Marmorera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marmorera
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Ruins of Marmels Castle, located near Marmorera
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 Marmorera
Location in Switzerland
Marmorera
Location in Canton of Graubünden
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Graubünden | |
| District | Albula | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 18.99 km2 (7.33 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,720 m (5,640 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2014)
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| • Total | 31 | |
| • Density | 1.632/km2 (4.23/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
7456
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| Surrounded by | Bever, Bivio, Mulegns, Sur | |
Marmorera (which is Marmels in German) is a small village in Switzerland. It used to be its own municipality, but on January 1, 2016, it joined with several other villages to form a new, larger municipality called Surses.
For a long time, most people in Marmorera spoke Romansh. However, over the years, more people started speaking German. By 2000, most residents spoke German as their main language.
The original village of Marmorera was actually flooded! This happened when the Marmorera dam was built to create a large lake. The village you see today was built higher up, above the beautiful Lai da Marmorera (Marmorera Lake).
Contents
A Glimpse into Marmorera's Past
Marmorera is a very old place. It was first mentioned in writings around the year 840. Back then, it was known as ad Marmoraria.
The old village was located along an important trade route. This route connected the Septimer and Julier mountain passes.
Understanding Marmorera's Location
Marmorera covers an area of about 19 square kilometers (about 7.3 square miles). A big part of this land, about 35.6%, is used for farming. Forests cover another 23% of the area.
Only a small part, about 1%, has buildings or roads. The rest of the land, about 40.4%, is made up of mountains, rivers, or glaciers. These areas are not used for farming or building.
Today, Marmorera is located on the eastern side of the Lai da Marmorera. This lake was formed when the Marmorera dam was built. Before 1902, the village was known as Marmels.
Who Lives in Marmorera?
In 2014, Marmorera had a population of 31 people. Over the past 10 years, the number of people living there has gone down a bit.
Most people in Marmorera speak German. In 2000, about 57.1% of the people spoke German. The second most common language was Romansh, spoken by 34.7% of the population. A smaller group, 6.1%, spoke Italian.
In 2000, there were slightly more females (52.1%) than males (47.9%) living in Marmorera. The village has people of all ages. For example, about 8.2% of the population was between 10 and 14 years old.
Many adults in Marmorera have a good education. About 85.2% of people aged 25-64 have completed higher education. This means they went to a university or a special college.
Marmorera has a very low unemployment rate, which means almost everyone who wants a job has one. In 2005, only a few people worked in farming. Most jobs were in the service industry, like tourism or shops.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Marmorera has changed a lot over the years. Here's a quick look:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1850 | 156 |
| 1900 | 143 |
| 1920 | 100 |
| 1941 | 94 |
| 1950 | 140 |
| 1960 | 28 |
| 1970 | 27 |
| 1980 | 27 |
| 1990 | 38 |
| 2000 | 49 |
| 2010 | 43 |
You can see a big drop in population between 1950 and 1960. This happened when the old village was flooded to create the dam.
Marmorera in the Movies
The village of Marmorera and its dam were featured in a Swiss mystery film. The movie, also called Marmorera, came out in 2007.
Important Historical Sites
The remains of the old village of Marmorera are very important. They are listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. This means they are protected because of their historical value.
Images for kids
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Ruins of Marmels Castle, located near Marmorera
