Naters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naters
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Naters
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 Naters
Location in Switzerland
Naters
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Brig | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 147.22 km2 (56.84 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 673 m (2,208 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 10,290 | |
| • Density | 69.90/km2 (181.03/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3904
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| Surrounded by | Baltschieder, Betten, Birgisch, Bitsch, Blatten (Lötschen), Brig-Glis, Fieschertal, Mund, Riederalp, Termen | |
| Twin towns | Ornavasso (Italy) | |
Naters is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Valais canton, within the Brig district.
On January 1, 2013, Naters grew bigger. It merged with the nearby towns of Birgisch and Mund. Naters also includes smaller villages like Hegdorn, Geimen, Mehlbaum, Rischinen, and Blatten bei Naters.
Contents
History of Naters
Naters is a very old place. It was first written about in the year 1018. Back then, its name was Nares.
Geography of Naters
Naters covers a large area of about 101.3 square kilometers (about 39 square miles). A small part of this land, about 16.5%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 9% of the area.
About 1.8% of the land has buildings or roads. The largest part, 72.7%, is unproductive land, like mountains or rocky areas.
The town is on the right side of the Rhone river. It sits on gently sloping land near the Kelchbach stream. Naters includes the main town and several villages. These are Hegdorn, Geimen, Mehlbaum, Rischinen, and Blatten. It also includes the mountain village and ski resort of Belalp.
Naters's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Naters is a special design. It shows a red background. On it, there are two golden shepherd's staffs crossed like an 'X'. Above them is a golden bishop's hat. This design is called Gules, between two Crosiers Or in saltire in chief a Mitre of the same.
Population and People of Naters
Naters has a population of about 7,810 people (as of 2005). About 11.9% of the people living here are from other countries. Over the last 10 years, the population has grown by about 6.9%.
Most people in Naters speak German. About 91.8% of the population uses German as their main language. Italian is the second most common language, spoken by 2.5% of people. Albanian is third, spoken by 1.3%. A smaller number of people speak French or Romansh.
In 2008, about 48.4% of the population was male and 51.6% was female. Most people in Naters were born there or in the same canton. About 10.6% of the people were born outside Switzerland.
The age groups in Naters are:
- Children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 24.1% of the population.
- Adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.9%.
- Seniors (over 64 years old) make up 16%.
The chart below shows how the population of Naters has changed over time:
Important Heritage Sites
Naters has some very important historical places. These are called heritage sites of national significance.
The Ossuary at Beinhausweg and the Church of St. Mauritius are two such sites. An ossuary is a place where bones are kept. The urbanized village of Naters, the village of Blatten, and the hamlet of Bodmen are also recognized as important heritage sites.
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Ossuary
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Church of St. Mauritius
Economy and Jobs in Naters
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Naters was low, at 2.3%. This means most people who wanted jobs had them.
Jobs in Naters are divided into three main types:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming and forestry. In 2008, about 142 people worked in this area.
- Secondary sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing, mining, and construction. About 564 people worked in these jobs.
- Tertiary sector: This includes jobs in services, like sales, hotels, education, and healthcare. About 1,009 people worked in this sector.
Many people who live in Naters travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 2,480 people left Naters to work elsewhere. About 925 people came into Naters for work. This means more people leave Naters for work than come in.
Many workers use public transportation (23.4%) or private cars (41.9%) to get to their jobs.
Religion in Naters
Most people in Naters are Roman Catholic. In 2000, about 86.8% of the population was Roman Catholic. About 3.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
Other religions in Naters include Orthodox Christians, other Christian churches, and Islam. A small number of people are Buddhist or Hindu. About 1.33% of the population did not belong to any church.
Education in Naters
Education is important in Naters. About 38.1% of the population has completed high school. About 7.9% have gone on to higher education, like university.
In the 2010-2011 school year, Naters had 762 students.
- There were 151 kindergarten students.
- There were 536 students in primary school (grades 1-6).
- There were 226 students in lower secondary school (grades 7-9).
Naters also has a public library called the Gemeindebibliothek. In 2008, it had over 17,945 books and other items. It loaned out 47,534 items that year. The library was open for 264 days, about 16 hours per week.
Sports in Naters
Naters is home to a football (soccer) team called FC Naters. They play in the Swiss 1. Liga, which is the third highest level of football in Switzerland.
Naters is also known for two professional hockey players, Nico and Luca Hischier.
- Nico Hischier was born and grew up in Naters. He learned to play hockey nearby. In 2017, he was the very first player chosen in the 2017 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He was the first Swiss player ever to be picked first overall in the NHL.
- His brother, Luca Hischier, is also a professional hockey player.
Notable People from Naters
- Josef Ritler, a journalist
- Nico Hischier, a hockey player
See also
In Spanish: Naters para niños
Images for kids
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The Simplon Fortress in the mountain at Naters, from the time of the Second World War
