Leukerbad / Switzerland

Leukerbad Thermal Spa in Switzerland

Leukerbad is a municipality in the district of Leuk in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

Leukerbad has an area, as of 2009, of 67.2 square kilometers (25.9 sq mi). Of this area, 9.52 km2 (3.68 sq mi) or 14.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 5.99 km2 (2.31 sq mi) or 8.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.91 km2 (0.35 sq mi) or 1.4% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.32 km2 (0.51 sq mi) or 2.0% is either rivers or lakes and 49.47 km2 (19.10 sq mi) or 73.6% is unproductive land.[4]

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 0.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.3%. Out of the forested land, 6.2% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.7% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 0.0% is used for growing crops and 2.6% is pastures and 11.6% is used for alpine pastures. Of the water in the municipality, 1.1% is in lakes and 0.9% is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 9.0% is unproductive vegetation, 53.8% is too rocky for vegetation and 10.8% of the land is covered by glaciers.[4]

Leukerbad is situated in the canton of Valais in the south of Switzerland at 1,411 m (4,629 ft) above sea level. The location is very impressive because of the cliffs which surround Leukerbad:

To the east, the Daubenhorn at 2,942 m (9,652 ft) above sea level; to the north the Gemmi Pass (2,322 m [7,618 ft]) and the Balmhorn (3,698 m [12,133 ft]); to the west the Torrenthorn (2,998 m [9,836 ft]).

The road which leads to Leukerbad comes into the secluded valley from the south and the town of Leuk in the Rhone valley.

The history of the springs of Leukerbad dates back to Roman times. People, even then, were already aware of the therapeutic effect of the thermal water.

Today, 3,900,000 litres (1,000,000 US gal) of thermal water - up to 51 °C (124 °F) - flow from the springs and feed 22 thermal pools. Several baths are at the disposal of guests in private hotels, in the Rehabilitation centre and in the Volksheilbad , but the biggest public baths are the Leukerbad Therme (previously Burgerbad) and the Lindner Alpentherme.

Franknleen