Discover the Alps: Top 11 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Bovine Bonanza in Bern

If Bern were a high school, it would be voted "Most Likely to Succeed in the Cow-munity": This Swiss canton boasts the most cows in Switzerland with around 320,581 resident bovines, thanks to its lush green fields providing ideal grazing conditions, as reported by the Swiss Farmers' Union.
Source => newlyswissed.com

2. Daredevil Ibex Dam Diners

Talk about a steep bill: Alpine Ibexes have taken rock-climbing to another level by scaling dam walls just for a taste of their favorite salty snacks. : These gravity-defying daredevils can be found in the European Alps licking salt-rich minerals and ettringite off dam walls, utilizing their agile hooves to grip even the most vertical of concrete surfaces. Locations of such daring acts include Cingino Dam, Barbellino Dam, and Lago della Rossa Dam in Italy.
Source => amusingplanet.com

Discover nature's incredible candle-making class with Mount Fuji's lava caves and quirky tree molds, where molten lava engulfs trees and leaves behind astonishing geological formations. Uncover the secrets of ancient forests and volcanic activity!

=> Fun Facts about Mount-Fuji

3. Chilly Crystal Accommodations

Forget "Frosty the Snowman" and welcome "Frosty the Snowtel": The Alps are home to a one-of-a-kind, snow-and-ice-crafted hotel. Built by snowboarder Adrian Gunter and international ice carvers, this spectacular stay features unique rooms, romantic ice carvings, and even boasts a sauna and open-air whirlpool at a chilling 2620m above sea level, where you can warm up while enjoying the mountain view.
Source => uniqhotels.com

4. Legendary Saint Bernard Bartenders

They say a dog is a man's best friend, but in the Swiss Alps, Saint Bernards were also life-saving booze dispensers for weary travelers: These legendary dogs, bred in the 17th century from a mix of Roman mastiffs and local Swiss breeds, patrolled the dangerous Great Saint Bernard Pass with monks, using their keen sense of smell to detect avalanches and rescue people buried in snow. While it's widely believed that these furry heroes carried little barrels of brandy or wine around their necks for travelers to sip and keep warm, the truth of the tasty tale remains a mystery due to lost records in monastery fires.
Source => petful.com

5. Snow Volleyball Showdown

Ever heard of a "bump, set, spike" in the snow? Well, brace yourself for a chilly spectacle in the Alps: Wagrain, Austria will host the high-stakes CEV European Snow Volleyball Event in March 2023, where top European teams will battle it out in a specially designed snow volleyball court, surrounded by alpine beauty and a festive atmosphere packed with live music, food, and drinks.
Source => snowvolleyball.com

6. Alpine Heart-Shaped Hideaway

Who knew romance could be found at high altitudes? As it turns out, the Alps have got a heart-on – literally: At the Lunersee Lake, nestled in the Swiss-Austrian Alps, you will find an enchanting love-heart shaped lake which unveils its true form when viewed from specific angles such as the Gamsluggen viewpoint in Switzerland, an 11.86 km hike full of adventure, featuring chains and exposure towards the end, and rewarding hikers with breathtaking panoramas of snow-dusted valleys and vibrant fall foliage.
Source => journeyera.com

7. Edelweiss: Herbal Hero Flower

I spy with my little eye, something that's a symbol of alpinism and can cure your tummy grumbles – no, it's not a mountain goat in a superhero cape, it's the Edelweiss flower: This rare gem blossoms between July and September, finding its home in remote regions of the Alps and serving as a traditional medicine for abdominal and respiratory issues, while also donning the role of emblem for various alpine troops across Europe!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Mother Nature's Icy Playground

When Mother Nature gets a chillsession going, she goes big or goes home: The Eisriesenwelt cave system in Werfen, Austria is actually the world's largest ice cave, featuring a whopping 42 kilometers of frosty underground passageways. Visitors can explore the first kilometer of this frozen wonderland, where stunning icy decorations await – but remember, it's a "guided tours only" party, available from May to October. So bundle up and prepare to unleash your inner Elsa, you're in for a subzero adventure with breathtaking beauty and awe-inspiring mountain views.
Source => salzburg.info

9. Jungfrau-Aletsch: Glacier Galore

When Frosty the Snowman vacations in the Swiss Alps, you might hear him belting out "The hills are alive, with the sound of moo-sic!" as he admires the awe-inspiring peaks: Little did he know that the Jungfrau-Aletsch region, a UNESCO World Heritage site, not only boasts breathtaking mountains like Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch, but also showcases diverse ecosystems and plant succession due to the retreat of glaciers caused by climate change.
Source => whc.unesco.org

10. The Dark Side of Chillon Castle

While Chateau de Chillon may not have made the list for the World’s Top Luxury Prisons or served as the spooky setting for the next season of "Orange is the New Black": this historic castle was once a prison in the 16th and 17th centuries, with prisoners suffering from poor living conditions and a shortage of amenities in the underground dungeons, which can still be seen by visitors today.
Source => tripadvisor.com

11. Futuristic Jetson-esque Ski Resort

Picture the Jetsons vacationing on a snowy mountain, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect at Les Arcs ski resort: A visually stunning and architecturally quirky destination in the French Alps, designed in the 1960s and 70s by renowned architects, sprawled across seven intriguing villages like Arc 1600, 1800, and 2000, perfect for ski holiday enthusiasts seeking a blend of slope-side action and out-of-the-box accommodations.
Source => powderhounds.com