Säntis

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Mountain in Switzerland

title: "Säntis" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mountains-of-switzerland", "mountains-of-the-alps", "mountains-of-the-canton-of-st.-gallen", "mountains-of-appenzell-innerrhoden", "mountains-of-appenzell-ausserrhoden", "tourist-attractions-in-the-canton-of-st.-gallen", "cable-cars-in-switzerland", "highest-points-of-swiss-cantons", "appenzell-alps", "two-thousanders-of-switzerland", "appenzell-ausserrhoden–appenzell-innerrhoden-border", "appenzell-ausserrhoden–st.-gallen-border", "appenzell-innerrhoden–st.-gallen-border", "ultra-prominent-peaks-of-europe"] description: "Mountain in Switzerland" topic_path: "geography/switzerland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Säntis" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Mountain in Switzerland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox mountain"]

FieldValue
nameSäntis
photoSäntis mountain by sunset.jpg
photo_size285
photo_captionAerial view of Säntis
elevation_m2502
prominence_m2021
prominence_ref(#13 in the Alps)
isolation_km25.7
isolation_ref
mapAlps#Switzerland#Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden#Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden#Canton of St. Gallen
map_captionLocation in the Alps##Location in Switzerland##Location in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden##Location in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden##Location in the canton of St. Gallen
listingCanton high point
Ultra
countrySwitzerland
subdivision1_typeCantons of
subdivision1
parentAppenzell Alps
coordinates
::

| name= Säntis | photo= Säntis mountain by sunset.jpg | photo_size= 285 | photo_caption= Aerial view of Säntis | elevation_m= 2502 | elevation_ref= | parent_peak = | prominence_m= 2021 | prominence_ref= (#13 in the Alps) | isolation_km= 25.7 | isolation_ref= | map= Alps#Switzerland#Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden#Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden#Canton of St. Gallen | map_caption= Location in the Alps##Location in Switzerland##Location in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden##Location in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden##Location in the canton of St. Gallen | listing= Canton high point Ultra | country= Switzerland | subdivision1_type= Cantons of | subdivision1= | parent= Appenzell Alps | coordinates= | range_coordinates= | first_ascent= | easiest_route=

At 2501.9 m above sea level, Säntis () is the highest mountain in the Alpstein massif of northeastern Switzerland. It is also the culminating point of the whole Appenzell Alps, between Lake Walen and Lake Constance. Shared by three cantons, the mountain is a highly visible landmark thanks to its exposed northerly position within the Alpstein massif. As a consequence, houses called Säntisblick (English: Säntis view) can be found in regions as far away as the Black Forest in Germany. Säntis is among the most prominent summits in the Alps and the most prominent summit in Europe with an observation deck on the top. The panorama from the summit is spectacular. Six countries can be seen if the weather allows: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France, and Italy.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Säntis_-_Batzberg_IMG_9803.JPG" caption="Säntis seen from the Batzberg"] ::

Säntis is located in the Alpstein region, nearly 10 km (as the crow flies) southwest of the town of Appenzell and south of Kronberg. Three cantons meet on Säntis: Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and St. Gallen, the mountain being split between the municipalities of Hundwil, Schwende and Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann. Even though its summit is at only 2502 m above sea level, the mountain ranks number 13th in the Alps and 29th in Europe in topographic prominence at 2021 m. Peaks with high prominence often have impressive summit views, even if their elevations are relatively modest, Säntis being a prime example. Säntis is also the highest mountain of both cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Climate

The exposed position of Säntis results in weather conditions normally observed in the high Alps, which means being a typically polar climate (Köppen: ET) with heavy precipitation not found in most of the Arctic. For example, in April 1999, just beneath the summit on the northern snowfield of the mountain, a snow height of 816 cm was recorded. The daily mean temperature is -0.7 C with a precipitation of 2840 mm per year.

|location = Säntis (~12 m of the ridge), elevation: 2490 m 1991–2020 normals |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes | Jan high C = -4.1 | Feb high C = -4.8 | Mar high C = -3.3 | Apr high C = -1.0 | May high C = 3.2 | Jun high C = 6.9 | Jul high C = 9.2 | Aug high C = 9.6 | Sep high C = 6.2 | Oct high C = 3.7 | Nov high C = -0.7 | Dec high C = -3.2 | year high C = 1.8 | Jan mean C = -6.8 | Feb mean C = -7.5 | Mar mean C = -5.6 | Apr mean C = -3.0 | May mean C = 1.0 | Jun mean C = 4.5 | Jul mean C = 6.4 | Aug mean C = 6.8 | Sep mean C = 3.6 | Oct mean C = 1.1 | Nov mean C = -3.3 | Dec mean C = -5.9 | year mean C = -0.7 | Jan low C = -9.3 | Feb low C = -10.0 | Mar low C = -8.0 | Apr low C = -5.3 | May low C = -1.3 | Jun low C = 2.1 | Jul low C = 4.0 | Aug low C = 4.5 | Sep low C = 1.3 | Oct low C = -1.3 | Nov low C = -5.7 | Dec low C = -8.4 | year low C = -3.1 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 269.5 |Feb precipitation mm = 221.9 |Mar precipitation mm = 254.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 176.2 |May precipitation mm = 224.0 |Jun precipitation mm = 242.8 |Jul precipitation mm = 278.6 |Aug precipitation mm = 266.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 214.3 |Oct precipitation mm = 193.4 |Nov precipitation mm = 204.9 |Dec precipitation mm = 293.6 |year precipitation mm = 2840.1 | Jan snow cm = 133.0 | Feb snow cm = 140.3 | Mar snow cm = 133.7 | Apr snow cm = 95.7 | May snow cm = 63.9 | Jun snow cm = 29.7 | Jul snow cm = 13.2 | Aug snow cm = 12.0 | Sep snow cm = 37.7 | Oct snow cm = 59.7 | Nov snow cm = 117.8 | Dec snow cm = 165.2 | year snow cm = 1001.9 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 12.7 | Feb precipitation days = 12.3 | Mar precipitation days = 14.4 | Apr precipitation days = 12.8 | May precipitation days = 15.1 | Jun precipitation days = 16.1 | Jul precipitation days = 16.5 | Aug precipitation days = 15.8 | Sep precipitation days = 13.4 | Oct precipitation days = 11.6 | Nov precipitation days = 12.3 | Dec precipitation days = 14.9 | year precipitation days = 167.9 |unit snow days = 1.0 cm | Jan snow days = 14.2 | Feb snow days = 13.4 | Mar snow days = 15.0 | Apr snow days = 12.5 | May snow days = 9.0 | Jun snow days = 4.6 | Jul snow days = 2.0 | Aug snow days = 1.7 | Sep snow days = 5.3 | Oct snow days = 8.1 | Nov snow days = 12.1 | Dec snow days = 15.7 | year snow days = 113.6 | Jan humidity = 66 | Feb humidity = 68 | Mar humidity = 74 | Apr humidity = 79 | May humidity = 83 | Jun humidity = 85 | Jul humidity = 85 | Aug humidity = 82 | Sep humidity = 79 | Oct humidity = 72 | Nov humidity = 71 | Dec humidity = 69 | year humidity = 76 |Jan sun = 127.8 |Feb sun = 132.3 |Mar sun = 155.3 |Apr sun = 161.8 |May sun = 162.7 |Jun sun = 159.5 |Jul sun = 168.1 |Aug sun = 170.9 |Sep sun = 157.7 |Oct sun = 160.7 |Nov sun = 118.4 |Dec sun = 111.5 |year sun = 1786.7 | Jan percentsun = 46 | Feb percentsun = 46 | Mar percentsun = 43 | Apr percentsun = 41 | May percentsun = 36 | Jun percentsun = 35 | Jul percentsun = 36 | Aug percentsun = 40 | Sep percentsun = 43 | Oct percentsun = 48 | Nov percentsun = 43 | Dec percentsun = 43 | year percentsun = 41 | source 1 = NOAA{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241213080718/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Switzerland/CSV/Saentis_06680.csv | archive-date = 13 December 2024 | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Switzerland/CSV/Saentis_06680.csv | title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020 | work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 13 December 2024}} |source 2 = MeteoSwiss{{cite web | url = https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/SAE/climsheet_SAE_np9120_e.pdf | title = Climate Normals Säntis (Reference period 1991−2020) | publisher = Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss | format = PDF | access-date = 29 January 2022}} |date=January 2019 | width = 100% | collapsed = y | open = | metric first = y | single line = y | location = Säntis (~12 m of the ridge), elevation: 2490 m, 1961-1990 normals and extremes | Jan mean C =-8.3 | Feb mean C =-8.3 | Mar mean C =-7.1 | Apr mean C =-4.5 | May mean C =-0.5 | Jun mean C =2.8 | Jul mean C =5.1 | Aug mean C =5.0 | Sep mean C =3.6 | Oct mean C =1.0 | Nov mean C =-4.0 | Dec mean C =-6.5 | Jan high C =-5.1 | Feb high C =-5.3 | Mar high C =-4.2 | Apr high C =-2.0 | May high C =1.8 | Jun high C =5.1 | Jul high C =7.3 | Aug high C =7.3 | Sep high C =6.0 | Oct high C =3.7 | Nov high C =-1.2 | Dec high C =-3.5 | Jan avg record high C =2.2 | Feb avg record high C =2.1 | Mar avg record high C =3.2 | Apr avg record high C =5.0 | May avg record high C =8.9 | Jun avg record high C =12.5 | Jul avg record high C =14.7 | Aug avg record high C =14.8 | Sep avg record high C =12.7 | Oct avg record high C =10.6 | Nov avg record high C =6.7 | Dec avg record high C =3.8 | Jan record high C =6.0 | Feb record high C =10.1 | Mar record high C =9.2 | Apr record high C =11.0 | May record high C =13.8 | Jun record high C =15.1 | Jul record high C =20.8 | Aug record high C =18.0 | Sep record high C =16.1 | Oct record high C =15.5 | Nov record high C =9.8 | Dec record high C =7.3 | Jan low C =-10.7 | Feb low C =-10.5 | Mar low C =-9.2 | Apr low C =-6.6 | May low C =-2.7 | Jun low C =0.5 | Jul low C =2.4 | Aug low C =2.5 | Sep low C =1.1 | Oct low C =-1.4 | Nov low C =-6.4 | Dec low C =-9.0 | Jan avg record low C =-19.9 | Feb avg record low C =-18.4 | Mar avg record low C =-16.9 | Apr avg record low C =-13.9 | May avg record low C =-9.6 | Jun avg record low C =-5.9 | Jul avg record low C =-3.8 | Aug avg record low C =-3.6 | Sep avg record low C =-5.7 | Oct avg record low C =-9.2 | Nov avg record low C =-15.2 | Dec avg record low C =-18.0 | Jan record low C =-30.4 | Feb record low C =-29.1 | Mar record low C =-27.8 | Apr record low C =-18.9 | May record low C =-15.9 | Jun record low C =-9.7 | Jul record low C =-7.1 | Aug record low C =-8.0 | Sep record low C =-9.9 | Oct record low C =-13.6 | Nov record low C =-21.4 | Dec record low C =-25.7 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm =229.0 | Feb precipitation mm =201.0 | Mar precipitation mm =209.0 | Apr precipitation mm =249.0 | May precipitation mm =235.0 | Jun precipitation mm =293.0 | Jul precipitation mm =315.0 | Aug precipitation mm =333.0 | Sep precipitation mm =211.0 | Oct precipitation mm =171.0 | Nov precipitation mm =211.0 | Dec precipitation mm =246.0 | Jan humidity =72.0 | Feb humidity =71.0 | Mar humidity =76.0 | Apr humidity =81.0 | May humidity =82.0 | Jun humidity =83.0 | Jul humidity =81.0 | Aug humidity =80.0 | Sep humidity =74.0 | Oct humidity =66.0 | Nov humidity =70.0 | Dec humidity =68.0 | Jan sun =114.7 | Feb sun =134.3 | Mar sun =148.2 | Apr sun =141.9 | May sun =153.7 | Jun sun =147.4 | Jul sun =169.1 | Aug sun =165.7 | Sep sun =176.1 | Oct sun =187.6 | Nov sun =132.6 | Dec sun =120.6 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days =15.0 | Feb precipitation days =13.0 | Mar precipitation days =15.0 | Apr precipitation days =16.0 | May precipitation days =16.0 | Jun precipitation days =17.0 | Jul precipitation days =16.0 | Aug precipitation days =16.0 | Sep precipitation days =12.0 | Oct precipitation days =10.0 | Nov precipitation days =12.0 | Dec precipitation days =14.0 | source = NOAA{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/SW/06680.TXT | server = NOAA | title = Säntis (06680) - WMO Weather Station | access-date = 10 February 2019 Open climate chart for the corresponding period

Panorama

History

The name Säntis or Santizo dates back to the 9th century. It is an abbreviation of the Romansh language for Sambatinus (English: the one born on Saturday), which was thought to be the name of a nearby area. The name was later used to refer to the summit. In the German language it was called Semptis or Sämptis. The mountain later gave its name to a canton of the Helvetic Republic (1798–1803).

Weather station

The International Meteorological Congress of Rome in 1879 declared it as a necessity to build weather stations on adequate and accessible summits. Therefore, the Swiss built a weather station on Säntis. The position of the northern ridge proved to be ideal for such an endeavour. The weather station was commissioned in autumn of 1882.

Säntis murder

The so-called Säntismord (English: Säntis murder) happened in the winter of 1922. It refers to a crime in which the weather station keeper Heinrich Haas and his wife Maria Magdalena were murdered. The murder was only discovered because of missing weather reports on 21 February. As a result of the missing reports, a search party was sent to Säntis, where they discovered the bodies. The prime suspect was shoemaker Gregor Anton Kreuzpointner, who committed suicide three weeks after the murder. The truth about this double murder hence remains unclear to this day.Werner Kamber: Bergdrama im Wetterhäuschen. Vor 80 Jahren: Doppelmord am Säntis Die Alpen 12/2002

Lightning measurements station

Säntis has one of the highest rate of lightning strikes in Europe. In 2010 a lightning measurement station was installed atop a 120 m tall telecommunications tower on the mountain by the Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab of the EPFL in Lausanne. The station automatically records about one gigabyte of data per strike and then notifies researchers. In the first nine months of operation it recorded about 50 strikes, including 7 positive lightning strikes.

Since 2021, a research consortium led by Jean-Pierre Wolf has been testing a laser lightning rod system from here, firing short 0.7 TW laser pulses into clouds to stimulate lightning discharge.{{cite news|last=Prisco|first=Jacopo|date=12 July 2021|title=Scientists are trying to control lightning with a giant laser|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/12/europe/laser-lightning-rod-wolf-spc-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN|access-date=12 September 2021}}{{cite news|last=Frey|first=Andreas|date=10 August 2021|title=Die Zähmung des Himmels|language=de|trans-title=The taming of the sky|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wissen/physik-mehr/laserstrahl-als-blitzableiter-ein-spektakulaeres-experiment-17473355.html |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine|access-date=12 September 2021}}

Economy

Transmission tower

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Saentis-Gebaeude.jpg" caption="transmission tower]], which was commissioned in November 1997. The original tower, built in 1955, had to be renovated several times due to the rough weather conditions before finally being replaced. The antenna of the new transmission tower got a fibre-glass enforced plastic layer on the outside in order to prevent ice falling onto the visitors' terrace. Swiss radio channels such as DRS 1, DRS 2, DRS 3, RSR la Première and RSI Rete Uno are broadcast from the tower. Swiss television channels such as SF 1, SF 2, SF Info, TSR 1 and TSI 1 are also broadcast from this location."] ::

Tourism

Today, the summit is easily accessible by aerial tramway from Schwägalp. It had been a popular destination for tourists since the mid 19th century. However, even though many ideas to make the summit more easily accessible existed since those days, it took almost another century for them to materialize. Many approaches, using various types of railways starting from several nearby towns, were tried, but ultimately failed. One project planned to access Säntis from Wasserauen or Unterwasser by rack-and-pinion railway. While the lower section of this project between Appenzell and Wasserauen was built and is still part of today's active railway network, the rest of it was halted due to a lack of funding. Finally, local businessman Dr. Carl Meyer of Herisau came forward with the idea to construct an aerial tramway from the base of the mountain, at Schwägalp, and build a mountain road from the nearby town of Urnäsch for easier access to its lower terminal. On 22 September 1933, his project was ultimately selected for construction and Meyer was awarded with the necessary licences by the federal government. Finally, on 1 July 1935, the aerial tramway started operations. The original cabins were replaced by larger ones in 1960. The entire aerial tramway installation was replaced between 1968 and 1976. In 2000, new cabins were commissioned. The aerial tramway Luftseilbahn Schwägalp-Säntis is one of the most frequented tramways in Switzerland. It has a total length of 2307 m. The altitude gain between the terminals is 1123 m. The journey takes roughly 8 minutes. The first tramway was constructed from 1933 to 1935.

Miscellaneous

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/20090801-23_Säntis.JPG" caption="Swiss flag on Säntis"] ::

In honour of the Swiss National Day, which is celebrated 1 August each year, the world's largest Swiss flag was to be seen on Säntis from 31 July – 2 August 2009. The square national flag was 120 meters each side and weighed 1.2 tons. The flag ripped on 2 August 2009 due to strong winds in the area.

During the Helvetic Republic, the mountain lent its name to the former canton of Säntis.

Since 2001 there is a stupa (chorten) on the short path between the Säntis aerial tramway station and the summit, commemorating the first refugees from Tibet who arrived in Switzerland in 1960. Some of them lived in the Kinderdorf Pestalozzi (Pestalozzi Children's village) in Trogen (about 20 km northeast of the Säntis). On an inscription (commemorative plaque), the Tibetan community in Switzerland thanks the Swiss people and government for welcoming them after they fled their homeland.

References

References

  1. Retrieved from [[Google Earth]]. The nearest point of higher elevation is north of the [[Magerrain]].
  2. Information retrieved on 5 March 2014 from [http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=431 Core Europe 50 Most Prominent Peaks (peakbagger.com)] and [http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/CaucasusP1500m.html European Russia and the Caucasian states (peaklist.org)]
  3. [[Albert Heim]]: ''Säntis-Panorama''.
  4. Peterson, Adam. (20 September 2016). "English: Köppen climate types of Switzerland".
  5. Gottlieb Lüthi und Carl Egloff: ''Das Säntis-Gebiet. Illustrierter Touristenführer'', Fehr'sche Buchhandlung St. Gallen (1904) S. 102-103
  6. Gottlieb Lüthi, Carl Egloff und Karl Kleine: Das Säntis-Gebiet. ''Illustrierter Führer'', Fehr'sche Buchhandlung St. Gallen (1946) 6. Auflage S. 111
  7. Barraud, Emmanuel. (7 February 2011). "Lightning does actually strike in the same place twice!".
  8. . (1 June 2021). ["Superlaser als Blitzableiter – Forscher hoffen auf Gewittersommer"](https://www.mdr.de/wissen/superlaser-als-blitzableiter-100.html). *[[Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk*.
  9. [http://www.tagblatt.ch/aktuell/ostschweiz/tb-os/Weltweit-groesste-Schweizer-Fahne-am-Saentis-entrollt;art138,1358495 Bericht auf www.tagblatt.ch vom 31. Juli 2009 (abgefragt am 3. August 2009)]
  10. 20 Minuten, Printausgabe vom 3. August 2009
  11. from: [https://www.tibet-auf-dem-saentis.ch/pages/projekt.html] Website: www.tibet-auf-dem-saentis.ch. Retrieved 14 September 2025.

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mountains-of-switzerlandmountains-of-the-alpsmountains-of-the-canton-of-st.-gallenmountains-of-appenzell-innerrhodenmountains-of-appenzell-ausserrhodentourist-attractions-in-the-canton-of-st.-gallencable-cars-in-switzerlandhighest-points-of-swiss-cantonsappenzell-alpstwo-thousanders-of-switzerlandappenzell-ausserrhoden–appenzell-innerrhoden-borderappenzell-ausserrhoden–st.-gallen-borderappenzell-innerrhoden–st.-gallen-borderultra-prominent-peaks-of-europe