Rigi

Rigi
Rigi behind Lake Lauerz
Elevation	1,797 m (5,896 ft)
Prominence	1,289 m (4,229 ft)
Location
Rigi Schwyz,  Switzerland
Range	North-Eastern Swiss Alps
Coordinates	47°03′24″N 8°29′08″E / 47.05667°N 8.48556°E / 47.05667; 8.48556Coordinates: 47°03′24″N 8°29′08″E / 47.05667°N 8.48556°E / 47.05667; 8.48556
Climbing
Easiest route	Train and Cable-car

Rigi 3D

Rigi is a mountain in central Switzerland. It is also known as the "Queen of the Mountains." The highest peak is the Rigi-Kulm at 1,797.5 meters, with Rigi-Hochflue, Dossen and Rotstock and Rigi-Scheidegg being slightly less high. The mountain is easily accessible by public transportation. It offers many activities such as skiing or sledging in the winter, and hiking in the summer.

Etymology

The name "Rigi" comes from Riginen which is the stratification that is clearly visible on the north-side of the mountain and is one of the identifying characteristics of Mt. Rigi. During the early days of tourism in the Alps, it was said that the name came from the Latin Regina montium-"Queen of the Mountains", this however is not accurate, as the first known use of Riginen dates back to 1384. The oldest known naming of the mountain at all is from 1368: in pede montis riginam ("at the feet of mount Rigina".)

Transportation

There are multiple public transportation options available to ascend Mt. Rigi:

• By rack railway from Arth-Goldau and Vitznau, operated by the Rigi-Bahnen. The Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn started operation on May 21, 1871 and was the first mountain railway in Europe. On June 4, 1875 the Arth-Rigi-Bahn was finished, allowing access from the other side of the mountain. They were electrified in 1937 and 1907 respectively, with the Arth-Rigi-Bahn becoming the first electrified standard gauge rack-railway in the world. Both lines go all the way to the summit, Rigi-Kulm.

• By gondola from Weggis to Rigi-Kaltbad.

• By cable-car from the Kräbel station on the Arth-Rigi-Bahn line to Rigi-Scheidegg.

Recreation

Mt. Rigi offers an area for recreation and sports measuring approximately 90 square kilometres (35 sq mi) offering a variety of well-maintained walking trails or mountain hikes where visitors can have a panoramic view of 150 km (93 mi) from various marked points. There are also numerous public grilling stations located near the hiking trails.

Mt. Rigi is also a perfect destination for people practicing winter sports and other winter recreation activities. The following equipment can be rented at Sport Center in Rigi Kulm: airboards, toboggans, snowshoes, walking sticks. Gloves, ski caps, socks, ski goggles and more can be purchased at same location.

Trails Snowshoe trails 1.5/3/4.5 km Winter trails 35 km Cross-country ski run 7 km

Airboarding/Tobogganing Airboard run 3.6 km Toboggan run Kulm-Staffel 4 km Toboggan run Kulm-Schawandi 3.6 km

Ski/Snowboard area Altitude 1300–1800 m Ski run, easy 3.9 km Entire ski runs 9 km

Panorama of the Swiss Alps as seen from Mt. Rigi (Lucerne, Switzerland)

Mt. Rigi in Art

Mt. Rigi has been featured in many works of art, including both paintings and literary publications. Perhaps the most famous paintings of the Rigi were by JMW Turner, including "The Blue Rigi, Lake of Lucerne, Sunrise". Mark Twain also visited Rigi during his tour of Central Europe in the late 1870's, and wrote about his travels in his "A Tramp Abroad."

Geology

Technically, the Rigi is not a part of the Alps, and belongs instead to the Swiss plateau. It is mostly composed of molasse and other conglomerate, as opposed to the Bündner schist and flysch of the Alps.

External links

• Rigi on SummitPost
• Various maps from rigi.ch
• Rigi Kulm
• Pictures Rigi
• Video of steam locomotive on the Rigi
• Rigi Webcams

Gallery

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  Steam train

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  Station near the summit

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  View from summit

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  Rigi Kulm 1920

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  Lake Lucerne seen from Rigi

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  Turner - The Blue Rigi- Lake of Lucerne - Sunrise (1842)

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  View of the alps of central Switzerland from Rigi Kulm.