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Canton of Uri

Flag of the canton
Capital: Altdorf
Abbr.: UR
Joined: 1291
Population: 35,000
Area: 1,077 km²
Language: German


Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. It is located in central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the Gotthard pass . German is the primary language spoken in Uri. The population is about 35,000.

1 Geography

The canton is located in the centre of the country. The lands of the canton are that of the Reuss valley and those of the main river's tributaries. The total area of the canton is 1,077 km². About half of this is considered productive land. Forests cover a significant part of the territory, and glaciers make up 20% of the unproductive land.

The highest elevation is the Dammastock at 3,630 m. The Dammastock lies just north of the Furka Pass .


Location of the canton

2 History

Uri was first mentioned in 732 as belonging to the abbot of Reichenau. In 853 it was given to the nunnery at Zürich by Louis the German.

It is thought that the name Uri derives from the old German word Auerochs meaning wild ox. This is backed up by the fact that the region's traditional coat of arms bears a bull's head.

In 1243 the region had a common seal. By 1274 the powerful Rudolf of Habsburg recognized these privileges. Uri was one of the three original Swiss cantons, having signed the Letter of Alliance (Bundesbrief) in 1291. In 1386Events End of reign of Poland by Capet-Anjou family. Dan I is succeeded as ruler of Wallachia by Mircea the Old. The Viking colony of Greenland submits itself to the Norwegian king. Births March 12 Ashikaga Yoshimochi, Ashikaga shogun Deaths 1386. Uri participated in the victory over the Austrians at Sempach . As a result Uri annexed the lands of Urseren in 1410Events July 15 Battle of Grunwald (a. Tannenberg or Zalgiris). Polish- Lithuanian forces under the cousins Wladyslaw Jagiello of Poland and Witowt of Lithuania decisively defeat the forces of the Teutonic Knights, whose power is broken Jan Hus is excommun.

The region resisted the reformation and remained Roman Catholic. During the Helvetic RepublicThe Helvetic Republic was a state formation in the area of Switzerland. It existed between 1798 and 1803. On 5 March 1798, French troops entered what is today Switzerland. As a result, the existing Swiss Confederation collapsed. On 12 April 1798 Helvetic Uri was part of the canton of Waldstätten. After this, in 1803Events January 30 Monroe and Livingston sail for Paris to discuss, and possibly buy, New Orleans. They end completing the Louisiana Purchase. February 24 The Supreme Court of the United States, in Marbury v. Madison establishes the principle of judicial r, Uri re-gained its independence. All attempts to religious or constitutional reform were resisted. In 1815Events January 3 Austria, Britain, and France form a secret defensive alliance treaty against Prussia and Russia. January 8 War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans February 3 The first commercial cheese factory is founded in Switzerland February 6 New Jersey g Uri joined the League of Sarnen for this reason. Later on Uri was one of the members of the Sonderbund. The Sonderbund was a separatist Catholic league, but overthrown by the Swiss Confederation.



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