# Linth

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River in Switzerland

This article is about the river. For the ship on Lake Zurich, see [Linth (ship, 1952)](/source/Linth_(ship%2C_1952)).

Linth The lower reaches of the Linth near Reichenburg Location Country Switzerland Physical characteristics Source • location Canton of Glarus, Switzerland Mouth • location Lake Zurich (Obersee) • coordinates 47°13′06″N 8°56′27″E / 47.2183°N 8.9407°E / 47.2183; 8.9407 Length 50 km (31 mi) Basin features Progression Lake Zurich→ ‹See Tfd› Limmat→ ‹See Tfd› Aare→ ‹See Tfd› Rhine→ North Sea

The **Linth** (pronounced [\[ˈlɪnt\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German) "lint") is a [Swiss](/source/Switzerland) [river](/source/River) that rises near the [village of Linthal](/source/Linthal%2C_Glarus) in the mountains of the [canton](/source/Cantons_of_Switzerland) of [Glarus](/source/Canton_of_Glarus), and eventually flows into the [Obersee](/source/Obersee_(Z%C3%BCrichsee)) section of [Lake Zurich](/source/Lake_Zurich). It is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) in length.[1]

The water power of the Linth was a main factor in the creation of the textile industry of the canton Glarus, and is today used to drive the [Linth–Limmern power stations](/source/Linth%E2%80%93Limmern_Power_Stations) in its upper reaches.

The river and its upper valley forms the boundary between the mountain ranges of the [Glarus Alps](/source/Glarus_Alps), to its east and south, and the [Schwyzer Alps](/source/Schwyzer_Alps), to its west. In its lower part, in the Linth plain (*Linthebene*), the Linth Canal forms the boundary between the cantons of Glarus and [St. Gallen](/source/Canton_of_St._Gallen) and part of the boundary between the cantons of St. Gallen and [Schwyz](/source/Canton_of_Schwyz).

The river lends its name to the former [canton of Linth](/source/Canton_of_Linth) (1798–1803).

## Course of the river

The upper part of the Linth valley, with the river just visible to the bottom, the village of Linthal above, and the Biferten glacier at the top centre

The river rises to the south-west of the [village of Linthal](/source/Linthal%2C_Glarus), at the foot the [Tödi mountain](/source/T%C3%B6di) (elevation 3,614 metres or 11,857 feet). It collects the water from several glaciers, including the [Clariden Glacier](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clariden_Glacier&action=edit&redlink=1) and the [Biferten Glacier](/source/Biferten_Glacier), as well as various tributary streams, including the *Oberstafelbach*, the *Bifertenbach*, the *Sandbach*, the *Walenbach* and the *Limmerenbach*. The last of these is dammed to create the [Limmerensee](/source/Limmerensee), a part of the [Linth–Limmern hydro-electric scheme](/source/Linth%E2%80%93Limmern_Power_Stations).[1]

The river then flows north to the village of Linthal, the highest significant settlement on the river, and onwards through the [canton of Glarus](/source/Canton_of_Glarus) villages of [Rüti](/source/R%C3%BCti%2C_Glarus), [Betschwanden](/source/Betschwanden), [Diesbach](/source/Diesbach%2C_Glarus), [Hätzingen](/source/H%C3%A4tzingen), [Luchsingen](/source/Luchsingen), [Leuggelbach](/source/Leuggelbach), [Haslen](/source/Haslen%2C_Glarus), [Nidfurn](/source/Nidfurn) and [Schwanden](/source/Schwanden%2C_Glarus). In Schwanden, the Linth is joined by one of its principal tributaries, the [Sernf](/source/Sernf), which drains the south-eastern part of the canton of Glarus.[1]

From Schwanden, the river continues to flow north through the villages of [Mitlödi](/source/Mitl%C3%B6di) and [Ennenda](/source/Ennenda) and the [town of Glarus](/source/Glarus) before reaching the village of [Netstal](/source/Netstal). In Netstal, the Linth is joined by the [Löntsch](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=L%C3%B6ntsch&action=edit&redlink=1), which drains the [Klöntalersee](/source/Kl%C3%B6ntalersee). The Linth then flows between the villages [Näfels](/source/N%C3%A4fels) and [Mollis](/source/Mollis), from where it formerly flowed in a northerly direction to a confluence with its tributary outfall from [Lake Walen](/source/Lake_Walen) (Walensee) on the Linth Plain, and then across that plain in a westerly direction to its mouth at the head of the [Obersee](/source/Obersee_(Z%C3%BCrichsee)) section of [Lake Zurich](/source/Lake_Zurich).[1][2]

As a result of the river regulation works (see below), the river is today diverted down an artificial channel in an easterly direction into Lake Walen. Another artificial channel (the Linth Channel) then takes the outfall of Lake Walen at [Weesen](/source/Weesen%2C_Switzerland) and flows west through the Linth Plain and into the Obersee.[1]

## River regulation of the Linth

Conrad Escher's plan of the correction

The plain of the Linth between [Weesen](/source/Weesen%2C_Switzerland) and [Schmerikon](/source/Schmerikon) before and after the correction of the Linth, 1811

The taming of the Linth ([German](/source/German_language): *Linthkorrektur*) from 1807 to 1823 was one of the great engineering feats of the early 19th century, the earliest project of such a size undertaken by the new Swiss state, and a great example of solidarity in early Switzerland.[2]

In the second half of the 18th century, the situation of the population in the lower Glarus valley, the Linth Plain and around Lake Walen, was pretty disastrous: cutting down the woods of the Glarus valley during early industrialization led to more and more gravel coming down with the yearly spring high water which was deposited at the joining of Linth and Maag, the outflow of the Lake Walen, in the plain between Lake Walen and Lake Zurich. This caused frequent floodings and backing up of water which made the level of Lake Walen rise several meters and turned the whole countryside into swamps. Agriculture became more and more difficult, the poverty increased, and diseases like [tuberculosis](/source/Tuberculosis) and [malaria](/source/Malaria) were rampant.[2]

The [statesman](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/statesman), [scientist](/source/Scientist), [painter](/source/Painting) and [manager](/source/Management) [Conrad Escher](/source/Hans_Conrad_Escher_von_der_Linth) (later named "von der Linth") from Zurich developed and executed the plan of channeling the Linth into Lake Walen, where the gravel could be deposited without damage. A second channel, the Linth Channel, connected the lakes of Walen and Zurich, replacing the former Maag.[2]

The river regulation put an end to the floodings, lowered the level of Lake Walen by some 5.4 meters which greatly improved living conditions for the population, and dried up the swamps, resulting in 20 km2 [arable land](/source/Arable_land) in the Linth plain.[3]

## See also

- [List of rivers of Switzerland](/source/List_of_rivers_of_Switzerland)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-swtopo_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-swtopo_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-swtopo_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-swtopo_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-swtopo_1-4) [*map.geo.admin.ch*](http://map.geo.admin.ch/?zoom=4&X=211114.56&Y=719648.15&lang=en&topic=ech&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo.pixelkarte-farbe&catalogNodes=457,510&layers=ch.swisstopo.swissboundaries3d-gemeinde-flaeche.fill) (Map). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2015-04-27.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-speich_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-speich_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-speich_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-speich_2-3) Speich, Daniel (2002). ["Draining the Marshlands, Disciplining the Masses: The Linth Valley Hydro Engineering Scheme (1807–1823) and the Genesis of Swiss National Unity"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233490501). The White Horse Press. Retrieved 2015-04-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-linth.net-Linthwerk_3-0)** ["Das Linthwerk"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210122023418/http://www.linth.ch/regional/geschichte/linth.htm). *linth.net* (in German). Archived from [the original](http://www.linth.ch/regional/geschichte/linth.htm) on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021. *Die Arbeiten werden 1822 vorläufig abgeschlossen und der Pegel des Walensees kann um 5,4m abgesenkt werden. [...] Dafür werden 2000 Hektaren Land urbar gemacht*

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Linth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Linth).

- [Coolidge, William Augustus Brevoort](/source/W._A._B._Coolidge) (1911). ["Linth"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Linth). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). p. 735.

- [Doctoral Thesis of Daniel Speich, ETH Zurich (German)](https://web.archive.org/web/20030126051040/http://www.tg.ethz.ch/forschung/projektbeschreib/speich/Linthwerk.htm)

- [Daniel Speich: The Linth Valley Hydro Engineering Scheme (1807-1823) and the Genesis of Swiss National Unity, Environment and History 8(2002) 429-447](http://www.erica.demon.co.uk/EH/EH816.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130603172354/http://www.erica.demon.co.uk/EH/EH816.html) 2013-06-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [the Linth valley on Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=46.983032,9.009476&spn=0.312458,0.481407&t=k&hl=en)

v t e Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) Switzerland Canton of Zürich Horgen Meilen Zürich Canton of St. Gallen See-Gaster Canton of Schwyz Höfe March Settlements Altendorf Erlenbach Freienbach Bäch Hurden Pfäffikon Herrliberg Hombrechtikon Feldbach Horgen Kilchberg Küsnacht Lachen Männedorf Meilen Feldmeilen Oberrieden Rapperswil-Jona Bollingen Busskirch Jona Kempraten Rapperswil Richterswil Rüschlikon Schmerikon Stäfa Kehlhof Uerikon Thalwil Tuggen Uetikon Wädenswil Au Wangen Nuolen Zollikon Zurich Altstadt Enge Seefeld Wollishofen Archeological Centum Prata Pile Dwellings Enge Alpenquai Feldbach Hurden Seefeld Kleiner Hafner Rorenhaab Rosshorn Technikum Vorder Au Winkel Turicum Islands Au Peninsula Bauschänzli Grosser Hafner Hurden Peninsula Lützelau Rapperswil Peninsula Saffa Schönenwerd Ufenau Rivers Jona Limmat Linth Schmerikoner Aa Sihl Steinenbach Wägitaler Aa Valleys Küsnachter Tobel Limmattal Sihltal Mountains Adlisberg Albis Buechberg Etzel Pfannenstiel Uetliberg Zimmerberg Zürichberg Landmarks Felsenegg Frauenwinkel Ganymed statue Goldküste Hurden canal Lindenhof (Rapperswil) Obersee Quaibrücke Rapperswil–Hurden bridge Seedamm Zürichhorn Buildings Alt Rapperswil Castle Alt Wädenswil Castle Au Castle Bollingen Tower Capuchin Friary Einsiedlerhaus Grynau Castle Heilig Hüsli Liebfrauenkapelle Pavillon Le Corbusier Pfäffikon Castle Rapperswil Castle Rapperswil Museum Rathaus Rapperswil Saint John's parish church Seedamm-Center Wulp Castle Wurmsbach Abbey Parks/Resorts Frauenbad Stadthausquai Zürich Quaianlagen Arboretum Belvoir Park Bürkliplatz Chinagarten Mythenquai Sechseläutenplatz Tiefenbrunnen Utoquai Transportation Forchbahn Horgen–Meilen ferry LAF cable car St. Gallen S-Bahn SZU VBZ Voralpen Express VZO Zimmerbergbus Lake Zurich Navigation Company Zürich S-Bahn ZVV VBZ tram lines 2 4 5 8 9 11 15 Lake Zurich left-bank railway line S2 S8 S24 S25 SN8 Lake Zurich right-bank railway line S6 S7 S16 S20 SN7 Rapperswil–Pfäffikon railway line S5 S40 SN5 Rapperswil–Ziegelbrücke railway line S4 S6 S17 Railway stations Altendorf Au ZH Bäch Blumenau Bollingen Erlenbach ZH Feldbach Freienbach SBB Herrliberg-Feldmeilen Horgen Hurden Kempraten Kilchberg Küsnacht Goldbach Küsnacht ZH Lachen Männedorf Meilen Oberrieden Pfäffikon SZ Rapperswil Richterswil Rüschlikon Schmerikon Stäfa Thalwil Uerikon Uetikon Wädenswil Winkel am Zürichsee Zollikon Zürich Stadelhofen Zürich Tiefenbrunnen Zürich Wollishofen People Gerold Späth House of Rapperswil Elisabeth Johann I Johann II Lydia Escher Rudolf Brun Ulrich von Hutten Media Obersee Nachrichten Radio Zürisee Zürichsee-Zeitung

Authority control databases International VIAF GND Other Historical Dictionary of Switzerland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Linth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linth) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linth?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.