Aare

This article is about a river in Switzerland. For other uses, see Aare (given name), Aare (surname), and Aar (disambiguation).
Aare
Aar
The Aare at Bern
Drainage basin of the Aare
Aare is located in Switzerland
Aare
Mouth
Location
CountrySwitzerland
CantonsBern, Solothurn, Aargau
SettlementsMeiringen (BE), Interlaken (BE), Thun (BE), Münsingen, Muri bei Bern, Bern, Bremgarten bei Bern, Aarberg (BE), Büren a.A. (BE), Solothurn (SO), Aarwangen (BE), Aarburg (BE), Olten (SO), Niedergösgen (SO), Schönenwerd (SO), Aarau (AG), Wildegg (AG), Brugg (AG), Windisch (AG), Döttingen (AG), Klingnau (AG)
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationUnteraar Glacier, Bernese Oberland
 • coordinates46°34′07″N 8°11′16″E / 46.56858°N 8.18774°E / 46.56858; 8.18774
 • elevation1,940 m (6,360 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Rhine below Koblenz, Switzerland
 • coordinates
47°36′21″N 8°13′24″E / 47.6057°N 8.2234°E / 47.6057; 8.2234
 • elevation
311 m (1,020 ft)
Length291.5 kilometres (181.1 mi) [1]
Basin size17,779 km2 (6,865 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationUntersiggenthal
 • average559 m3/s (19,700 cu ft/s) (MQ 1935-2013)
 • minimum351 m3/s (12,400 cu ft/s) (MNQ 1935-2013),
138 m3/s (4,900 cu ft/s) (NNQ, 1963)
 • maximum735 m3/s (26,000 cu ft/s) (MHQ 1935-2013),
2,656 m3/s (93,800 cu ft/s) (HHQ, 2007)
Basin features
ProgressionRhine→ North Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftLütschine (Lake Brienz), Kander (Lake Thun), Gürbe, Saane/La Sarine, Zihl/La Thielle (Lakes of Neuchatel and Bienne), La Suze (Lake of Bienne), Dünnern
 • rightGadmerwasser, Zulg, Emme, Murg, Wigger, Suhre, Aabach, Reuss, Limmat, Surb
WaterbodiesOberaarsee, Grimselsee, Räterichsbodensee, Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, Wohlensee, Lake Biel, Stausee Niederried, Klingnauer Stausee
Map

The Aare (Swiss Standard German: [ˈaːrɛ] ⓘ) or Aar (Swiss Standard German: [aːr] ⓘ) is the main tributary of the High Rhine (its discharge even exceeds that of the latter at their confluence)[2] and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland.[3][4]

Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about 295 kilometres (183 mi),[3][5] during which distance it descends 1,565 m (5,135 ft), draining an area of 17,779 km2 (6,865 sq mi), almost entirely within Switzerland, and accounting for close to half the area of the country, including all of Central Switzerland.[5]

There are more than 40 hydroelectric plants along the course of the Aare.[6]

The river's name dates to at least the La Tène period, and it is attested as Nantaror "Aare valley" in the Berne zinc tablet.

The name was Latinized as Arula/Arola/Araris.[7][nb 1]

  1. ^ Geoserver of the Swiss Confederation
  2. ^ "High Rhine". ICPR – International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  3. ^ a b Bridgwater & Aldrich 1968, p. 11
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference GH was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Hoiberg 2010, p. 4
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference cohen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Kristol et al. 2005, p. 73
  8. ^ Forbiger 1848, p. 126f


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