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The Reuss (
Swiss German Swiss German (Standard German: , gsw, Schwiizerdütsch, Schwyzerdütsch, Schwiizertüütsch, Schwizertitsch Mundart,Because of the many different dialects, and because there is no defined orthography for any of them, many different spelling ...
: ''Rüüss'') is a
river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...
in
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 ...
. With a length of and a
drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
of , it is the fourth largest river in Switzerland (after the
Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , source ...
,
Aare The Aare () or Aar () is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descen ...
and
Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...
). The upper Reuss forms the main valley of the
canton of Uri The canton of Uri (german: Kanton Uri rm, Chantun Uri; french: Canton d'Uri; it, Canton Uri) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's terri ...
. The course of the lower Reuss runs from
Lake Lucerne __NOTOC__ Lake Lucerne (german: Vierwaldstättersee, literally "Lake of the four forested settlements" (in English usually translated as ''forest cantons''), french: lac des Quatre-Cantons, it, lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central S ...
to the confluence with the Aare at
Brugg , neighboring_municipalities = Gebenstorf, Habsburg, Hausen, Holderbank, Lupfig, Riniken, Rüfenach, Schinznach, Untersiggenthal, Villigen, Villnachern, Veltheim, Windisch , twintowns = Rottweil (Germany) , website ...
and Windisch. The Reuss is one of the four major rivers taking their source in the Gotthard region, along with the
Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , source ...
,
Ticino Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
and
Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...
.


Geography


Course

The Gotthardreuss rises in the Gotthard massif, emerging from Lago di Lucendro (reservoir built in 1947; elevation 2,131 m) in the
canton of Ticino Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
and passing into the
canton of Uri The canton of Uri (german: Kanton Uri rm, Chantun Uri; french: Canton d'Uri; it, Canton Uri) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's terri ...
below the ''Brigghubel'' (1,898 m). The Furkareuss rises east of Furka Pass (2,429 m), early joined by the ''Blaubergbach'' (sourced by two mountain lakes on 2,649 m) and several other creeks sourced by still existing glaciers, such as ''Sidelengletscher'' (3,170 m), ''Tiefengletscher'' (3,285 m) in the north, and ''Muttengletscher'' (2,908 m) and ''Witenwassergletscher'' (2,805 m) in the south, and eventually forms the east-west valley called Urseren, passing
Realp Realp (archaic : ''Frialp'') is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History Realp is first mentioned in 1363 as ''Riealb''. Geography Realp has an area, , of . Of this area, 41.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.3% i ...
at half way through the valley at 1,540 m in eastern direction until its eastern end at
Andermatt Andermatt ( rm, ) is a mountain village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. At an elevation of above sea level, Andermatt is located at the center of the Saint-Gotthard Massif and the historical center cross of north-south and e ...
. This source is only around 5 km away from, and on the same mountain massif as the source of the Rhône, but will ultimately lead to the opposite side of the continent. Gotthardreuss and Furkareuss join at Hospental (1,446 m). Downstream of Andermatt the Reuss joins at 1,429 m the village creek ''Unteralpreuss'', finally turns to the north, and passes through the 3 km-long narrow and deep
Schöllenen Gorge Schöllenen Gorge (german: Schöllenenschlucht; Schöllenen) is a gorge formed by the upper Reuss in the Swiss canton of Uri between the towns of Göschenen to the north and Andermatt to the south. It provides access to the St Gotthard Pass. ...
and under the legendary
Devil's Bridge Devil's Bridge is a term applied to dozens of ancient bridges, found primarily in Europe. Most of these bridges are stone or masonry arch bridges and represent a significant technological achievement in ancient architecture. Due to their unus ...
(1,120 m). At
Göschenen Göschenen (German, it, Casinotta, rm, Caschanuttais) a village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. It sits at the northern end of the Gotthard tunnel. The Göschenen riots (1875) saw Urner troops opening fire on Italian miner ...
(1,057 m) it is joined by the ''Göschenerreuss'', sourced by the glaciers ''Dammagletscher'' (3,430 m) and ''Flachensteinfirn'' (3,150 m) besides several others. From here it forms the main valley of the
canton of Uri The canton of Uri (german: Kanton Uri rm, Chantun Uri; french: Canton d'Uri; it, Canton Uri) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's terri ...
, the ''Urner Reusstal'', passing below
Wassen Wassen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. Geography , Wassen has an area of . Of this area, 12.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and ...
(840 m),
Gurtnellen Gurtnellen is a village and a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History Gurtnellen is first mentioned in 1257 as ''Chuno und die Gurteneller''. In 1321 it was mentioned as ''Gruntellon'', and in 1359 as ''Gurtenellen''. Geography ...
(720 m),
Amsteg Silenen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. Geography Silenen municipality comprises the villages of Silenen (divided into three parts, Dörfli, Russ, Rusli), Amsteg, and Acherli, besides numerous smaller hamlets or dispersed ...
and Silenen (500 m), and through
Erstfeld Erstfeld is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History In 1962 a collection of four gold torques and three gold arm rings were discovered near Erstfeld. While the exact origin date is unknown, they are likely from the 4th cent ...
(460 m), past
Attinghausen Attinghausen is a village and a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History Attinghausen is first mentioned in 1240 as ''Attingenhusen'' by the HDS. Geography Attinghausen has an area, , of . Of this area, 35.3% is used for agricul ...
and Altdorf (440 m), joining the southernmost part of
Lake Lucerne __NOTOC__ Lake Lucerne (german: Vierwaldstättersee, literally "Lake of the four forested settlements" (in English usually translated as ''forest cantons''), french: lac des Quatre-Cantons, it, lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central S ...
(the ''Urnersee'') between
Flüelen Flüelen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History Flüelen is first mentioned in 1266 as ''Vluolon''. Flüelen formed an important transshipment point on Switzerland's transport system for many centuries, and at least sin ...
and Seedorf (434 m). The Reuss leaves Lake Lucerne some 20 km to the north-west, at the city of
Lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital o ...
. Notable bridges in Lucerne are the
Kapellbrücke The Kapellbrücke (literally, Chapel Bridge) is a covered wooden footbridge spanning the river Reuss diagonally in the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. Named after the nearby St. Peter's Chapel, the bridge is unique in containing a number ...
, first built 1333, rebuilt 1993 and Spreuerbrücke, built 1408. A needle dam just upstream from the Spreuerbrücke) maintains the water level. It receives the Kleine Emme from Entlebuch at Emmen (432 m). From here, it flows north-east through
Buchrain Buchrain is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. History Buchrain is first mentioned in 1257 as ''Buochren''. Geography Buchrain has an area of . Of this area, 49.5% is used for agricultural pur ...
,
Root In vascular plants, the roots are the organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often below the su ...
,
Gisikon Gisikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. History Gisikon is first mentioned around 1270 as ''Gisinkon''. In the 19th century, especially referring to the battle that occurred on 23 November 184 ...
and Honau, and downstream of Honau (402 m) leaves the
canton of Lucerne The canton of Lucerne (german: Kanton Luzern rm, Chantun Lucerna french: Canton de Lucerne it, Canton Lucerna) is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton (as of ) is . , the population ...
, now forming the border between
Aargau Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capit ...
and Zug, passing
Dietwil Dietwil is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History Dietwil is first mentioned in 1236 as ''Tuetwile''. To distinguish it from the municipality of Grossdietwil in Lucerne it was also called ''Kl ...
(Aargau), Risch-Rotkreuz (Zug),
Oberrüti Oberrüti is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History Oberrüti is first mentioned in 1236 as ''Ruty''. In wasn't until the creation of the Canton of Aargau in 1803 that the name became ''Oberrüti' ...
(Aargau) and Sins (Aargau),
Hünenberg Hünenberg is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland. History Hünenberg is first mentioned in 1173 as ''de Hunberg'', though this document is considered a forgery. In 1185 it was mentioned as ''de Hunoberg'' and in 1239 as ''de Hun ...
(Zug) and
Mühlau Mühlau is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History The earliest evidence of human settlement in Mühlau is the remains of a Roman villa. The modern municipality of Mühlau is first mentioned in ...
(Aargau). It receives the Lorze from
Lake Zug __NOTOC__ Lake Zug (german: Zugersee) is a lake in Central Switzerland, situated between Lake Lucerne and Lake Zurich. It stretches for 14 km between Arth and the Cham- Zug bay. The Lorze as the main feeder river empties its waters into the ...
downstream of
Maschwanden Maschwanden is a village in the district of Affoltern in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. History Maschwanden is first mentioned in 1189 as ''Maswondon''. The Baron of Eschenbach owned a castle and the village, near the current municipal ...
. Downstream of this confluence, the Reuss forms the border between Aargau and
Zürich , neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon , twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco Z ...
, passing
Merenschwand Merenschwand is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The municipality of Benzenschwil merged on 1 January 2012 into Merenschwand.
(Aargau, 389 m) and
Ottenbach Ottenbach is a municipality in the district of Affoltern in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. History Ottenbach is first mentioned in 831 as ''in loco vocato marcha Hotumbacharia''. In 1169 it was mentioned as ''Arnoldus de Ottonbac''. Si ...
(Zurich, 384 m), and enters Aargau downstream of Ottenbach. Within Aargau, the Reuss flows past
Aristau Aristau is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History The first traces of human settlement around Aristau are scattered La Tène culture artifacts. The modern municipality of Aristau is made up of t ...
,
Jonen Jonen is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History The first traces of a settlement come from an extensive burial ground from the Hallstatt period. There are remains of a Roman estate in Scha ...
,
Rottenschwil Rottenschwil is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History The earliest trace of a human settlement in the area around Rottenschwil, is a Roman era farm. The modern municipality of Rottenschwil is fi ...
,
Unterlunkhofen Unterlunkhofen is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History Since pre-Christian times people have inhabited the areas around Unterlunkhofen. Archeological digs document a settlement of the ' ...
,
Hermetschwil-Staffeln Hermetschwil-Staffeln is a former municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. On 1 January 2014 the former municipality of Hermetschwil-Staffeln merged into the municipality of Bremgarten.
, here forming Flachsee (380 m), and onward to
Zufikon Zufikon is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History A single archeological find dates human habitation in the area to the Bronze Age. The first written reference to the village occurred in 1 ...
, Bremgarten (370 m). The Reussbrücke at Bremgarten was first built c. 1270, first mentioned 1281 (wooden bridge rebuilt 1953–1957). From Bremgarten, the Reuss meanders between the villages of
Eggenwil Eggenwil is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History Eggenwil is first mentioned about 1160 as ''Egenwilare'' in a donation document, the ''Acta Murensia''. The village and church were give ...
,
Fischbach-Göslikon Fischbach-Göslikon is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History While several, individual mesolithic items have been found in the municipality, the first evidence of a settlement are two Halls ...
,
Künten Künten is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It lies on the Reuss River and includes the previously independent community of Sulz, which merged with Künten in 1973. History Künten is first mentio ...
, Niederwil, to Stetten (352 m), flowing past
Tägerig Tägerig is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History A number of shaped flints have been found north of the modern village, indicating that the area was inhabited before written records. Th ...
,
Mellingen Mellingen is a historic town and a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The town is located on the Reuss. History Mellingen is first mentioned in 1045 as ''Mellingen'' though this comes from a 16th-cen ...
(350 m),
Birrhard Birrhard is a municipality in the district of Brugg in canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It is located about south east of the town of Brugg. History Birrhard is first mentioned in 1254 as ''Birharth'' when it belonged to the Habsburgs. The au ...
(340 m),
Mülligen Mülligen is a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Brugg (district), Brugg in Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Aargau in Switzerland. History The earliest known settlement was in the Early Middle Ages, though the onl ...
, Birmenstorf and between Windisch and Gebenstorf, finally joining the
Aare The Aare () or Aar () is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descen ...
just downstream of
Brugg , neighboring_municipalities = Gebenstorf, Habsburg, Hausen, Holderbank, Lupfig, Riniken, Rüfenach, Schinznach, Untersiggenthal, Villigen, Villnachern, Veltheim, Windisch , twintowns = Rottweil (Germany) , website ...
, at 327 m. After the confluence the river continues as the Aare, which flows into the
Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , source ...
at
Koblenz Koblenz (; Moselle Franconian: ''Kowelenz''), spelled Coblenz before 1926, is a German city on the banks of the Rhine and the Moselle, a multi-nation tributary. Koblenz was established as a Roman military post by Drusus around 8 B.C. Its nam ...
.


Catchment area

The catchment area of approximately covers
Central Switzerland Central Switzerland is the region of the Alpine Foothills geographically the heart and historically the origin of Switzerland, with the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Zug. Central Switzerland is one of the NUTS 2 Stat ...
. The catchment area of the upper Reuss includes almost the entire
canton of Uri The canton of Uri (german: Kanton Uri rm, Chantun Uri; french: Canton d'Uri; it, Canton Uri) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's terri ...
(with the exception of the
Urner Boden The Urnerboden is a village in the high valley of Urner Boden, and also an alp and a small high Alpine permanent settlement in the Swiss canton of Uri. At in length, it is believed to be the largest alp in Switzerland. It forms a disconnected p ...
, and in the uppermost part of the Gotthardreuss a portion of
Ticino Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
(
Airolo Airolo (''Airöö'' in Lombard, in rm, italic=yes, ) is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Geography Airolo is located in Leventina valley and the Lepontine Alps, on the southern flank of the ...
municipality). The highest point of the
drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
is the summit of
Dammastock The Dammastock (3,630 m) is the highest mountain in the Urner Alps in Switzerland and is part of the Winterberg massif. Its summit ridge forms the border between the cantons of Uri and the Valais. It is the highest summit in the canton of Uri. ...
, at elevation 3,630 m. The basin of the lower Reuss adds the catchment areas of other tributaries of
Lake Lucerne __NOTOC__ Lake Lucerne (german: Vierwaldstättersee, literally "Lake of the four forested settlements" (in English usually translated as ''forest cantons''), french: lac des Quatre-Cantons, it, lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central S ...
as well as that of the Kleine Emme, including most of
Nidwalden Nidwalden, also Nidwald (german: Kanton Nidwalden, ; rm, Chantun Sutsilvania; french: Canton de Nidwald; it, Canton Nidvaldo) is one of the Canton of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven ...
and
Obwalden Obwalden, also Obwald (german: Kanton Obwalden, rm, Chantun Sursilvania; french: Canton d'Obwald; it, Canton Obvaldo), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of seven municipalities and the seat of the gover ...
, and parts of Schwyz,
Lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital o ...
and Zug. Downstream of Lucerne, further tributaries add other parts of Zug as well as parts of
Zürich , neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon , twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco Z ...
and
Aargau Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capit ...
.


Tributaries

Reuss and its
tributaries A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drain ...
, with length and catchment area, from mouth to source (incomplete): :''Reuss'' - 164 km - 3,426 km² (at Gebenstorf into
Aare The Aare () or Aar () is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descen ...
) ::Mülibach - 8 km² (at
Mellingen Mellingen is a historic town and a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The town is located on the Reuss. History Mellingen is first mentioned in 1045 as ''Mellingen'' though this comes from a 16th-cen ...
) ::Jonen - :: Lorze - (at Reussspitz,
Hünenberg Hünenberg is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland. History Hünenberg is first mentioned in 1173 as ''de Hunberg'', though this document is considered a forgery. In 1185 it was mentioned as ''de Hunoberg'' and in 1239 as ''de Hun ...
) :::Haselbach :::Rigi-Aa - (at Arth into
Lake Zug __NOTOC__ Lake Zug (german: Zugersee) is a lake in Central Switzerland, situated between Lake Lucerne and Lake Zurich. It stretches for 14 km between Arth and the Cham- Zug bay. The Lorze as the main feeder river empties its waters into the ...
) :::Hüribach - (into
Ägerisee __NOTOC__ Ägerisee or Lake Aegeri is a glacial lake in the Canton of Zug, Switzerland. The two municipalities along its shore are Oberägeri and Unterägeri Unterägeri is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland. History Oberägeri ...
) ::Sinserbach - (at Sins) ::Ron - (at
Gisikon Gisikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. History Gisikon is first mentioned around 1270 as ''Gisinkon''. In the 19th century, especially referring to the battle that occurred on 23 November 184 ...
) :: Kleine Emme - 58 km - (at
Emmenbrücke Emmen is a village and municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. The municipality Emmen consists of the village Emmen, the town Emmenbrücke, and several hamlets. History Emmen is first mentioned in 840 a ...
) :::Ränggbach :::Rümlig :::Wigger :::Fontannen :::Entlen ::::Grosse Entlen - 16 km :::::Eibach :::::Rotbach ::::Kleine Entlen :::''Headwaters'' ::::Wiss Emme ::::Waldemme :''
Lake Lucerne __NOTOC__ Lake Lucerne (german: Vierwaldstättersee, literally "Lake of the four forested settlements" (in English usually translated as ''forest cantons''), french: lac des Quatre-Cantons, it, lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central S ...
'' - - 2,238 km² (at
Lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital o ...
, outflow Reuss) ::Würzenbach - 7.7 km - (at
Lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital o ...
) :: Sarner Aa/Dreiwässerkanal/Aa/Lauibach - 28 km - (at
Alpnachstad Alpnach is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. It comprises the villages of Alpnach Dorf, Alpnachstad and Schoried. History Alpnach is first mentioned about 870 as ''Alpenacho''. Geography Alpnach has an area, , of . Of this ...
) :::Grosse Schliere - 17 km - (above Wichelsee) :::Grosse Melchaa ::Melbach - (at
Ennetmoos Ennetmoos is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland. History Ennetmoos is first mentioned in 1311 or 1315 as ''Ennetmooss''. The dragon in the municipality's coat of arms is inspired by the legend of Strut von Winkelried, as th ...
) ::
Engelberger Aa Engelberger Aa (or ''Engelbergeraa'') is a river in Switzerland. It rises west of Surenenpass in the Canton of Uri, flows through the valley of Engelberg (Obwalden) and Nidwalden. At Buochs, it empties into Lake Lucerne and is thus a tributary ...
- 50 km - (at
Buochs Buochs is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland. History Buochs is first mentioned in 1124 as ''Boches''. In 1184, it was mentioned as ''Buoches'', then in 1210 as ''Buches'', and in 1229 as ''Buchs''. Geography Buochs has a ...
) :: Muota - (at
Brunnen Brunnen is a resort on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, part of the municipality Ingenbohl (Canton of Schwyz), at . Brunnen railway station, on the Gotthard railway, is served by hourly InterRegio trains, and by lines S2 of the Stadtbahn Zug, whi ...
) ::Isitalerbach - (near Isleten) ::Altdorfer Dorfbach (at Altdorf) :''Upper Reuss'' - (at
Flüelen Flüelen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History Flüelen is first mentioned in 1266 as ''Vluolon''. Flüelen formed an important transshipment point on Switzerland's transport system for many centuries, and at least sin ...
/ Seedorf into Lake Lucerne) :: Schächen - (at
Attinghausen Attinghausen is a village and a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History Attinghausen is first mentioned in 1240 as ''Attingenhusen'' by the HDS. Geography Attinghausen has an area, , of . Of this area, 35.3% is used for agricul ...
) ::Alpbach - (at
Erstfeld Erstfeld is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. History In 1962 a collection of four gold torques and three gold arm rings were discovered near Erstfeld. While the exact origin date is unknown, they are likely from the 4th cent ...
) ::Kärstelenbach - ::Meienreuss - ::Göschenenalpreuss - (at
Göschenen Göschenen (German, it, Casinotta, rm, Caschanuttais) a village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. It sits at the northern end of the Gotthard tunnel. The Göschenen riots (1875) saw Urner troops opening fire on Italian miner ...
) :::Voralpreuss ::Unteralpreuss (at
Andermatt Andermatt ( rm, ) is a mountain village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. At an elevation of above sea level, Andermatt is located at the center of the Saint-Gotthard Massif and the historical center cross of north-south and e ...
) :::Oberalpreuss (above
Andermatt Andermatt ( rm, ) is a mountain village and municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. At an elevation of above sea level, Andermatt is located at the center of the Saint-Gotthard Massif and the historical center cross of north-south and e ...
) :''Headwaters'' at Hospental: ::Furkareuss - 12 km :::Witenwasserenreuss ::::Muttenreuss :::Tiefenbach :::Sidelenbach ::Gotthardreuss


History


Name

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...
records the river's pre-Germanic name as ''Silana'' (whence the name of Silenen). The Germanic name is attested as ''Rusa'', ''Rusia'' from the 9th century (sometimes recorded as ''Ursa'' in the Early Modern period, c.f. '' Urseren''),H. Reichert, "Riousiaoua" in Hoops (ed.), ''Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde'' 25 (1968)
p. 27
from an early Germanic ''*Rūsi'', oblique ''*Rūsjō-''. Greule (1982) interprets the name as an Old European hydronym, directly cognate with '' Riß''.Greule, Albrecht, '' Riusiava, Riß und Reuß'', Blätter für Oberdeutsche Namenforschung, 19 (1982). Albrecht Greule, ''Deutsches Gewässernamenbuch: Etymologie der Gewässernamen und der zugehörigen Gebiets-, Siedlungs- und Flurnamen'', Walter de Gruyter (2014)
434f.
/ref> Because of Ptolemy's record of the pre-Germanic name ''Silana'', it is possible that only part of the river was known as ''*Rūsi'' in antiquity; alternatively, ''*Rūsi'' has been interpreted as a purely Germanic name introduced with Germanic settlement in the early medieval period, a derivation from OHG '' rūsa, riusa'' "
fish trap A fish trap is a trap used for fishing. Fish traps include fishing weirs, lobster traps, and some fishing nets such as fyke nets. Traps are culturally almost universal and seem to have been independently invented many times. There are two ma ...
".


Upper Reuss

Until the 13th century, the
Schöllenen Gorge Schöllenen Gorge (german: Schöllenenschlucht; Schöllenen) is a gorge formed by the upper Reuss in the Swiss canton of Uri between the towns of Göschenen to the north and Andermatt to the south. It provides access to the St Gotthard Pass. ...
was impassable, separating Urseren from Uri. Urseren was accessible via Furka and Oberalp, and was under the influence of the
bishopric of Chur The Prince-Bishopric of Chur (german: Hochstift Chur, Fürstbistum Chur, Bistum Chur) was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire, and had Imperial immediacy. The Prince-Bishopric of Chur controlled contiguous land from the city of ...
. The main settlement area of Uri was the plain of the Reuss estuary Altdorf (''Reussebene''). Settlements tended to form on either side of the river, while the river itself was often taken as communal or parish boundary. The Schöllenen Gorge was made passable the 1230s, opening access to the
Gotthard Pass german: Gotthardpass , photo = File:Gotthardpass 2008.jpg , photo_caption = The area of the Gotthard Pass from the west , elevation_m = 2106 , elevation_ref = , traversed = National Road 2 Old paved road ( Tremola) Gotthard Rail Tunnel Go ...
. This resulted in an immense increase of the strategic value of the Reuss valley, as reflected in the grant of
imperial immediacy Imperial immediacy (german: Reichsfreiheit or ') was a privileged constitutional and political status rooted in German feudal law under which the Imperial estates of the Holy Roman Empire such as Imperial cities, prince-bishoprics and secular pri ...
to Uri and the wider political backdrop of the foundation of the Old Swiss Confederacy. The Reuss was River engineering, canalised between Attinghausen and Altdorf in 1850–1863, and to the river mouth in 1900–1912, significantly increasing the arable land in the Reuss plain. A small river delta was reconstructed in 1985. After flooding in 1987, improved flood control measures were constructed during 1995–1999. A small hydroelectric plant was built in Schöllenen Gorge for the construction of the Gotthard Tunnel in 1875. Larger hydroelectric plants were built at Amsteg (1922), Wassen (1949) and Göschenen (1962).


Lower Reuss

The lower Reuss flows along a series of former glacial lakes. Settlements along the river were built on lateral moraines, while the river bed itself was marshy and subject to flooding, and thus unsuitable for settlement. The oldest river crossings are along terminal moraines between the former glacial lakes. The Reuss valley was under House of Habsburg, Habsburg Duchy of Austria, Austrian rule during the 14th century. In the 15th century, the Reuss became the border between territories of the Old Swiss Confederacy, Swiss Confederacy, in 1429 between Lucerne and Zürich, and later between Zug, Zürich and the Freie Ämter condominium, between Freie Ämter and County of Baden, Baden, and between Baden and Berne. The Reuss downstream of Ottenbach came to lie within
Aargau Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capit ...
with the creation of this canton in 1803. The Reuss had the status of "imperial road" (''freie Reichsstrasse'') in the late medieval period. Until 1798, it was the responsibility of cantonal authorities (the ''Reussherren'' of Lucerne and Zug) to keep the river navigable. The river was important as waterway for traffic between Lucerne and Zurzach, and via Aare and Rhine to Basel, until the construction of transit roads in the 18th century. River crossings by ferry in the medieval period were at Unterlunkhofen, Lunkhofen (mentioned 1160), Windisch, Sins, Mühlau, Oberrüti, and Dietwil. The crossing at Lunkhofen was on the main route from Zürich to Berne. Bridges across the Reuss were in Lucerne, Bremgarten (1230), Mellingen (mentioned 1253) and Gisikon (1432). In 1528, the Catholic cantons blocked the trade routes across the Reuss for Protestant cantons and trade between Zürich and Berne was re-routed through Windisch. Because ferries and bridges were a source of income, the construction of new crossings was opposed during the early modern period, and only one new bridge was built, commissioned by Zug, at Sins (1640). New bridges were built only after the collapse of the Old Swiss Confederacy, e.g. at Windisch (1799), Ottenbach (1864) and Mühlau (1940). By the end of the 20th century, there were more than a dozen crossings of the lower Reuss, including a number of railway and motorway bridges. Projects for canalisation in 1648 (Hans Conrad Gyger) and 1809 (Johann Gottfried Tulla) were not realised. In 1840, Aargau constructed some canalisation, with limited impact. A large-scale project of river engineering was completed during 1971–1985 (''Reusstalsanierung''). The hydroelectric plant at Bremgarten-Zufikon was built in 1893 and enlarged in 1975 ( Flachsee reservoir).


References


External links

* *Current discharge, waterlevels, temperature:
(Uri)
(1426 m)

(437 m)

(431 m)

(389 m)

(344 m) {{Authority control Reuss basin, Rivers of Switzerland Tributaries of Lake Lucerne Rivers of the canton of Uri Rivers of the canton of Lucerne Rivers of Aargau Rivers of the canton of Zug Rivers of the canton of Zürich