A success story in the canton of Uri
In the Reuss delta, unique things have been created in recent decades. An artificially modelled (natural) landscape in which bathers and walkers feel just as comfortable as fish and birds; an area where nature conservation, agriculture and gravel extraction go hand in hand.
In the mid-1980s, the Reuss flooded large areas again. What to do? The Reuss has always been a problem child. To tame it, the canton of Uri built a canal in the mid-19th century. After this correction of the Reuss, the sand carried along with it was deposited at the front and formed a kind of cone. The result: the blocked drainage led to new floods. Between 1900 and 1912, the people of Uri therefore extended the canal far out into the lake. In addition, the company Arnold & Co. began to dredge sand and gravel from the lake commercially.
But this also had consequences: The bottom of the lake began to slide, and due to the lack of shallow water zones, the waves hit the shore with full force. The mainland was washed out, and the lake eroded three hundred metres inland. Innovative ideas were needed: 3.3 million tonnes of Gotthard rock from the new railway tunnel were deliberately heaped up in the lake. This created a delta at the mouth of the Reuss like no other in Switzerland, including a lagoon landscape with six islands. While the three Lorelei Islands with their beaches invite you to swim, the three Neptune Islands are left to the flora and fauna.
The Reuss delta can be explored on foot by following the "Swiss Path" from Flüelen railway station towards Seedorf. In addition to bathing and picnic areas, there is the 11-metre-high "Reussdeltaturm" and other observation platforms from which you can admire the flora and fauna as well as the mountains of Uri. A large children's playground with various fireplaces at the "Mississippi" invites friends and families, hikers and transients to pause. School groups also like to rest here on their hike. Sanitary facilities such as toilet blocks and outdoor showers are available. All visitors are requested to refrain from littering and not to cause any damage to property!
