SWISS NATIONAL PARK—BLAND 497 
This enchanting wilderness can be reached by rail from Chur or 
St. Moritz to Scanfs, Zernez, or Schuls-Tarasp, from all of which 
points roads lead to the park. The park itself is crossed by a num- 
ber of roads and paths leading in various directions and all kept in 
good condition. Only by special permit from the park keepers can 
visitors leave the beaten roads and paths, and the district round Piz 
Terza is strictly closed to the public. 
ACCOMMODATION FOR VISITORS 
There is one restaurant and house of refuge in the park in Val 
Cluoza. Here as many as 35 to 40 people can pass the night and 
obtain refreshments, but it is not to be looked upon as a hotel and 
can only be used in cases of real need. During 1925, 846 visitors 
stopped at the Cluoza shelter. 
BOUNDARIES AND GUARDIANS 
Where no natural frontiers exist the boundaries of the park are 
clearly marked. At first there was only one guardian, who has been 
at his post since 1910. As the size of the park increased, others 
were appointed, and the park is now guarded by a body of keepers 
and in the districts of Fuorn and Scarl by the Federal frontier 
guards. A number of huts and shelters for the use of the guardians 
exist in various parts of the park, and the personnel is insured by 
the State against accidents, old age, and death. The guardians and 
the frontier guards all keep diaries and render reports at regular 
intervals. In this way a great deal of scientific information is col- 
lected which assists the authorities in research work and improve- 
ments. Due to the vigilance of the guardians, poaching is each 
year becoming less and cases of visitors willfully breaking the park 
laws less frequent. 
CLIMATE 
The park is noted for its exceptional dryness and its extreme con- 
tinental climate. The region has been called the Swiss Tibet. In 
1924 it enjoyed 1,040 hours of sunshine, the average cloudiness not 
exceeding 40 per cent of the sky, and entirely cloudy days were rare. 
The temperature varies about 20° C. between midwinter and midsum- 
mer. The reason for its dry and sunny climate is that it is a high- 
land shut off by higher mountains, the northwestern Alps almost 
exhausting the rain-bringing winds from the west before they 
reach it. 
There are three meteorological stations in the national park (at 
Scarl, Buffalora, and Cluoza) which are all fitted with self-reg- 
istering apparatus such as thermographs, maximum and minimum 
thermometers, and totalizers. 
