A comparison of Saxon Switzerland (Saxony) with the Rocky Mountains (Canada)

Saxon Switzerland Amselsee Bastei Festung Königstein

Rocky Mountains

1. How to get there … Saxon Switzerland – by train: Dresden Hbf. -> Bad Schandau Advantage: – you don‘t have to drive yourself – 35+ Minutes – 5,50 € / person one way or 23 € / small group ticket for the day

Rocky Mountains – by train from Edmonton -> Jasper Advantage: – You don‘t have to drive yourself – Scenic adventure Disadvantage: – No trains in Calgary or Banff – Expensive ($125/person) – Not very regular – by car/car pool options from Edmonton/Calgary: Edmonton to Jasper is 400 km Calgary to Banff is 125 km Can be organized by university outdoors clubs Bus tickets cost $30-$60

2. Size of area 93.5 km km 2

3. History - Saxon Switzerland - – General Information Is a mountainous climbing area and national park around the river Elbe Together with the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic it form the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Within the area: nearly climbing roots on over 1000 rock towers as well as a number of fortresses like Festung Königstein (built to proctect routes) 100 Million years ago it has been an ocean / weather causes massive erosions – Settlement Originally settled by Germanic people in Antiquity During the Dark Ages by Slavs In the 15th century it became part of the Saxon Margraves of Meißen

- Canadian Rockies - – General Information Is a large recreation area in western Alberta and eastern Britich Columbia, contains five national parks: Banff (1885), Jasper (1907), Kootenay (1920), Yoho (1886), and Waterton (1895) Is part of the American Cordillera, which runs from Alaska to southern Argentina and is the eastern half of the Pacific Ring of Fire Many established ski hills, hiking trails, and climbing routes Formed by the British Columbia tectonic plate overthrusting the Alberta plate, mostly limestone (Kalkstein) and shale (Scheifer) – Exploration First surveyed in for the Canadian Pacific Railway, which was completed in 1896

4. Highest Points Großer Zschirnstein (562 m) (562 m) Mount Robson (3,954 m)

4. Sports Saxon Switzerland Hiking Rock Climbing Mountain Biking Boating Camping Snowshoeing Rocky Mountains (in addition) Skiing & Snowboarding Ice & Alpine Climbing

5. Safety Risks – Reasons of Death Rocky Mountains In Saxon Switzerland the primary risk is: sports accidents Avalanches Communication and Remoteness Sports Accidents Wild Animals Cold Exposure

6. Climate Information Canadian Rockies (Jasper) Saxon Switzerland (Rathen)

Open Questions? (Please don‘t ask us!!!)