Alpstein (Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland)

AIRVŪZ STAFF NOTE : Top contributor Kpax brings us this outstanding air/ground video from an area in eastern Switzerland called the Alpstein. Spread across the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and St. Gallen, the Alpstein is a masif within the Appenzell Alps. These are essentially very tall "foothills" at the northern edge of the Alps system, with peaks of up to 8.2k ft. above sea level (around 2.5k m). However, located only a short distance south of Lake Constance (elevation: 1.2k ft. ASL or 400 m) they are quite prominent.

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The Alpstein are a subgroup of the Appenzell Alps in Switzerland. The Alpstein massif is in Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and St. Gallen.

Despite it being rather low when compared to other Alpine peaks – the highest mountain is the Säntis at 2502 metres – the Alpstein, due to their northern "outpost" position only a short distance from Lake Constance (nearly 30 km) are relatively tall when compared to the surrounding area. The range also includes the Altenalp Türm as the northernmost summit above 2,000 metres in Switzerland.

Geologically, the Alpstein massif is different from the predominantly granitic central Alps. Alpstein are predominantly limestone massif and thus represents a kind of western continuation of the eastern ranges, running between Germany and Austria.

Because of erosions, numerous cracks, caves and sinkholes which prevail in the limestone, two of the three lakes have no surface drainage: the water of the Fälensees flows by the mountain ridge southwest into the Rhine.