The Aare River, the longest river that lies totally within Switzerland, rises near Grimsel Pass, in the Bernese Alps and eventually empties into the Rhine River along the country's northeast border with Germany. Flowing more than 180 miles and draining a watershed that covers half of Switzerland, the Aare has been heavily dammed for both flood control and hydroelectric power; the three largest lakes along its course are Lake Brienz, Lake Thun and Lac de Bienne.
While the Aare is perhaps most famous for its gorge in the Alps, it and its many tributaries are most often encountered during travel across the central and eastern portions of the Swiss Plateau. It flows through Bern, one of Switzerland's major cities, and is a scenic treasure for many smaller towns along its course.
Today I visited Olten, a pleasant city on the Aare River in the Germanic region of northeastern Switzerland. Sitting at the base of the Jura Mountains and known for its Old Town shopping district, Olten has become a major railway and roadway hub, spurring its growth as a tourist and convention destination.
While the Aare is perhaps most famous for its gorge in the Alps, it and its many tributaries are most often encountered during travel across the central and eastern portions of the Swiss Plateau. It flows through Bern, one of Switzerland's major cities, and is a scenic treasure for many smaller towns along its course.
Today I visited Olten, a pleasant city on the Aare River in the Germanic region of northeastern Switzerland. Sitting at the base of the Jura Mountains and known for its Old Town shopping district, Olten has become a major railway and roadway hub, spurring its growth as a tourist and convention destination.
