Geographical centre of Switzerland
The Älggi -Alp is the largest alp community Sachseln in the Canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. On it is the geographical center of Switzerland.
Location and situation
The Älggi -Alp is located at an altitude of 1,645 m above sea level. M. in the southern area of the municipality Sachseln. The formerly marshy upper valley is to the southeast bounded by a semi-circle from the peaks Seefeld floor ( 2'129 m above sea level. M. ), chli main and Brünigbahn main ( 2,272 m above sea level. M. ), the Schnidengrätli ( 2,114 m above sea level. M. ) and the Schindelegg. Several mountain huts, mountain Aelggialp and Älggi Chapel ( Chapel of Saint Anne ) are scattered on the plateau, surrounded by expansive hillside pastures. The interior of the chapel dates from the Sachseln artist Alois Spichtig. The Älggi -Alp is part of the corporation Sachseln. Under the terms of legitimate corporation citizens the grazing rights will be raffled every 12 years. The name " Älggi " is derived from " Gau ", which means plain or lowland. The front part of the name could be an abbreviation of Alp or Allmendfeld.
South of the Älggi -Alp the Sachseln Seefeld lies with the Seefeldsee, is operated in the trout fishing. From the Älggi - alp Älggibach flows in a northwesterly direction to the Small MELCHTAL and there flowing Small Melchaa.
Center of Switzerland
On the Älggi -Alp is the geographical center of Switzerland, which was measured in 1988 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Swiss Federal Office of Topography. This calculation of the geographical center as a torque calculation carried with respect to x -and y- axis for a closed polygon.
The geographical center is actually the centroid. This geometric center of gravity is the point at which a needle would have to be set to balance the Switzerland evenly. Imagine a Swiss map on homogeneous cardboard that is cut along the country's borders. To balance this piece of cardboard with a needle, the cardboard Switzerland must be supported exactly at the centroid. This is on the Älggi -Alp at coordinates 660 158 / 18364046.8012101944448.2266921944444. Since this point is difficult accessible above the rock wall of chli - Älggi, a publicly accessible stone was placed 500 m to the southeast. This symbolizes the center and has the coordinates 660 557 / 18333746.7984485833338.2318785277778.
At this point, is honored each year to the Swiss of the Year and the name will be engraved on the existing board.
Check-in
The Älggi -Alp is accessible via Sachseln by car, on foot or by mountain bike. It can be selected with a beautiful view of the valley of the Sarner Aa route over Flüeli -Ranft and Wolfi mountain road, or you can select via Edisried the slightly curvier route. The so-called Blatten the two routes unite. From here on the access road can be mountain or valley only drive alternately on weekends and holidays. Startup is allowed on weekends and holidays only during straight hours. To go down, however, only during odd hours. The 6 km long journey takes about 20 minutes by car. It may therefore still be driven down to the latest example, 17.40 clock. Then you have to wait again until the next odd hour.