Canton Obwalden
| canton Obwalden | |
|---|---|
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| base data | |
| principal place: | Sarnen |
| surface: | 491 km ² (rank 19) |
| inhabitants: | 33 ' 300 (2004) (rank 25) |
| population density: | 68 Einw. /km ² (rank 22) |
| entry to the confederation: | 1291 |
| abbreviation: | OW |
| languages: | German |
| Website: | Canton Obwalden |
| map | |
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the canton Obwalden a canton is in central Switzerland. With the half canton Nidwalden it formed Unterwalden, for one of the three Urkantone of 1291.
German: Obwalden; French: Obwald; Italian: Obvaldo; RA-gate-Omani: Sursilvania; English: Obwalden (become outdated: Obwald); officially also Unterwalden whether the forest.
Table of contents |
geography
the area of the canton is split: beside thatold canton part is further east, separated by the canton Nidwalden, the Exklave Engelberg. Neighbour cantons are:
the canton is divided administratively into seven municipalities (number of inhabitants to 31. December 2004):
- Sarnen 9 ' 445 inhabitants
- Core 5 ' 236 inhabitants
- Alpnach 5 ' 156 inhabitants
- Sachseln 4 ' 456 inhabitants
- Engelberg (Exklave) of 3 ' 493 inhabitants
- Giswil 3 ' 420 inhabitants
- Lungern 1 of ' 956 inhabitants
see also: Municipalities of the canton Obwalden
office language is German.
Obwalden is one of the smallest cantons of Switzerland. After the surface occupiesthe canton place 19, the number of inhabitants after place of 25 under that altogether 26 Swiss cantons.
condition
legislation
the parliament, the canton advice, has 55 by the people firmly on four years selected members and sits downparty-politically at present as follows together:
of far ones the people is directly involved in the legislation. As 1999 the traditional land municipality (annual meetingthe active citizenry and tuning over the laws by hand collection), also the law referendum (popular vote over a law at the Wahlurne) was abolished had to be introduced as replacement apart from the people initiative already existing.
agency on national level
Obwalden sendsas half canton only one representative into the condition advice and due to his number of inhabitants also only one representative into the national council.
economics
at the Swiss national income has Obwalden a portion of 0,3%, its financial power lies with only about 40%the Swiss average. Among the medium sized companies are internationally active some:
- in Sarnen the Sarna AG (plastics) and the Leister Process Technologies (electrical appliances and Hightech medicine)
- in Sachseln maxon the engine AG (formerly INTERELECTRIC AG) (Sachseln) with pilot motors also for those Space travel, the “Müesli - pioneer " bio familia AG and elfo the AG (Elektroforming)
- the Enz technology AG in Giswil (channel technology) and the Wiko AG in core (printed circuit board assembly).
The agriculture is coined/shaped by family businesses, which opened also the tourism.Have a large tradition meat production and cheese factories, as well as the timber economy. The entrepreneur-friendly tax climate Obwaldens favours the service sector for enterprises and private ones. The central situation is however only internal-Swiss favorable.
history
as well as the half canton Nidwalden forms the Urkanton Unterwalden for Obwalden. Unterwalden belonged together with Schwyz and Uri to the three forest places, those in the year 1291 the eternal federation closed and thus the foundation-stone for today's Switzerlandput.
Obwalden was settled up to the arrival of the Alemannen around the year 700 of Celts and Romans. From the land peace alliance 1291 to approximately 1330 it regulated important affairs as well as Nidwalden on common land municipalities, was however politically independent. In 14.Century justified Obwalden its own national rule. On the search for sales markets for cattle and cheese it took part 1403 in the “ennetbirgischen policy” Uris and helped themselves at the conquest of the Leventina. Hundred years later the pay service for stranger becameWar gentlemen economically meaning. The wealthy former mercenaries determined the federal state policy as owners of the higher offices for centuries.
With the Frenchman wars and the Helvetik (1798-1803) Obwalden lost temporarily his self-sufficiency, the population attained however for the first time political fundamental rights. 1815 closedsince that time the monastery and the valley municipality Engelberg at Obwalden on and form an enclave in Nidwalden.
Around the 1920er a agricultural crisis led years to a certain emigration to Austria. With the abolishment of the annual land municipality 1999 those becameLegislation by the popular vote at the Wahlurne supplements.
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