On the occasion of its 150th anniversary in 1988, the Federal Office for National Topography, swisstopo, used the Swiss national boundaries that had just been digitised to calculate the centre of gravity of the country. If you stuck a map o f Switzerland on a piece of card and cut round the borders, this is the point where it would balance on the tip of a needle. The exact WGS84 coordinates are 46° 48' 4" N, 8° 13' 36" E.
In reality, this point is on top of a cliff to the west of Chli Älggi (the community of Sachseln, Obwalden canton). That's why the point was shifted 500 m to the south-east, to an easily accessible and extremely scenic location. The point is now well-signposted in the area.
The Älggi Alp is ideal for a walk with the family, a school trip or a hike with your club. At 1650 m, the scene is one of attractive meadows and pastureland, forests and cliffs, a mountain restaurant and a little lake.
The very middle of Switzerland
Sachseln - Älggi Alp
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Aletsch: Aletsch Glacier
Basel: Zoological Garden
Belalp: Massa Gorge
Bern: Animal Park
Brenets: Lake Brenets
Brienz: Giessbach Falls
Brissago: Isole di Brissago
Capolago: Monte Generoso
Col-des-Roches: Mills
Creux-du-Van
Davos: Botanical Garden
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Lauterbrunnen: Staubbach
Les Marécottes: Alpine Zoo
Lucerne: Glacier Garden
Maggia Valley
Meiringen: Aare River Gorge
Meiringen:Reichenbach Falls
Mid point - Älggi Alp
Neuhausen: Rhine Falls
Pro Natura Centre
Rapperswil: Zoo for Kids
Réclére: Grottos / Park
Rhine Falls
Saas Fee: Ice Pavilion
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Thusis: Via Mala Gorge
Travers: Mines
Vernayaz: Trient Gorge
Zermatt: Matterhorn
Zernez: Swiss National Park
Zürich: Zoo
Do you know exactly where the very middle of Switzerland is? Near to a pretty little alp in the Kleine Melchtal, Obwalden canton.
Directions
The Älggi Alp can be reached via Sachseln (Obwalden) by car, on foot or by mountain bike. At weekends and on public holidays, cars can only travel alternately up or down the narrow mountain road.The mountain walk from Melchsee-Frutt has particularly nice views.
More links
Contact Information
- Sachseln/Flüeli-Ranft Tourismus
Hofstrasse 2
6060 Sarnen
Tel. +41 (0)41 666 50 40
Fax +41 (0)41 666 50 45
info@flueliranft.ch
www.flueliranft.ch
