Canton of Solothurn, Canton in Northwestern Switzerland
Canton of Solothurn is an administrative division in northwestern Switzerland that covers 791 square kilometers (305 square miles) between flat plains and the rolling hills of the Jura mountains. The territory lies between the Basel region to the north and Bern to the south, including both rural and more populated zones.
The territory joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481 and maintained its Catholic orientation during the Reformation period. The administrative structure developed over the centuries and shaped the current division into five electoral districts.
The name derives from the Roman settlement Salodurum and refers to the long tradition of inhabitation along the southern Jura slopes. Today around 280,000 people live in the area, which includes German-speaking villages and smaller towns where everyday life and regional identity blend together.
The railway station at Olten in the center of the territory connects several times daily with Zurich, Basel, and Geneva through the national rail network. Roads and regional trains also serve smaller communities throughout the area.
Near Gösgen a nuclear power plant has been operating since 1979, generating a substantial share of electricity for the region. The facility ranks among the larger industrial sites in the territory and shapes the economic infrastructure of the area.
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