Telescop

Welcome to the walk-in “Telescop”. This construction offers visitors breathtaking views of the Ova da Bernina white water gorge. Standing close to the slightly inclined glass panels, visitors can look directly down into the ravine. It is impressive to see how the glacial stream has eaten away vertically into the rock and created a small ecosystem. The gorge is a habitat for rare plants, birds and protected bats – the latter of which shy away from light so are rarely visible, which is a good thing in terms of their conservation. The adventure trail was created with a view to leaving the sensitive flora and fauna undisturbed, which is why it does not lead down into the gorge. It seems that this was not always the case, however – why else would there be the remains of a brick viewing platform in the middle of the gorge?

Water can create some stunning sights if we give it enough time. To create a narrow gorge with vertical and even overhanging walls, a second important ingredient is needed: hard and solid rock. And thirdly, a sudden drop in gradient. The result is that the water eats vertically downwards, while there is little or no erosion at the sides. In Pontresina, over time – that is, around eleven thousand years or so! – a 500-metre-long and around 30-metre-deep whitewater gorge formed – a masterpiece of nature right in the heart of the village.

The whitewater gorge was already a spectacular tourist attraction many years ago. This is evidenced by old postcards and historical photos that depict steep, exposed steps leading into the gorge. The path led to a viewing platform close to the water, where the roar and thunder of the glacial stream would have been experienced at close quarters. The remains of this viewing platform can be clearly seen from the walk-in telescope. It was probably built between the wars when tourism started to pick up and new attractions were created. However, the dangerous gorge path was closed with the construction of the bypass road (1963/’64). A platform at this location is now unthinkable and could no longer be built. Today, we know that the platform is located in a flood danger zone, and in the summer of 2022, for example, following intense heavy rainfall, it was indeed completely flooded and subsequently covered with great quantities of wood transported by the force of the water.

The Pontresina whitewater gorge was awakened from its slumber in the 1990s by local ice climbers. The gorge in the centre of the village quickly became well-known in the ice-climbing scene. This renewed interest gave rise to ideas for making this natural gem more accessible to the general public as a year-round recreational area, with proposals for footbridges, platforms and zip lines to be constructed close to the water. However, the local tourism organisation soon abandoned such projects. Firstly, there were the safety aspects; when the river is very full, the water level can rise rapidly by several metres. Secondly, there are legitimate nature-conservation concerns; the gorge is home to birds, protected bats and numerous insects that are a source of food for these.

Nine species of bat have been recorded in the Pontresina whitewater gorge. They are all insectivores and hunt at dusk. All of the native species also hibernate. The gorge is an important habitat for these shy aerial artistes. The microclimate here is humid, and the vegetation untouched by humans, both of which are good for insect diversity. The flying mammals can also find cracks in the rocks and crevices in which they can remain undisturbed. There are 30 species of bat in Switzerland and all of them are protected, as almost all species are endangered or threatened with extinction. It is therefore important to preserve natural habitats such as the Pontresina village gorge.

The Ova da Bernina whitewater gorge has been sympathetically developed for tourism in a way that doesn't harm the flora and fauna. Visitors do not go down into the gorge – they view it from above, hence respecting the delicate ecosystem. In addition, no new trail networks are planned, and the various touristic sites are located at the level of the surrounding roads and hiking trails. To minimise the impact on this unique landscape, any buildings have been reduced to the bare essentials, with clear and simple lines that emphasise the beauty of the wild nature, and the gorge has not been encroached on at any point.