| Linth | |
|---|---|
 The lower reaches of the Linth nearReichenburg | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Canton of Glarus,Switzerland |
| Mouth | |
• location | Lake Zurich (Obersee) |
• coordinates | 47°13′06″N8°56′27″E / 47.2183°N 8.9407°E /47.2183; 8.9407 |
| Length | 50 kilometres (31 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lake Zurich→Limmat→Aare→Rhine→North Sea |
TheLinth (pronounced[ˈlɪnt] "lint") is aSwissriver that rises near thevillage of Linthal in the mountains of thecanton ofGlarus, and eventually flows into theObersee section ofLake Zurich. It is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) in length.[1]
The water power of the Linth was a main factor in the creation of the textile industry of the canton Glarus, and is today used to drive theLinth–Limmern power stations in its upper reaches.
The river and its upper valley forms the boundary between the mountain ranges of theGlarus Alps, to its east and south, and theSchwyzer Alps, to its west. In its lower part, in the Linth plain (Linthebene), the Linth Canal forms the boundary between the cantons of Glarus andSt. Gallen and part of the boundary between the cantons of St. Gallen andSchwyz.
The river lends its name to the formercanton of Linth (1798–1803).
The river rises to the south-west of thevillage of Linthal, at the foot theTödi mountain (elevation 3,614 metres or 11,857 feet). It collects the water from several glaciers, including theClariden Glacier and theBiferten Glacier, as well as various tributary streams, including theOberstafelbach, theBifertenbach, theSandbach, theWalenbach and theLimmerenbach. The last of these is dammed to create theLimmerensee, a part of theLinth–Limmern hydro-electric scheme.[1]
The river then flows north to the village of Linthal, the highest significant settlement on the river, and onwards through thecanton of Glarus villages ofRüti,Betschwanden,Diesbach,Hätzingen,Luchsingen,Leuggelbach,Haslen,Nidfurn andSchwanden. In Schwanden, the Linth is joined by one of its principal tributaries, theSernf, which drains the south-eastern part of the canton of Glarus.[1]
From Schwanden, the river continues to flow north through the villages ofMitlödi andEnnenda and thetown of Glarus before reaching the village ofNetstal. In Netstal, the Linth is joined by theLöntsch, which drains theKlöntalersee. The Linth then flows between the villagesNäfels andMollis, from where it formerly flowed in a northerly direction to a confluence with its tributary outfall fromLake Walen (Walensee) on the Linth Plain, and then across that plain in a westerly direction to its mouth at the head of theObersee section ofLake Zurich.[1][2]
As a result of the river regulation works (see below), the river is today diverted down an artificial channel in an easterly direction into Lake Walen. Another artificial channel (the Linth Channel) then takes the outfall of Lake Walen atWeesen and flows west through the Linth Plain and into the Obersee.[1]
The taming of the Linth (German:Linthkorrektur) from 1807 to 1823 was one of the great engineering feats of the early 19th century, the earliest project of such a size undertaken by the new Swiss state, and a great example of solidarity in early Switzerland.[2]
In the second half of the 18th century, the situation of the population in the lower Glarus valley, the Linth Plain and around Lake Walen, was pretty disastrous: cutting down the woods of the Glarus valley during early industrialization led to more and more gravel coming down with the yearly spring high water which was deposited at the joining of Linth and Maag, the outflow of the Lake Walen, in the plain between Lake Walen and Lake Zurich. This caused frequent floodings and backing up of water which made the level of Lake Walen rise several meters and turned the whole countryside into swamps. Agriculture became more and more difficult, the poverty increased, and diseases liketuberculosis andmalaria were rampant.[2]
Thestatesman,scientist,painter andmanagerConrad Escher (later named "von der Linth") from Zurich developed and executed the plan of channeling the Linth into Lake Walen, where the gravel could be deposited without damage. A second channel, the Linth Channel, connected the lakes of Walen and Zurich, replacing the former Maag.[2]
The river regulation put an end to the floodings, lowered the level of Lake Walen by some 5.4 meters which greatly improved living conditions for the population, and dried up the swamps, resulting in 20 km2arable land in the Linth plain.[3]
Die Arbeiten werden 1822 vorläufig abgeschlossen und der Pegel des Walensees kann um 5,4m abgesenkt werden. [...] Dafür werden 2000 Hektaren Land urbar gemacht
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
