states: [switzerland]
category: natural
year: 2008
location: Cantons of Glarus, St. Gallen and Graubünden
region: Europe and North America
latitude/longitude: 46.9166666667, 9.2500000000
unesco id: 1179
world heritage site: 1179
Copyright © 1992 - 2025 UNESCO/World Heritage Centre. All rights reserved.
The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Switzerland, showcases a stunning example of mountain-building through continental collision. It features the Glarus Thrust, where ancient rocks dramatically overlie younger ones, offering a clear, three-dimensional view of tectonic processes that shaped the Alps. Recognized since the 18th century as a key geological site, it continues to inspire scientific study and captivate visitors with its rugged peaks, glaciers, and the famous Martinsloch, a natural window in the Tschingelhörner ridge.