Valais
| Canton of Valais |
Flag of the canton |
| Capital: | Sion (Sitten) |
| Abbr.: | VS |
| Joined: | 1815 |
| Population: | 278,200 |
| Area: | 5224 km² |
| Languages: | French, German |
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the south-western part of the country, in the Pennine Alps around the valley of the Rhone River from its springs to Lake Geneva.
Geography
The canton of Valais is located in the south of Switzerland. To its south lies Italy, to the southwest France. To the north the canton is bounded by the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Bern; the cantons of Uri and Ticino lie to its east.
The wide, glacial Rhone valley dominates the area. There are many side valleys which branch off the main valley. These vary from narrow and remote to reasonably populous and popular. At the head of the Mattertal valley lies Zermatt, a pretty tourist village dominated by views of the Matterhorn (4,477 m). Fifty of the mountains exceed 4,000m and there are numerous glaciers.
The Rhone drains the main valley from east to west up to Martigny, then in a right angle north to its mouth in the Lake Geneva. After the small town of Saint-Maurice, the northern banks of the river belong to the canton of Vaud. The main valley is bound by the Bernese Alps in the north and the Pennine Alps in the south. Only about half of the total area is considered productive.
Location of the canton
Valleys
- North of the Rhone River
- Fieschertal
- Lötschental
- Dalatal (Leukerbad)
- South of the Rhone River:
- Binntal
- Saastal
- Mattertal
- Val d'Anniviers
- Val d'Herens
- Val de Bagnes
- Val d'Entremont
- Val d'Illiez
History
The Romans called the area Vallis Poenina (Upper Rhône Valley). From 888 onwards the lands were part of the kingdom of Jurane Burgundy. King Rudolph III gave the lands to the bishop of Sion in 999. The bishop then struggled to defend the area against the dukes of Savoy.
The Valais resisted Protestantization during Reformation and the bishop remained in power until 1798 when Napoleons troops invaded the Valais. Until 1802 the lan was part of the Helvetic Republic, but that year is became the independent Rhodanic Republic. In 1810 the Rhodanic Republic became the French département of Simplon. Five years later, in 1815 the Valais entered the Swiss confederation as a canton. In 1845 the Valais joined the Catholic separatist league (Sonderpund), but chose not to fight the troops of the confederation in 1847 and submitted to the federal forces.
Economics
Wine production and tourism are some of the main industries of the canton. The Mattherhorn near Zermatt is one of the biggest touristic attractions in the Swiss mountains, but other parts of the mountains of the canton are popular, too.
Apart from tourism, agriculture is still important, particularly cattle breeding in the mountains and dairy farming in the plains. The vine industry of the canton is the largest in Switzerland. There are also a large number orchards in the area. The European Graduate School, focusing primarily on media and communications, is located in the canton of Valais.
The worlds tallest gravity dam is located at Grande Dixence in the canton. Hydroelectric power plants from the canton produce about a quarter of the Swiss electricity.
Near Visp there is a large plant of aluminium manufacturing. Other metal products and chemicals are produced around Visp and Sierre. There is an oil refinery in the canton.
Transport
A small airport is located at Sion, but the mains routes of transport are rail and road. Both networks are extensive and benefit from tourism. There are two major rail tunnels at the Simplon and the Great St Bernhard. Many of the road passes are well known, such as the Grimsel Pass.
Because of the tourism there are many mountain railways and cable cars in the mountains. The scenic rail route across the Furka Pass originates in the canton of Valais.
Demographics
Valais is predominantly French speaking. The eastern part of the canton Upper Valais, however, speaks German. The French speaking population makes up about two thirds of the total population
The whole canton is thinly populated. The largest towns are the capital Sion (Sitten), Sierre and Visp. There is no major city located in the canton. Over 90% of the population are Roman Catholic.
Towns and villages
External links
Referenced By
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