In this article we will explore San Bernardino Pass, a topic that has captured the attention of experts and hobbyists alike. San Bernardino Pass is a topic that has been the subject of debate in contemporary society, awakening the interest of various disciplines and sectors. Throughout history, San Bernardino Pass has been the protagonist of important events that have marked the evolution of humanity, and its relevance continues in today's world. Through detailed, multidisciplinary analysis, we aim to shed light on the many aspects that make San Bernardino Pass such an intriguing and significant topic. Through the exploration of its origins, implications, and future projections, we hope to offer the reader a deeper and broader understanding of San Bernardino Pass, thereby broadening their perspective and knowledge on this fascinating subject.
San Bernardino Pass | |
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Italian: Passo del San Bernardino German: Bernhardinpass | |
Elevation | 2,066 m (6,778 ft) |
Traversed by | Road |
Location | Graubünden, Switzerland |
Range | Lepontine Alps |
Coordinates | 46°29′46″N 9°10′15″E / 46.49611°N 9.17083°E |
Topo map | Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo |
San Bernardino Pass (Italian: Passo del San Bernardino, German: Bernhardinpass, 2,066 metres (6,778 ft)) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the Hinterrhein and the Mesolcina (Misox) valleys between Thusis (canton of Graubünden) and Bellinzona (canton of Ticino). Located in the far eastern side of the Western Alps it is not to be confused with the Great St Bernard Pass and the Little St Bernard Pass. The top of the pass represents both the Italo-German language frontier and the watershed (drainage divide) between the Po basin and the Rhine basin. Marscholsee is within the pass at an elevation of 2,053 m (6,736 ft).
The route first became important as a mule track in the fifteenth century when the route between Thusis and Splügen was known as the Via Mala. A road for wheeled vehicles was opened in 1770; this road was significantly improved between 1821 and 1823, financed in part by the Kingdom of Sardinia, keen to improve a trade route connecting Genoa and Piedmont to the Graubünden that was not directly controlled by Austria.
Traffic flow was much facilitated when in 1967, the San Bernardino road tunnel was completed: since then vehicle traffic on the pass has been reduced, benefiting those taking the time to avoid the tunnel. The pass road is only open from May to November.
The average climatic conditions for San Bernardino village at the entry point to the San Bernardino tunnel at 1,639 m (5,377 ft) are given in the following chart.
Climate data for S. Bernardino village (1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) |
0.7 (33.3) |
3.2 (37.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.8 (64.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
13.2 (55.8) |
9.2 (48.6) |
3.8 (38.8) |
1.0 (33.8) |
8.2 (46.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
1.9 (35.4) |
6.5 (43.7) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.0 (55.4) |
12.4 (54.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
4.9 (40.8) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.6 (18.3) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
2.6 (36.7) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
8.1 (46.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 89 (3.5) |
62 (2.4) |
95 (3.7) |
171 (6.7) |
216 (8.5) |
188 (7.4) |
188 (7.4) |
193 (7.6) |
202 (8.0) |
182 (7.2) |
162 (6.4) |
105 (4.1) |
1,854 (73.0) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 95.3 (37.5) |
77.8 (30.6) |
76.4 (30.1) |
92.8 (36.5) |
13.6 (5.4) |
0.5 (0.2) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.4 (0.6) |
9.9 (3.9) |
64.6 (25.4) |
89.4 (35.2) |
521.7 (205.4) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 7.5 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 11.2 | 14.7 | 12.0 | 11.5 | 12.4 | 10.1 | 10.7 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 122.9 |
Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm) | 8.9 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 51 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 63 | 64 | 65 | 71 | 74 | 71 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 76 | 71 | 68 | 70 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 101 | 109 | 140 | 120 | 125 | 150 | 172 | 159 | 138 | 114 | 88 | 88 | 1,504 |
Source: MeteoSwiss |