VR Glacier Experience Diavolezza

Unique “Virtual Reality Glacier Experience” visitors’ centre to open in Pontresina

Graubündner Kantonalbank offers a virtual journey through time into the world of glaciers and water

A new interactive exhibition in Pontresina in the Upper Engadine reveals the impacts of climate change.

From 10 October 2020, the “Virtual Reality Glacier Experience” will offer visitors a one-of-a-kind virtual

journey through time around the Morteratsch Glacier. This tourist attraction has been made possible by

Graubündner Kantonalbank (GKB) as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations.

The interactive Virtual Reality Glacier Experience exhibition provides answers to questions about glaciers and

water, and takes visitors on a journey through time and space. Interested visitors can immerse themselves in

the past and the future, and experience the area around the Morteratsch Glacier by taking part in four virtual

tours. An array of climate scenarios illustrate how the glacier tongue is retreating. Visitors can find out about

what could potentially be achieved by the MortAlive glacier protection project headed by glaciologist Felix

Keller. The idea behind MortAlive is to cover the glacier tongue with technical snow made from melt water in

summer in order to protect the ice sheet. What's more, the project aims to do all of this without using any

electricity. “With this new exhibition, we aim to raise awareness of glacial melting and the need for pioneering

projects. Well-founded science coupled with state-of-the-art knowledge transfer techniques give rise to the

kind of innovation that Graubündner Kantonalbank wants to support,” said GKB CEO Daniel Fust. Whether

you are young or old, from the local area or from another country, this topic affects everybody.

To celebrate its anniversary, Graubündner Kantonalbank joined forces with renowned partners to create an

exhibition that allows visitors to experience the impacts of climate change. Over the past two years, an old

restaurant at the Diavolezza valley station has been transformed into an attraction that underlines the Bank’s

anniversary motto of setting an example with sustainability in mind: “The Virtual Reality Glacier Experience

shows visitors the global impact of water being removed from the environment and the ways in which

Graubünden is trying to meet this challenge at a local level”, said Peter Fanconi, Chair of GKB. Surrounded by

the rugged natural landscape and the imposing Bernina massif, the centre is located right at the heart of the

action and can thus have an optimal impact on visitors.

A journey through time focusing on glaciers and water