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Lepontine Alps
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St. Gotthard Pass Gotthard Base Tunnel Gotthard Base Tunnel Saint Gotthard Pass Simplon Pass in the Lepontine Alps, Switzerland
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St. Gotthard Pass
St. Gotthard Pass St. Gotthard Pass through the Lepontine Alps, Switzerland.

Lepontine Alps

mountains, Europe
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Also known as: Alpes Lépontiennes, Alpi Lepontine, Lepontinische Alpen, Lepontische Alpen
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Article History
Italian:
Alpi Lepontine
French:
Alpes Lépontiennes
German:
Lepont(in)ische Alpen
See all related content

Lepontine Alps, segment of the Central Alps along the Italian–Swiss border, bounded by the Simplon Pass and Pennine Alps (west-southwest), the Upper Rhône and Vorderrhein river valleys (north), Splügen Pass (Italian Passo dello Spluga) and the Rhaetian Alps (east-northeast), and the Italian lake district (south). At the western end of the range lies Mt. Leone (11,657 ft [3,553 m]), the highest peak; and along the south slope are the deep Leventina and Mesolcina valleys. Important passes include Simplon, St. Gotthard, Lukmanier, and San Bernardino. The portion of the range east of St. Gotthard Pass is sometimes called the Adula Alps. The sources of the Rhône and Rhine rivers lie on the borders of this section of the Alps. Mountain climbing is popular in the region.

Gotthard Base Tunnel
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Gotthard Base TunnelMiners rejoicing after completing the drilling for the Gotthard Base Tunnel, October 2010.
Gotthard Base Tunnel
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Gotthard Base TunnelTrain entering the Gotthard Base Tunnel upon the ceremonial opening of the tunnel on June 1, 2016.

In 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) opened in southern Switzerland.  It is the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel,  accommodating high-speed trains, reducing the travel time for freight and passengers between northern and southern Europe, and generating a host of safety and environmental benefits.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Heather Campbell.