Saas-Almagell, Switzerland

Geschichte

Saas-Almagell is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.HistorySaas-Almagell is first mentioned in 1291 as Armenzello. In 1307 it was mentioned as Almenkel.The settlement, at the upper end of the Saastal, was relatively isolated for much of its history. A road suitable for motor vehicles was completed in 1948, whilst the village did not have its own school until 1958. The local economy was boosted in the 1960s by the construction of the Mattmark Dam.GeographySaas-Almagell has an area, of 110.3km2. Of this area, 7.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 4.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.5% is settled (buildings or roads) and 87.9% is unproductive land.The municipality is located in the Visp district and is located approximately 5km from Saas-Fee. It is the southern most municipality in the Saas valley. It consists of the village of Saas-Almagell, part of the hamlet of Unter den Bodmen and the hamlets of zum Moos, Alpien and Furggstalden.Coat of armsThe blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent a Wyvern displayed Gules, on a chief of the second a Cross couped of the first.DemographicsSaas-Almagell has a population of., 7.7% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010 ) the population has changed at a rate of -9%. It has changed at a rate of 0% due to migration and at a rate of -4.1% due to births and deaths.