Jaun and the natural risks

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The wooded slope below the Combifluh used to consist of several allotments. Farmers could lease the individual lots and made wild hay there every year.
In January 1954, several avalanches thundered down into the valley and caused considerable damage to houses and stables in the upper part of the village and in Zelgli and Lowely (village exit to the west). Fortunately, there were no fatalities. As a result, haymaking was banned there. Roads were constructed and steelworks built. In addition, small fir trees were planted in between the constructions. Today there is a stately forest that even makes the steelworks invisible.
The next disaster followed in January 1968. An avalanche broke out below the straight, horizontal line (mountain access road) and destroyed a holiday home and a stable. Several cows and calves had to be rescued dead. Fortunately, there is now a considerable amount of forest growth in the area, so that the village can now be said to be safe from avalanches. However, it is important to remember that nature is unpredictable and stronger than any human hand. At the same time, it is important to bear in mind that there is always a threat of natural hazards from these steep mountain slopes. Sometimes it is rockfall and sometimes torrent damage. These constant dangers have to be minimised as far as possible and always require new financial burdens for the mountain community.

In collaboration with the municipality of Jaun