The mountains are upside down  – the Glarus Thrust

Over the course of millions of years, a variety of different types of rock are deposited on top of each other on the earth’s surface or in the oceans. In the process, younger layers come to rest on older ones. In the Tectonic Arena Sardona, however, the mountains are upside down!

Along a clearly visible line, the so-called „Glarus Thrust“, old Verrucano rock (250 – 300 million years old) was pushed onto much younger Flysch rock (35 – 50 million years old) within the earth’s crust during the formation of the Alps. Sandwiched in between, the Lochsite Limestone probably acted as a kind of lubricant. Older layers came to rest on younger ones. This important geological process of mountain building, the overthrusting of rock layers or packages, is uniquely visible in the Tectonic Arena Sardona.