Finhaut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Finhaut
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Finhaut village
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 Finhaut
Location in Switzerland
Finhaut
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Saint-Maurice | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 22.82 km2 (8.81 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,224 m (4,016 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 381 | |
| • Density | 16.696/km2 (43.24/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
1925
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| Localities | Finhaut, Giétroz, Châtelard | |
| Surrounded by | Salvan, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (FR-74), Trient, Vallorcine (FR-74) | |
Finhaut is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Valais region of Switzerland. It's nestled in the beautiful Trient valley, right near the border with France. Finhaut is known for its stunning mountain views and the nearby Lac d'Émosson, a large lake created by a dam.
Contents
History of Finhaut
Finhaut was first mentioned in official records way back in 1293. This means people have been living and working in this area for a very long time!
Geography and Nature
Finhaut covers an area of about 22.8 square kilometers (which is about 8.8 square miles). A big part of this land, about 26%, is covered by forests. Only a small part, about 2.6%, has buildings or roads. Most of the land, about 68%, is unproductive, meaning it's rocky or mountainous and not used for farming or building.
Location and Villages
The municipality of Finhaut is found in the Saint-Maurice district. It sits in the upper part of the Trient valley, right next to the French border. Finhaut includes the main village of Finhaut, along with smaller villages called Giétroz and Le Châtelard.
Lac d'Émosson
A famous feature near Finhaut is Lac d'Émosson. This is a large reservoir, which is a lake created by a dam. The dam is called the Émosson Dam. This lake is partly located within the Finhaut municipality. In 2016, a famous bicycle race, the 2016 Tour de France, had one of its stages end near this impressive dam!
Finhaut's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol or emblem for a town or family. Finhaut's coat of arms shows a red background with a silver castle. The castle has three towers, and the middle one has a roof. There are also two golden arrows crossed behind the castle.
People and Population
As of 2008, about 17% of the people living in Finhaut were not Swiss citizens. Over ten years (from 2000 to 2010), the number of people living here grew by about 6.4%. This growth was mostly because new people moved into the area.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Finhaut speak French as their main language. In 2000, about 97% of the population spoke French. A smaller number of people spoke German (about 2%), and even fewer spoke Italian (less than 1%).
Where People Live
In 2000, more than half of the people (about 55%) living in Finhaut were actually born there. About 16% were born in the same region (canton) of Valais. The rest were born in other parts of Switzerland or in other countries.
Age Groups
In 2000, children and teenagers (up to 19 years old) made up about 23% of Finhaut's population. Adults (20 to 64 years old) made up the largest group, about 57.5%. Older adults (over 64 years old) made up about 19% of the population.
Households
In 2000, there were 130 private households in Finhaut. On average, there were about 2.4 people living in each household. Some households had only one person, while others had five or more people.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Finhaut has changed a lot over the years. For example, in 1850, there were 470 people, but by 1990, it dropped to 293. Then, in 2000, it went up slightly to 318.
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Interesting Sights
The entire Finhaut area is considered an important part of Swiss heritage. This means it has special historical or cultural value that is protected.
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Finhaut was low, at 2%. This means most people who wanted a job had one.
Types of Jobs
People in Finhaut work in different types of jobs:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming or forestry. In 2008, a few people worked in agriculture.
- Secondary Sector: This involves manufacturing or building things. In 2008, there were no jobs in this sector in Finhaut.
- Tertiary Sector: This includes jobs that provide services, like working in shops, hotels, or schools. In 2008, most people worked in this sector. Many worked in hotels or restaurants, or in transportation.
Commuting to Work
In 2000, some people who lived in Finhaut traveled to other towns for work. More people left Finhaut for work than came into Finhaut for work. About 15% of working people used public transportation, and about 43% used a private car to get to their jobs.
Religion in Finhaut
Based on a 2000 survey, most people in Finhaut (about 86.5%) were Roman Catholic. A smaller number (about 4.4%) belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people (about 4.4%) said they didn't belong to any church or were agnostic or atheist.
Education and Schools
In Finhaut, many adults have completed their high school education. About 8% of the population has gone on to get higher education, like a university degree.
In 2000, some students from Finhaut went to schools in other towns. Also, some students from other towns came to school in Finhaut.
Transportation Options
Finhaut has a narrow-gauge railway line called the Martigny–Châtelard line. This train line runs through the eastern part of the municipality. There are three train stations in the area: Finhaut, Le Châtelard VS, and Le Châtelard-Frontière.
See also
In Spanish: Finhaut para niños
