Vaud
Vaud (/voʊ/ VOH; French: (Canton de) Vaud, pronounced [kɑ̃tɔ̃ də vo]),(German; Kanton Waad) more formally the canton of Vaud, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of ten districts, and its capital city is Lausanne. Its coat of arms bears the motto "Liberté et patrie" on a white-green bicolour.
Vaud
| |
|---|---|
| Canton of Vaud Canton de Vaud (French) | |
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Flag | |
| Motto(s): Liberté et patrie ("Freedom and fatherland") | |
| Anthem: Hymne vaudois ("The Vaudese Anthem") | |
Location in Switzerland
Map of Vaud | |
| Coordinates: 46°37′N 6°33′E | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Capital and largest city | Lausanne |
| Subdivisions | 339 municipalities, 10 districts |
| Government | |
| • Executive | Conseil d’État (7) |
| • Legislative | Grand Council (150) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,211.94 km2 (1,240.14 sq mi) |
| Population (December 2020) | |
| • Total | 814,762 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (660/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | CHF 56.898 billion (2020) |
| • Per capita | CHF 70,250 (2020) |
| ISO 3166 code | CH-VD |
| Highest point | 3,210 m (10,531 ft): Diablerets |
| Lowest point | 372 m (1,220 ft): Lake Leman |
| Joined | 1803 |
| Languages | French |
| Website | www |
Vaud is the third largest canton of the country by population and fourth by size. It is located in Romandy, the French-speaking western part of the country, and borders the canton of Neuchâtel to the north, the cantons of Fribourg and Bern to the east, the canton of Valais to the south, the canton of Geneva to the south-west, and France to the west. The geography of the canton includes all three natural regions of Switzerland: the Jura Mountains, the Swiss Plateau, and the (Swiss) Alps. It also includes some of the largest lakes of the country: Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel. It is a major tourist destination, renowned for its landscapes and gastronomy.
The largest city is Lausanne, followed by Yverdon-les-Bains and Montreux. As of 2020, the canton has a population of 814,762. It is one of the four cantons where French is the sole official language, and it is the canton with the largest number of French speakers. Formerly a Bernese bailiwick, Vaud joined the Swiss Confederation as an independent canton in 1803.