Aargau, Administrative canton in northern Switzerland
Aargau is a canton in northern Switzerland that stretches between the Alps and the Jura Mountains and is crossed by wooded hills and river valleys. The landscape follows the course of the Aare River, which flows through valleys and forms fertile plains where fruit trees and grain fields grow.
The Habsburgs ruled here until 1415, when Bern conquered the territory and the region remained under its control for three centuries. Napoleon ordered the formation of an independent canton in 1803, which has belonged to the Swiss Confederation ever since.
The name comes from the medieval House of Habsburg, which built its castle above the Aare River and later shaped the region. Visitors today notice the local dialect spoken by residents, which is typical of the Swiss Midlands and differs from other German-speaking cantons.
Most places can be easily reached by regional trains that run through the valleys and connect smaller towns. Hiking trails lead over the wooded hills and offer views of the river landscape and surrounding settlements.
Several nuclear power plants stand close together here, representing an unusual concentration of atomic energy facilities in a small area. The Paul Scherrer Institute operates research facilities that use particle accelerators to examine materials at the atomic level.
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