Swiss tectonic arena Sardona with Glarus Thrust in Switzerland.

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Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona

Northeastern Switzerland


Centred on the peak of Piz Sardona, this nature reserve has held Unesco World Natural Heritage status since 2008. A geologist's dream come true, it's one of the best places in the world to observe mountain creation and plate tectonics, thanks to the Glarus Overthrust. This razor-sharp 'magic line' that slices across the rock faces of Switzerland's eastern Alps denotes where 250- to 300-million-year-old rocks were pushed some 40km on top of younger, 30- to 35-million-year-old rocks.


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