The Three Parks Hike, Stage 2
The Three Parks Hike, Stage 2 from Grimmialp to Oey
All season
Naturpark Pfyn-Finges - The panorama trail for Fossil connoisseurs - the origin of thermal water
This is a panorama trail over the tree line. From Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn, all the four-thousand metres peaks of the Valais Alps are showing you their best face. After the Eck (corner) observe the finger-like fossils on the side of the trail, which decorate the rock...but beware, they are also called devil's fingers or thunderbolts. In specialist terminology these are called belemnites (from the Greek meaning javelin or dart).
After a short distance you reach the Wysse See (White Lake). Here begins the 40-year journey of the thermal water. The rainwater penetrates the mountain to approximately 500 metres under sea level. There it absorbs calcium and sulphate in triadic gypsum surroundings and emerges again after geothermal heating as thermal water from the numerous springs in Leukerbad.
The meaning the name thunderbolt in German (Donnerkeil) originates from the German god Donar. The counterpart to the Nordic Thor as the weather god regularly hurled bolts of lightning down to the earth. According to legend, these struck the sand and "fossilised" it to thunderbolts. Belemnite, the alternative name, is the Greek translation for dart (of lightning). In reality, they are the remains of an octopus-like living organism (approx. 150-200 million years old).
Travelling by bus:
Arrival at Leukerbad, railway station - walk in the direction of the Torrent cableway - with the Torrent cable car up to the summit station - follow the sign posts
Travelling by car:
Drive to the Torrent cableway in Leukerbad - then with the Torrent cable car up to the summit station - follow the sign posts
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