- Simplon Pass
Infobox Mountain Pass
Name =Simplon Pass
Photo =
Caption =
Elevation = m to ft|num=2008|abbr=no|spell=Commonwealth|precision=0|wiki=yes
Location = SUI
Range =Alps
Coordinates =coord|46|15|6|N|8|2|0|E|region:CH-VS_type:pass|display=inline,title
Topographic
Traversed by =
Simplon Pass (Italian: "Passo del Sempione") (2008 m./6589 ft.) is a high
mountain pass between thePennine Alps and theLepontine Alps inSwitzerland . It connects Brig in the canton ofValais withDomodossola inPiedmont (Italy ). The pass itself is, together with the first villages across the border such asGondo , still in Switzerland. TheSimplon Tunnel was built beneath the vicinity of the pass in the early 20th century to carry rail traffic between the two countries.History
There has been a locally used passage through the mountains here for several centuries, but the pass acquired international significance during the Napoleonic occupation. Between 1801 and 1805 a road was constructed by the engineer
Nicolas Céard at the direction of the emperor in order to transport artillery pieces through the pass between the Rhône valley andItaly . Since then, the pass has been usable by post carriages, replaced early in the twentieth century by post buses.The former Simplon département (the Swiss canton
Valais ) was named after the pass.Picture
External links
* [http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Simplon%20Pass%20&qryMountainID=5591 Profile on climbbybike.com]
* [http://www.ossolaland.com/skialpinism/Equator-for-ski-simplon.htm Impression Ski-Alpinism Simplon Pass]
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