpen i.e.S.I.e.S. = in eigentlichen Sinne - in English: in the narrow meaning) - SOIUSA code:I/B-12.II; Vaud Alps - SOIUSA code:I/B-12.III.
Notable summits
Some notable summits of the range are:
NameElevation(m)Alpine subsectionFinsteraarhorn4,274Bernese Alps s.s.Aletschhorn4,193Bernese Alps s.s.Jungfrau4,158Bernese Alps s.s.Mönch4,105Bernese Alps s.s.Schreckhorn4,080Bernese Alps s.s.Fiescherhorn4,049Bernese Alps s.s.Grünhorn4,043Bernese Alps s.s.Lauteraarhorn4,042Bernese Alps s.s.Gletscherhorn3,983Bernese Alps s.s.Eiger3,967Bernese Alps s.s.Äbeni Flue3,962Bernese Alps s.s.Fiescher Gabelhorn3,876Bernese Alps s.s.Doldenhorn3,643Bernese Alps s.s.Dammastock3,630Urner AlpsGalenstock3,583Urner AlpsSustenhorn3,503Urner AlpsTitlis3,238Urner AlpsLes Diablerets3,210Vaud AlpsGrand Muveran3,051Vaud AlpsLohner3,048Bernese Alps s.s.Wendenstöcke3,042Urner AlpsSparrhorn3,021Bernese Alps s.s.Torrenthorn2,998Bernese Alps s.s.Dent de Morcles2,980Vaud AlpsEggishorn2,934Bernese Alps s.s.
Notable passes
Some notable mountain passes of the range are: NameRoute (from/to) Type Elevation Furka Pass Rhône GlacierAndermatt Road 2436 m 7992 ft Gemmi Pass KanderstegLeukerbad Bridle path 2329 m 7641 ft Mönchjoch GrindelwaldEggishorn Snow 3560 m 11,680 ft Jungfraujoch WengernalpEggishorn Snow 3470 m 11,385 ft Grünhornlücke Great Aletsch GlacierFiescher Glacier Snow 3305 m 10,844 ft Grimsel Pass MeiringenRhone Glacier Road 2164 m 7100 ft Kleine Scheidegg GrindelwaldLauterbrunnen Path, railway 2064 m 6772 ft Col de Cheville SionBex Bridle path 2049 m 6723 ft Grosse Scheidegg GrindelwaldMeiringen Road (restricted to bus traffic) 1967 m 6454 ft Brünig Pass MeiringenLucerne Road, railway 1035 m 3396 ft Petersgrat LauterbrunnenLötschental Snow 3205 m 10,516 ft Lötschenlücke LötschentalEggishorn Snow 3204 m 10,512 ft Susten Pass MeiringenWassen Road 2262 m 7422 ft Sanetsch Pass SionSaanen Bridle path 2234 m 7331 ft
References
Maps Swiss official cartography (Swiss Federal Office of Topography - Swisstopo); on-line version: map.geo.admin.ch