Aabach (Seetal)

The Aabach after it leaves Lake Hallwill, just north of Hallwyl Castle.

The Aabach is a small river that runs through the Swiss cantons of Lucerne and Aargau, in the Aare River catchment area. It flows from south to north through the Seetal valley (literally lake valley).

Course

The northern (downstream) course of the Aabach from Lake Hallwill to the Aar.

The Aabach has its origin in Lake Baldegg, which is fed by the Ron and a number of smaller streams. In the township of Mosen it empties into Lake Hallwil (the Hallwilersee). The Aabach leaves the lake between the townships of Boniswil and Seengen . Hallwyl Castle, one of the most important water-controlling castles in Switzerland, sits in the middle of the river on two artificial islands, about 700 metres (2,300 ft) north of the northern end of the lake.

On the southern outskirts of Lenzburg an underground tunnel takes much of the flow of the Aabach under the city to rejoin the river in Niederlenz township. It was built as a relief tunnel to mitigate against flooding in the city, which had been occasionally severe in the city during the spring runoff. Further on, in the township of Möriken-Wildegg, the Aabach joins the river Bünz. About 200 metres (660 ft) downstream the Bünz flows into the river Aar.

Economy

Beginning in the second half of the 18th century, the Aabach provided water-power that ran mills that led to the creation of industry in the valley.^[1] these included the cotton-mill in Seon, the copper wire works in Wildegg, the Hämmerli arms factory in Lenzburg, and the Wisa-Gloria works in Lenzburg.^[1]

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aabach.

• "Aabach - Hitzkirch, Richensee (2416) (Hydrologic data for the Aabach at the Hitzkirch measuring station at Lake Baldegger)" (in German). 

Coordinates: 47°25′01″N 8°09′54″E / 47.416937°N 8.164966°E / 47.416937; 8.164966