Derborence, its cirque and its lake, are located near the town of Sion in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.
The history of the site of Derborence, dates back to 1714. Terrible landslides are caused by the detachment of large rock masses that have detached from the mountain range, formerly named Scex de Champ.
Causing the death of 15 people and hundreds of animals (wild and livestock) the disaster was considered as the devil’s work. The mountain range was renamed Les Diablerets.
In 1749, a second landslide of the Diablerets, with 100 meters high rocky masses, forms the lake of Derborence.
This became the youngest natural lake in Europe.
F4, 1/130 sec, 70 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F4, 1/130 sec, 200 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F5.6, 1/200 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F7.1, 1/500 sec, 450 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/400 sec, 50 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/20 sec, 10 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/200 sec, 56 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D
The impressive scree formed by the two disasters is nearly 5 kilometers long, and its volume would be 50 million cube meters, as estimated by geologists.
Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, Vaud writer, was inspired by the landslide to write his novel Derborence.
Today, the wild valley of Derborence is a nature reserve and protected area, especially for its unique preserved forest that has developed on the scree.
The Derborence Valley fascinates geologists and botanists as nature lovers.
F10, 1/500 sec, 50 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/800 sec, 93 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/400 sec, 75 mm, ISO2500, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/30 sec, 20 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/400 sec, 50 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/60 sec, 15 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/50 sec, 11 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 7D
F11, 1/250 sec, 13 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D
F7.1, 1/250 sec, 104 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
I went with my sister to Derborence for my birthday. It was great to share time with her and also initiate her into Wildlife photography for the first time. Encountering red deers during their rut period. It was nice and funny, as I brought some camouflage.
I stayed one more day and came a second time in the Valais to Derborence, so I add some other wildlife pictures.
An aspic viper, crawling on my boot while I was photographing red deers. A rare bird of prey to observe: the bearded vulture (an adult, and a juvenile). A tiny crested tit bird, a colorful caterpillar (Spurge Hawk-Moth Caterpillar), and some chamois.
F2.8, 1/200 sec, 100 mm, ISO6400, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/400 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/400 sec, 203 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F7.1, 1/250 sec, 332 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 1/250 sec, 100 mm, ISO1600, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/60 sec, 100 mm, ISO1600, Canon EOS 7D
F7.1, 1/800 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F7.1, 1/500 sec, 500 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/500 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 1/130 sec, 70 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F6.3, 1/250 sec, 287 mm, ISO3200, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/250 sec, 332 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
Hiking and exploring the valley of Derborence, its lake and its forest, at sunset and at night, I took some pictures during those moments. Enjoying the sunset above the lake and later the stars and the milky way, my tripod was more than useful.
F11, 1/20 sec, 10 mm, ISO250, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/20 sec, 12 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D
F11, 2.6 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 52 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F4.5, 1/250 sec, 50 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 71 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 100 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 69 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F4, 93 sec, 10 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
I hope you enjoyed my photos of the valley of Derborence in the Valais, in Switzerland. It’s a very nice place to see, and there many things to discover, from landscapes to wildlife. You may too enjoy some great hikes in this nature reserve.
Please respect and preserve this fragile Nature :)
