Obwalden
Obwalden or Obwald (German: Kanton Obwalden [ˈɔbˌvaldn̩] ⓘ; Romansh: Chantun Sursilvania; French: Canton d'Obwald; Italian: Canton Obvaldo) is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of seven municipalities and the seat of the government and parliament is in Sarnen. It is traditionally considered a "half-canton", the other half being Nidwalden.
Canton of Obwalden
Canton of Obwald | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Location in Switzerland
Map of Obwalden | |
| Coordinates: 46°52′N 8°2′E | |
| Capital | Sarnen |
| Subdivisions | 7 municipalities |
| Government | |
| • Executive | Regierungsrat (5) |
| • Legislative | Kantonsrat (55) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 490.58 km2 (189.41 sq mi) |
| Population (December 2020) | |
| • Total | 38,108 |
| • Density | 78/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | CHF 2.564 billion (2020) |
| • Per capita | CHF 67,453 (2020) |
| ISO 3166 code | CH-OW |
| Highest point | 3,238 m (10,623 ft): Titlis |
| Lowest point | 434 m (1,424 ft): Lake Lucerne |
| Joined | 1291 |
| Languages | German |
| Website | www |
Obwalden lies in Central Switzerland and contains the geographical centre of Switzerland. It is bordered by the canton of Lucerne to the north, the canton of Nidwalden and Uri to the east and the canton of Bern to the south. The canton is essentially in the valley of the Sarner Aa south of Lake Lucerne, with an exclave around Engelberg.
It is one of the smallest cantons. The largest town is Sarnen, followed by Kerns and Alpnach.
Together with Nidwalden, Obwalden was part of the forest canton of Unterwalden, one of the three participants in the foundation of the Old Swiss Confederacy, named in the Pact of Brunnen of 1315 with Uri and Schwyz. The division of Unterwalden into two separate territories, Nidwalden and Obwalden, appears to develop over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries.