Rivers and lakes in Bern Region

“... nowhere have I felt so truly happy as on St. Peter's Island in the middle of Lake Biel,” wrote Jean-Jacques Rousseau shortly before his death, wistfully recalling his all too short stay on the island in the autumn of 1765.

The eyes of the beautiful maiden who died of a broken heart were deep blue. The Blue Lake is also deep blue, in eternal memory of the love of the maiden, which persists beyond death. The small Blausee, steeped in legend, is located in the midst of a small nature park.

The vacation region around the Black Lake and in the Eastern Freiburg Pre-Alps (Voralpen) is well-known for its authenticity and its wild, romantic natural landscape, which includes the dark appearance of the Black Lake and the Brecca Abyss, an Alpine valley formed by glaciers.

The Aare is the longest wholly Swiss river. It originates from the Oberaar glacier in the eastern Bernese Alps, flows through lakes Brienz and Thun, passes by the federal capital of Bern, is channelled into Lake Biel, follows the southern foot of the Jura range and finally flows into the Rhine at Koblenz, in north-western Switzerland. Passenger boats operate on the lakes as well as the river section from Biel to Solothurn.

Anne-Marie, a local hiking guide, leads her group of hikers across gentle Alpine meadows and forests to the Sprutz waterfall which lives up to its Swiss name: to splash.

Those who look towards Wildstrubel from Adelboden know little of the peaceful Alp that lies almost hidden at half-height in the valley basin. The entrance leads past the 600 meter-high Engstligenfälle.

With a height of nearly 300 meters, Staubbach Falls is the third highest waterfall in Switzerland. In the summer warm winds swirl the waters around, so that the Falls spray in all directions. These droplets of water spray gave the brook and the waterfall its name. (Staub = dust)

Up on the Diemtigbergli above Diemtigen, a popular place for excursions.

The turquoise Lake Brienz and neighbouring Lake Thun are set amid the spectacular mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland. Passengers aboard the “Lötschberg” paddle steamer from the Belle Epoque (built in 1914) are inspired by its wonderfully nostalgic atmosphere.

A natural spectacle in a class of their own are the 600m long Engstligen waterfalls. Under preservation since 1948, these are the second longest falls in Switzerland

Turn off your worries, inhale deeply and enjoy the comforting effect of alpine waters. This theme trail invites hikers to discover at first hand unique water scenery at the end of the Adelboden Valley

The Giessbach brook tumbles in 14 stages, over a length of 500 meters and out of the high valleys of the Faulhorn area down to Lake Brienz. Historic Grand Hotel Giessbach is located at the foot of this nature spectacle. The hotel is accessible by means of Europe's oldest funicular.

Lake Arnen is known as the “Pearl of the Saanenland”. The name suits: framed by the wild woods of the Tschärzis valley, the lake sparkles like a piece of jewellery.

On the northern edge of the Alps between the Bernese Oberland towns of Thun and Interlaken lies the deep blue Lake Thun, nestled against an imposing mountain backdrop. Lake Thun is particularly popular for boat trips, sailing and surfing. Numerous lidos and bathing spots on the shores invite you to cool off.

The Rosenlaui Glacier, located to the south of Meiringen, in the canton of Bern, might be small, since it has an area of only six square kilometers, but thanks to this glacier two beautiful natural attractions have come into being - Glacier Gorge Rosenlaui and the world-famous Reichenbach Falls.

Lake Biel/Bienne in the Jura & Three-Lakes area of Switzerland is situated on the border between the French and German speaking parts. It borders the southern edge of the Jura, where the slopes are used for intensive cultivation of vines.

The Lauterbrunnen Valley is famous for its many waterfalls.

The lake in the Louwene Valley that makes up the Lake Lauenen system are home to moorland meadows, reeds, clumps of heather and groups of dark fir trees.

A natural spectacle in a class of their own are the 600m long Engstligen waterfalls. Under preservation since 1948, these are the second longest falls in Switzerland.

Lake Oeschinen, which lies above Kandersteg, is a pristine mountain lake, fed by the glacial brooks of the three-thousand-meter peaks of Blüemlisalp, Oeschinenhorn, Fründenhorn and Doldenhorn. People who love to swim, nature lovers and hikers can really enjoy themselves here.

Loud thundering and roaring in the interior of the mountain, gurgling, foaming and churning water: these are the Trümmelbach Falls. They are Europe's largest subterranean water falls and are located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, often called the valley of 72 waterfalls.

Plunging more than 100 metres, the Iffigfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Bernese Oberland.

Seven springs feed the Simme, a 55km-long river in the Bernese Oberland that flows into Lake Thun at Wimmis. The waterfalls that cascade over rocks several metres high are also well worth a visit.

A culinary voyage of discovery between mountains and lakes on lake Brienz. This allows you to discover the Bernese Oberland.