Wassen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wassen
Coat of arms
Wassen Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Wassen Location in Canton of Uri Show map of Canton of Uri
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Uri
District	n.a.
Area
• Total	96.88 km2 (37.41 sq mi)
Elevation	930 m (3,050 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	412
• Density	4.253/km2 (11.014/sq mi)
Postal code	6484
Surrounded by	Attinghausen, Engelberg (OW), Erstfeld, Gadmen (BE), Göschenen, Gurtnellen

Wassen is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. It's known for its beautiful mountain scenery and its important role along the famous Gotthard railway line.

Geography of Wassen

The special double-loop tunnels on the Gotthard railway line near Wassen, helping trains climb the steep mountains.

An aerial view of Wassen from 1963.

Wassen covers an area of about 97 square kilometers (37 square miles). A small part of this land, about 12.5%, is used for farming. Forests cover 18.2% of the area. Only a tiny bit, 1.1%, has buildings or roads. The largest part, 68.1%, is made up of non-productive land like rivers, glaciers, or mountains.

Wassen is located on the important Gotthard railway line. This train line has a special design near Wassen. It makes a double loop to help trains climb the steep mountains. This clever engineering allows trains to gain height without needing a super-steep track. The Susten Pass is a mountain road that connects Wassen with another town called Innertkirchen.

Fun Things to See in Wassen

There are many interesting places to explore around Wassen:

• Gottardo-Weitwanderweg: This is a long-distance hiking trail that goes between Erstfeld and Biasca. It was opened to celebrate 125 years of the Gotthard Railway. Along the path, you'll find more than 50 signs, including some in Wassen. These signs share cool facts about the Gotthard Region and its famous railway.
• Waterworld Educational Trail: In the nearby Göscheneralptal valley, there's a 60-kilometer (37-mile) network of trails. It has 90 stations, all about the theme of water. It's a great way to learn about rivers, lakes, and how water shapes the landscape.
• Schöllenen Gorge: This is a deep, narrow valley. An old legend says that a bridge could only be built over this gorge with the help of the devil! It's a dramatic and historic spot.
• Pfaffensprung Crystal Caves: These caves are 165 meters (541 feet) long and are the second largest crystal caves in Switzerland. For hundreds of years, people have found many beautiful mountain crystals here. You can visit the caves with a guide to see the sparkling crystals up close.

People of Wassen

Wassen as it looked in 1845.

Wassen has a population of about 456 people. A small part of the population, about 7.2%, are people from other countries. Over the last 10 years, the number of people living in Wassen has gone down a bit.

Most people in Wassen, about 94.2%, speak German. Serbo-Croatian is the second most common language, spoken by 2.4% of the people. Italian is the third most common, spoken by 1.3%.

In 2007, about 51.8% of the people in Wassen were male, and 48.2% were female.

When it comes to education, about 53% of adults (aged 25–64) in Wassen have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like a university.

Wassen has a very low unemployment rate, which means most people who want to work can find jobs.

The town has different types of jobs:

• Primary Sector: About 43 people work in farming and related businesses. There are about 18 businesses in this area.
• Secondary Sector: About 34 people work in manufacturing and construction. There are 7 businesses in this area.
• Tertiary Sector: About 121 people work in services, like shops, hotels, or offices. There are 18 businesses in this area.

Here's how Wassen's population has changed over the years:

See also

In Spanish: Wassen para niños