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Coordinates: 47°7′N 9°12′E / 47.117°N 9.200°E / 47.117; 9.200
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The lake lies in a valley with the [[Appenzell Alps]] to the north and the [[Glarus Alps]] to the south of it. It has a long east-west extension but is relatively narrow in north-south direction, with a surface area of {{cvt|24|km2}}. It has a maximum depth of {{cvt|151|m}}.
The lake lies in a valley with the [[Appenzell Alps]] to the north and the [[Glarus Alps]] to the south of it. It has a long east-west extension but is relatively narrow in north-south direction, with a surface area of {{cvt|24|km2}}. It has a maximum depth of {{cvt|151|m}}.


Apart from [[Walenstadt]] at the eastern end of the lake, other lakeside towns and villages are [[Weesen, Switzerland|Weesen]], [[Mühlehorn]] and [[Quarten]] (including Mols, Murg, [[Quinten, Switzerland|Quinten]] and Unterterzen). Quinten, located on the northern shore of the lake, can only be reached on foot from Weesen or Walenstadt or by boat (e.g. via a ferry from Murg) as there are no roads. To the south, the lake is followed by the [[A3 (Switzerland)|A3 motorway]] and the [[Ziegelbrücke–Sargans railway line]]. There is also a continuous [[bike route]] along the southern shore.
Apart from [[Walenstadt]] at the eastern end of the lake, other lakeside towns and villages are [[Weesen, Switzerland|Weesen]], [[Mühlehorn]] and [[Quarten]] (includes Mols, Murg, [[Quinten, Switzerland|Quinten]] and Unterterzen). Quinten, located on the northern shore of the lake, can only be reached on foot from Weesen or Walenstadt or by boat (e.g. via a ferry from Murg) as there are no roads. To the south, the lake is followed by the [[A3 (Switzerland)|A3 motorway]] and the [[Ziegelbrücke–Sargans railway line]]. There is also a continuous [[bike route]] along the southern shore.


The three main rivers leading to the lake are the [[Seez (river)|Seez]], [[Murgbach]], and [[Linth]]. The latter continues its course from Walensee to [[Obersee (Lake Zurich)|Obersee]] ([[Lake Zurich]]) through the Linth canal. Until the [[Linth#River regulation of the Linth|regulation of the Linth]] during the early 19th century, the river bypassed Walensee west of the lake. The [[Seerenbach Falls|Seerenbach Falls and Rinquelle]] are adjacent to the lake. The [[Schnittlauchinsel]], at the eastern end of the lake, is the only island in the Walensee.
The three main rivers leading to the lake are the [[Seez (river)|Seez]], [[Murgbach]], and [[Linth]]. The latter continues its course from Walensee to [[Obersee (Lake Zurich)|Obersee]] ([[Lake Zurich]]) through the Linth canal. Until the [[Linth#River regulation of the Linth|regulation of the Linth]] during the early 19th century, the river bypassed Walensee west of the lake. The [[Seerenbach Falls|Seerenbach Falls and Rinquelle]] are adjacent to the north of the lake. The [[Schnittlauchinsel]], near the eastern end of the lake, is the only island in the Walensee.


The [[Churfirsten]] range raises steeply on the north side from the lake's level at {{cvt|419|m}} to {{cvt|2,306|m}} above sea level, joining the [[Mattstock]] ({{cvt|1,936|m}}) and [[Federispitz]] ({{cvt|1,865|m}}) to the west. The [[Paxmal]] near Walenstadt overlooks the lake. On the south, the lake is overlooked by the [[Mürtschenstock]] Massif, whose peak is {{cvt|2,441|m}} above sea level. The resort area [[Flumserberg]] overlooks the lake. The highest point of the lake's drainage basin is the [[Tödi]] ({{cvt|3,614|m}}).<ref>{{cite map |publisher= [[Swisstopo]] |title= 1:25,000 topographic map |url= http://s.geo.admin.ch/9324aa0f5 |access-date= 2014-07-30 }}</ref>
The [[Churfirsten]] range raises steeply on the north side from the lake's level at {{cvt|419|m}} to {{cvt|2,306|m}} above sea level, joining the [[Mattstock]] ({{cvt|1,936|m}}) and [[Federispitz]] ({{cvt|1,865|m}}) to the west. The [[Paxmal]] near Walenstadt overlooks the lake. On the south, the lake is overlooked by the [[Mürtschenstock]] Massif, whose peak is {{cvt|2,441|m}} above sea level, and the resort area [[Flumserberg]] (reachable by a [[gondola lift]] from [[Unterterzen railway station]]). The highest point of the lake's drainage basin is the [[Tödi]] ({{cvt|3,614|m}}).<ref>{{cite map |publisher= [[Swisstopo]] |title= 1:25,000 topographic map |url= http://s.geo.admin.ch/9324aa0f5 |access-date= 2014-07-30 }}</ref>
{{wide image|Panorama flumserberg walensee.jpg|1000px|As seen from the [[Flumserberg]]||none}}
{{wide image|Panorama flumserberg walensee.jpg|1000px|As seen from the [[Flumserberg]]||none}}


Revision as of 06:13, 31 August 2024

Walensee
Lake Walen
Lake Walenstadt
Aerial view from the east
Walensee is located in Canton of St. Gallen
Walensee
Walensee
Walensee is located in Canton of Glarus
Walensee
Walensee
Walensee is located in Switzerland
Walensee
Walensee
Walensee is located in Alps
Walensee
Walensee
Map
LocationSt. Gallen, Glarus
Coordinates47°7′N 9°12′E / 47.117°N 9.200°E / 47.117; 9.200
Primary inflowsLinth (Escherkanal), Seez, Murgbach
Primary outflowsLinth canal
Basin countriesSwitzerland
Surface area24.19 km2 (9.34 sq mi)
Average depth104.7 m (344 ft)
Max. depth151 m (495 ft)
Water volume2.5 km3 (2,000,000 acre⋅ft)
Residence time1.45 years
Surface elevation419 m (1,375 ft)
IslandsSchnittlauchinsel
SettlementsWalenstadt, Weesen, Quinten, Quarten, Murg
Map

Lake Walen, also known as Lake Walenstadt or Walensee (German pronunciation: [ˈvaːln̩ˌzeː] ⓘ), is one of the larger lakes in Switzerland. Located in the east of the country, about two thirds of its area are in the canton of St. Gallen and about one third in the canton of Glarus.

Its name means 'Lake of the Walhaz' (Template:Lang-de), since in the early Middle Ages Lake Walen formed the linguistic border between the Alemanni, who settled in the west, and the Romansh people, the Walhaz (Welschen), in the east.[1]

Geography

The lake lies in a valley with the Appenzell Alps to the north and the Glarus Alps to the south of it. It has a long east-west extension but is relatively narrow in north-south direction, with a surface area of 24 km2 (9.3 sq mi). It has a maximum depth of 151 m (495 ft).

Apart from Walenstadt at the eastern end of the lake, other lakeside towns and villages are Weesen, Mühlehorn and Quarten (includes Mols, Murg, Quinten and Unterterzen). Quinten, located on the northern shore of the lake, can only be reached on foot from Weesen or Walenstadt or by boat (e.g. via a ferry from Murg) as there are no roads. To the south, the lake is followed by the A3 motorway and the Ziegelbrücke–Sargans railway line. There is also a continuous bike route along the southern shore.

The three main rivers leading to the lake are the Seez, Murgbach, and Linth. The latter continues its course from Walensee to Obersee (Lake Zurich) through the Linth canal. Until the regulation of the Linth during the early 19th century, the river bypassed Walensee west of the lake. The Seerenbach Falls and Rinquelle are adjacent to the north of the lake. The Schnittlauchinsel, near the eastern end of the lake, is the only island in the Walensee.

The Churfirsten range raises steeply on the north side from the lake's level at 419 m (1,375 ft) to 2,306 m (7,566 ft) above sea level, joining the Mattstock (1,936 m (6,352 ft)) and Federispitz (1,865 m (6,119 ft)) to the west. The Paxmal near Walenstadt overlooks the lake. On the south, the lake is overlooked by the Mürtschenstock Massif, whose peak is 2,441 m (8,009 ft) above sea level, and the resort area Flumserberg (reachable by a gondola lift from Unterterzen railway station). The highest point of the lake's drainage basin is the Tödi (3,614 m (11,857 ft)).[2]

As seen from the Flumserberg

Arts

The lake provided the inspiration for a solo piano piece by Hungarian Romantic composer Franz Liszt, Au lac de Wallenstadt. The piece is part of a collection of solo piano works inspired by his travels to Switzerland in the 1830s.

  • Walensee and Unterterzen, Quarten
    Walensee and Unterterzen, Quarten
  • Looking to the west towards Amden
    Looking to the west towards Amden

See also

References

  1. ^ Walch, Gertrud (1996). Orts- und Flurnamen des Kantons St. Gallen. Bausteine zu einem Glarner Namenbuch. Schaffhausen. p. 266.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ 1:25,000 topographic map (Map). Swisstopo. Retrieved 30 July 2014.


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