Piz Corvatsch

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Piz Corvatsch ([ˌpitskorˈvatʃ]) is a mountain in the Bernina Range of the Alps, overlooking Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana in the Engadin region of the canton of Graubünden. With an elevation of 3,451 m (11,322 ft), it is the highest point on the range separating the main Inn valley from the Val Roseg. Aside from Piz Corvatsch, two other slightly lower summits make up the Corvatsch massif: Piz Murtèl (3,433 m (11,263 ft); north of Piz Corvatsch) and the unnamed summit where lies the Corvatsch upper cable car station (3,303 m (10,837 ft); north of Piz Murtèl). Politically, the summit of Piz Corvatsch is shared between the municipalities of Sils im Engadin/Segl and Samedan, although the 3,303 m high summit lies between the municipalities of Silvaplana and Samedan. The tripoint between the aforementioned municipalities is the summit of Piz Murtèl.

Piz Corvatsch
Piz Corvatsch seen from Lake Sils
Highest point
Elevation3,451 m (11,322 ft)
Prominence383 m (1,257 ft)[1]
Parent peakPiz Bernina
Isolation5.2 km (3.2 mi)[2]
ListingAlpine mountains above 3000 m
Coordinates46°24′30″N 9°48′58″E / 46.40833°N 9.81611°E / 46.40833; 9.81611
Naming
English translationCrow (or raven) peak
Geography
Piz Corvatsch is located in Switzerland
Piz Corvatsch
Piz Corvatsch
Location in Switzerland
LocationGraubünden, Switzerland
Parent rangeBernina Range
Climbing
First ascent1850 by Johann Coaz and party[3]
Easiest routeFrom the Corvatsch station

Several glaciers lie on the east side on the massif. The largest, below Piz Corvatsch, is named Vadret dal Murtèl. The second largest, below Piz Murtèl and the station, is named Vadret dal Corvatsch.

The Corvatsch cable car starts above the village of Surlej, east of Silvaplana and culminates at 3,298 m. From there, the summit of Piz Corvatsch can be reached by traversing Piz Murtèl. In winter and spring, the mountain is part of a ski area, which is amongst the highest in Switzerland and the Eastern Alps.

View from the observation deck of the Corvatsch station. On the right is Piz Murtèl and on the middle-left is Piz Bernina, the highest mountain in the Eastern Alps. The summit of Piz Corvatsch lies behind Piz Murtèl.

Climate

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Piz Corvatsch has an alpine tundra climate (ET) with long, cold winters lasting most of the year and a brief period during summer where the average daily highs rise above freezing.

Climate data for Piz Corvatsch: 3294m (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −8.5
(16.7)
−9.2
(15.4)
−7.7
(18.1)
−5.3
(22.5)
−1.3
(29.7)
2.6
(36.7)
5.3
(41.5)
5.4
(41.7)
1.6
(34.9)
−1.1
(30.0)
−5.3
(22.5)
−7.7
(18.1)
−2.6
(27.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −11.0
(12.2)
−11.8
(10.8)
−10.1
(13.8)
−7.6
(18.3)
−3.5
(25.7)
0.4
(32.7)
2.6
(36.7)
2.9
(37.2)
−0.6
(30.9)
−3.2
(26.2)
−7.5
(18.5)
−10.2
(13.6)
−5.0
(23.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)
−14.4
(6.1)
−12.6
(9.3)
−10.0
(14.0)
−5.7
(21.7)
−1.9
(28.6)
0.2
(32.4)
0.6
(33.1)
−2.7
(27.1)
−5.4
(22.3)
−9.8
(14.4)
−12.7
(9.1)
−7.3
(18.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 78
(3.1)
69
(2.7)
76
(3.0)
106
(4.2)
132
(5.2)
144
(5.7)
135
(5.3)
135
(5.3)
100
(3.9)
121
(4.8)
135
(5.3)
88
(3.5)
1,317
(51.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 9.0 8.3 10.0 11.6 14.1 14.1 13.1 13.0 10.1 10.3 11.2 9.9 134.7
Average relative humidity (%) 62 64 71 77 80 80 77 77 75 68 68 66 72
Mean monthly sunshine hours 141 150 186 174 173 179 200 185 167 165 125 117 1,961
Percent possible sunshine 56 56 53 45 39 40 44 45 47 53 50 49 47
Source: MeteoSwiss (humidity 1981-2010)[4][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps. The key col is the Fuorcla Fex-Roseg (3,068 m).
  2. ^ Retrieved from Google Earth. The nearest point of higher elevation is northwest of Piz Roseg.
  3. ^ Collomb, Robin, Bernina Alps, Goring: West Col Productions, 1988, p. 109.
  4. ^ "Climate normals Piz Corvatsch 1991-2020". MeteoSwiss. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Climate normals Piz Corvatsch 1981-2010" (PDF). MeteoSwiss. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  • Collomb, Robin, Bernina Alps, Goring: West Col Productions, 1988
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  Media related to Piz Corvatsch at Wikimedia Commons