Heinzenberg GR

Heinzenberg (Romansh: Mantogna) is the western side of Hinterrhein valley in Swiss canton of Graubünden between the Viamala and the narrow valley in Rothenbrunnen. The eastern side of the valley is called Domleschg. The region is named after the Heinzenberg Castle near the village of Präz.

The Heinzenberg area extends for about 10 km from south to north and is bounded on the west by the Heinzenberg Ridge and on the east by the Posterior Rhine. The slope rises very gently (with 15 to 20 percent), especially in the southern part, and offers good conditions for agriculture. There are meadows and pastures around the villages and on the lower slopes and fields and fruit trees. Higher up the slopes, there is a zone with Maiensässes. Above 1,800 m above the sea Alpine meadows can be found. Duke Henri of Rohan praised the diverse landscape exuberantly as "the most beautiful mountain in the world".

The substrate of the area consists mostly of Bündner schist, providing little resistance to erosion. The geology of the area is dominated by subsidence and minor landslides. The Nolla brook, which froms the southern border of the Heinzenberg area, dug itself a deep ravine within a few decades at the end of the 18th century and was feared because it often caused floods in Thusis. It took extensive control structures to stabilize the situation. The Porteiner Tobel also shows extensive erosion damage.

The Heinzenberg Ridge begins in the south with the 1848 m high Glas Pass, a historically significant bridle path connecting Thusis to the Safien valley. A trail exists along the ridge, which provides nice views of the valley. The highest points along the trail are Lüschgrat (2179 m), Tguma (2163 m) and Präzerhöhi (2120 m). To the west, the ridge falls off abruptly into the Safien valley.

...
Wikipedia