Glarus thrust
The Glarus thrust (German: Glarner Überschiebung) is a major thrust fault in the Alps of eastern Switzerland. Along the thrust the Helvetic nappes were thrust more than 100 km to the north over the external Aarmassif and Infrahelvetic complex. The thrust forms the contact between older (Helvetic) Permo-Triassic rock layers of the Verrucano group and younger (external) Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones and Paleogene flysch and molasse.
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
The Tschingelhörner on the border of Swiss cantons Glarus and Graubünden. The Glarus thrust can be seen as a horizontal line in the cliffs. | |
| Location | Switzerland |
| Part of | Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona |
| Criteria | Natural: (viii) |
| Reference | 1179 |
| Inscription | 2008 (32nd Session) |
| Website | www |
| Coordinates | 46°55′N 9°15′E |
Location of Glarus thrust in Switzerland | |
The Glarus thrust crops out over a relatively large area in the cantons Glarus, St. Gallen and Graubünden, due to its horizontal orientation and the high local relief. Famous outcrops include those at Lochsite near Glarus (the town) and in a mountain cliff called Tschingelhörner between Elm and Flims (in the same cliff is a natural hole called the Martinsloch).