Photos

A view of Lake Lungern (Lungernsee) seen from the Brunig Pass between Interlaken and Lucerne in Switzerland.

About this photo: Last summer (July 2008) we went for a trip to Europe and spent about 12 days in the area Interlaken in Switzerland. We arrived on the 12th of July in Ruchenbühl where we stayed in a beautiful Swiss chalet (ferienwohnung). This place is about 3-4km/1.8-2.5mi from Interlaken and situated above the Thunersee (Lake Thun) with views of the mountains. The problem was that it was raining on the day we arrived, it was raining the after and the next day it was raining again. We were getting a little stressed out as we couldn’t do too much and weren’t able to see the views as the mountains were covered in clouds.

On the 14th of July (our anniversary as well) we decided to drive to Lucerne which was about 1 hour driving from where we were staying. We spent a some time in this beautiful city as it wasn't raining here. On the way back to Interlaken we stopped at the viewpoint over Lake Lungern. What a beautiful place even with all the clouds around. This green valley dotted with houses and this beautiful lake right in between. It finally stopped raining.

~Camera Settings:
*Camera Model: Sony DSC-H5
*Focal Length: 7mm
*F-Number: F/6.3
*Exposure Time: 1/250 sec.
*ISO Speed: ISO-160
*Exposure Program: Aperture Priority (A)
*Exposure Compensation (E/V): 0 step

I added some contrast and saturation to this photo to bring out the colours a little more.

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you like this photo!
Ann


Some information on the area of Interlaken: The Bernese Oberland is one of the most spectacular regions of Switzerland. It is well worth a visit, especially during the summer months. The combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, fresh air, summer heat, jagged rocks and lush rolling green hills will quickly fascinate you. If you like hiking then the Bernese Oberland is the place to be. You will be rewarded with 100% pure nature. From the romantic shores of Lake of Thun until the endless forests until the freezing cold in glaciers, one highlight follows the other.

Interlaken is a good place from which to explore the central region of the Bernese Oberland. This small town lays between two lakes, the Thunersee (Lake Thun) and the Brienzersee (Lake Brienz) and is located near the famous mountain trio: the Eiger (3,970m/13,025ft), Monch (4,099m/13,448ft) and the Jungfrau (4,158m/13,642 ft). Take a train or cable car to one of the many vantage points from which to view the incredible surroundings. A 40-minute train trip east of Interlaken will take you to Grindelwald. This typical swiss village is situated at the northern face of the Eiger. Unlike Wengen or Muerren over the ridge, Grindelwald is accessible by car and bus, and gets much more tourist traffic than the Lauterbrunnen resorts.

From Grindelwald you can take the Jungfrau Railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m/11,333ft above sea level! Grindelwald has a network of cable-cars leading up to numerous short- and long-distance trails throughout the region and beyond.

It’s difficult to overstate how stunning the Lauterbrunnen Valley is – even seasoned Alpinists shrug their shoulders and call it the most beautiful valley in Europe! An immense U-shaped valley (the world’s deepest) with bluffs on either side rising 1000m/3000ft sheer, doused by some 72 waterfalls, it is utterly spectacular. However long you stay, two hours or two weeks, you won’t want to leave. Lauterbrunnen village itself lies on the valley floor, while the slopes above host two of Switzerland’s most appealing resorts.

Muerren to the west is the transfer point for a dramatic ride up the longest cable railway in the Alps to the Piz Gloria on the Schilthorn peak, while Wengen to the east is a stop on the train line up to Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch. Both are car-free, perched on narrow shelves of pasture way above the world below, and both offer some of the best hiking to be enjoyed in the Alps. Other places to visit include the picturesque towns of Bönigen and Iseltwald as well as the western part of the Bernese Oberland with areas such as Gstaad, Simmental, Frutigenland and Hasliberg.

Some information on Lungern: The village of Lungern lies 750m/2460ft above sea level in the highest part of the canton of Obwalden, on the lake of Lungern and at the foot of the Brünig Pass. It is the highest village of the Sarneraa-Valley and is divided into three districts: on the northern part of the lake is Kaiserstuhl/Bürglen; the town centre lies on the eastern side of the lake; and the hamlet Obsee is situated on the southern side of the lake and might be the best maintained part of the old village. There you will still find old houses in their original structure and style.