Canton of Glarus

Kanton Glarus
Coordinates
Capital	Glarus
Population	38,479  (12/2009)[1]
- Density	56 /km² (145 /sq mi)
Area	685 km² (264 sq mi)
Highest point	3,614 m (11,857 ft) - Tödi
Lowest point	410 m (1,345 ft) - Linth channel at border to St.Gallen
Joined	1352
Abbreviation	GL
Languages	German
Executive	Regierungsrat (7)
Legislative	Landsgemeinde (Landrat (80)
Municipalities	25 municipalities
Website	GL.ch
View map of Glarus

The Canton of Glarus (German pronunciation: [ˈglaʁʊs]) is a canton in east central Switzerland. The capital is Glarus. There are 25 municipalities in the canton (July 2006). The population is German speaking and typically either Protestant or Catholic. The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2009) is 38,479.^[1] As of 2007^[update], the population included 7,314 foreigners (or 19.13% of the total population).^[2]

History

Cantonal museum in the Freulerpalast (Näfels)

The history of this canton is dominated by religion. The inhabitants of the Linth Valley were converted to Christianity in the 6th century by the Irish monk Saint Fridolin, who is still featured in the coat of arms of the canton today. He founded Säckingen Abbey near Basel. From the 9th century, the area around Glarus was owned by the abbey. By 1288 the Habsburgs, bit by bit, claimed all the abbey's rights. This resulted in the people of Glarus joining the Swiss Confederation in 1352.

Between 1506 and 1516 the reformer Huldrych Zwingli was priest in Glarus, but by 1564 all of Zwingli's followers were eliminated. This, however, did not end the struggles between the Protestants and the Catholics in the area. To secure peace it was decided that each party should have its own assembly (Landsgemeinde) in 1623, and at a later stage in 1683, each side was granted the right to have its own tribunals.

Between 1798 and 1803 Glarus was part of the Canton of Linth as established by Napoleon. In 1836 the constitution was adapted to unite the assemblies and establish only one Landsgemeinde.

On May 6, 2007 Glarus became the first Swiss canton to lower the voting age to 16.^[3]

Geography

Linthal and Glarus Alps

The canton of Glarus is dominated by the deep valley of the Linth River and the smaller Sernftal on the east. Most of the area is mountainous. The highest peak in the Glarus Alps is the Tödi at 3,614 m (11,857 ft) Other mountains include the Hausstock (3,158 m (10,361 ft)) and the Glärnisch (2,910 m (9,547 ft)). The canton contains part of a thrust fault that was declared a geologic UNESCO world heritage site, under the name Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, in 2008. Famous outcrops in ths Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona include those at Lochsite near Glarus and in a mountain cliff called Tschingelhörner between Elm and Flims (in the same cliff is a natural hole called the Martinsloch). There is also a large lake called Walensee (Lake Walen) on the north. The total area of the canton of Glarus is 685 square kilometers (264.5 sq mi), of which about half is considered productive. Forestry is an important branch of industry in the canton.

Municipalities

The 25 municipalities (gemeinden) are:

Demographics

The population (as of 2000^[update]) is nearly evenly split between Protestants (44%) and Roman Catholics (37%).^[4]

Economy

Electrical power from Klöntalersee is one of the cantons main export services.

The geography of the canton helped to establish slate works in the 17th century. The mountainous surroundings of Glarus were also an advantage in industrialisation. Cotton spinning was important in the 18th century, complementing traditional woolen spinning. Industrialisation also brought cotton printing, hydroelectric plants and later metal and machinery factories, as well as paper mills.

Dairy farming and cattle breeding were not replaced by industrial advances. Cattle graze on mountain pastures. Cattle breeding and dairying are important on the mountain pastures.

References

External links

• Official Statistics
• Official Site (German)