Juf () is a village in the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
of
Avers
Avers ( rm, Avras; wae, Òòver(s), , ) is a high Alpine valley region and a municipality in the Viamala Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It includes Juf, the highest-altitude year-round settlement in Europe.
History
Avers is first ...
in the
canton of
Grisons
The Grisons () or Graubünden,Names include:
*german: (Kanton) Graubünden ;
* Romansh:
** rm, label= Sursilvan, (Cantun) Grischun
** rm, label=Vallader, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Puter, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label=Surmiran, (Cant ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. At above sea level, it is historically the highest village with permanent residents in Europe, as well as one of its coldest localities. As of 2016, Juf had a population of 31 inhabitants divided between six families in a concentrated settlement. They were 20 in 1991 and 30 in 2001. The first inhabitants were immigrant
Walser
The Walser people are the speakers of the Walser German dialects, a variety of Highest Alemannic.
They inhabit the region of the Alps of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as the fringes of Italy and Austria.
The Walser people are named af ...
who arrived in 1292.
Geography and climate
Juf is located just above the right banks of the river Jufer Rhein, before its confluence with the Bergalgabach, both forming the
Avers Rhine
The Avers Rhine ( rm, Ragn da Ferrera, german: Averser Rhein) is a tributary of the Hinterrhein/Rein Posteriur in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Course
It rises in Avers at the confluence of the Bergalgabach with the slightly smaller Jufer ...
. The small Jufer Rhein valley is enclosed by several summits over 3,000 metre-high, the highest being
Mazzaspitz
The Mazzaspitz (3,164 m) is a mountain of the Oberhalbstein Alps, overlooking Juf in the canton of Graubünden. It lies south of Piz Platta, on the range between the valley of Avers
Avers ( rm, Avras; wae, Òòver(s), , ) is a high Alpin ...
,
Piz Piot
Piz Piot is a mountain of the Oberhalbstein Alps, located between Juf
Juf () is a village in the municipality of Avers in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. At above sea level, it is historically the highest village with permanent resident ...
and
Piz Turba
Piz Turba is a mountain of the Oberhalbstein Alps, located between Juf
Juf () is a village in the municipality of Avers in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. At above sea level, it is historically the highest village with permanent residen ...
. The valley is almost entirely above 2,000 metres.
Juf differs from settlements in lower valleys in being well above the
tree line
The tree line is the edge of the habitat at which trees are capable of growing. It is found at high elevations and high latitudes. Beyond the tree line, trees cannot tolerate the environmental conditions (usually cold temperatures, extreme snowp ...
, the nearest forest being about 5 kilometres away from the village. As a result, the area experiences a cold and wet climate, classified as an
alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
tundra
In physical geography, tundra () is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. The term ''tundra'' comes through Russian (') from the Kildin Sámi word (') meaning "uplands", "treeless moun ...
climate (
ET), with average temperatures far lower than those of
La Brévine
La Brévine (, ) is a municipality in the Neuchâtel Canton in Switzerland. It is the largest village of the homonymous valley (''Vallée de la Brévine''). The area is renowned for its microclimate and is often much colder than nearby location ...
, traditionally considered the coldest inhabited place in Switzerland. Snowfalls are possible even during summer.
Wood was transported for building houses and stables, but historically,
dry dung fuel
Dry dung fuel (or dry manure fuel) is animal feces that has been dried in order to be used as a fuel source. It is used in many countries. Using dry manure as a fuel source is an example of reuse of excreta. A disadvantage of using this kind of ...
from the inhabitants’ animals was burned for fuel. Old structures for drying
manure
Manure is organic matter that is used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Most manure consists of animal feces; other sources include compost and green manure. Manures contribute to the fertility of soil by adding organic matter and nutri ...
can still be seen on the southern ends of some Juf stables.
Juf is composed of two distinct sections: the highest (2,126 m), at the village entry, and the lowest (2,117 m), at the end of the paved road and near the river.
Transport
Despite its remote location, Juf can be reached by public transport eight times a day all year round, as all
post buses running to the high valley of Avers go on to the very end of the road at Juf. It is nevertheless a very remote valley, its infrastructure designed primarily to encourage tourism (two platter lifts for skiing in winter at nearby Juppa), and has been spared the technical installations, such as power lines or tourist resorts, which might otherwise ruin its "pristine beauty".
Note
Another source gives the title of Europe's highest village to Li Baita, a part of
Trepalle
Trepalle is a village (the highest in Italy) in the Italian Alps, a ''frazione'' of Livigno, Lombardy. It is sometimes considered to be the village located at the highest altitude in Europe with its church located at an altitude of 2,069 m, and t ...
, Italy, however without mentioning the number of residents. Just above Juf is an old farmhouse, the Platten-hof, birthplace of writer
Johann Rudolf Stoffel. This is considered the highest farmhouse in Europe.
See also
*
Extreme points of Switzerland
This is a list of the extreme points of Switzerland.
Elevation
Latitude and longitude
References
See also
*Extreme points of Earth
*Geography of Switzerland
{{Switzerland topics, collapsed
Geography of Switzerland
Switzerland
...
References
*
External links
Village visit is elevating experienceswissworld.org
Avers
Villages in Graubünden
{{graubünden-geo-stub