# Reuss

> river in Switzerland

**Wikidata**: [Q4015](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4015)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuss_(river))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/reuss

## Summary
The Reuss is a river in Switzerland, classified as a larger natural watercourse, that flows through multiple Swiss cantons including Uri, Zug, Lucerne, Aargau, Zürich, and Ticino. It is situated within the sovereign federal republic of Switzerland, a landlocked country in Central Europe known for its directorial system of government, high standard of living, and status as a hub for international diplomacy.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: River (larger natural watercourse).
- **Location**: Switzerland, a landlocked country in Central Europe.
- **Cantons Traversed**: Canton of Uri, Canton of Zug, Canton of Ticino, Canton of Zürich, Canton of Aargau, and Canton of Lucerne.
- **Aliases**: Reuss River, Reuss (river).
- **Coordinates**: 46.563411111111°N, 8.4319111111111°E and 47.492222222222°N, 8.2372222222222°E.
- **Sitelink Count**: 47.
- **Country of Origin**: Switzerland (inception: traditional founding August 1, 1291; federal state established September 12, 1848).
- **Swiss Government Type**: Federal republic, directorial system, collective head of state (Swiss Federal Council).
- **Swiss Capital**: Bern (de facto, since November 28, 1848).
- **Swiss Area**: 41,291 square kilometres.
- **Swiss Population**: 9,104,063 (as of September 30, 2025).
- **Swiss Languages**: German, French, Italian, Romansh.
- **Swiss Currency**: Swiss franc.
- **Swiss Economy**: Nominal GDP of approximately $807.7 billion (2022); unemployment rate of 3.1% (December 2025).
- **Swiss International Memberships**: United Nations (since 2002), WTO (since 1995), OECD, Council of Europe, EFTA (since 1960), Schengen Area (since 2008).

## FAQs
**Where does the Reuss River flow?**
The Reuss flows through Switzerland, specifically traversing six cantons: Uri, Zug, Ticino, Zürich, Aargau, and Lucerne.

**What is the political system of the country containing the Reuss?**
The Reuss is located in Switzerland, which operates as a federal republic with a unique directorial system where executive power is held collectively by the seven-member Swiss Federal Council.

**What are the geographic coordinates of the Reuss?**
The river has recorded coordinates at approximately 46.56°N, 8.43°E and 47.49°N, 8.24°E.

**What is the economic context of the region surrounding the Reuss?**
The river flows through a country with a robust economy characterized by a nominal GDP of $807.7 billion (2022), a low unemployment rate of 3.1%, and a strong financial sector renowned for banking and pharmaceuticals.

**What international organizations is the host country of the Reuss affiliated with?**
Switzerland, the country where the Reuss is located, is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the OECD, and the Council of Europe, and is part of the Schengen Area, though it is not a member of the European Union or NATO.

## Why It Matters
The Reuss serves as a vital geographic feature within Switzerland, a nation that holds significant geopolitical and economic influence in Europe. Switzerland acts as a premier hub for international diplomacy, hosting the United Nations Office at Geneva and numerous other international organizations. The country's political stability, direct democracy, and longstanding policy of armed neutrality make it a favored location for peace negotiations and global cooperation. The region's high standard of living, combined with its reputation for banking, manufacturing, and innovation, contributes to its substantial global impact. The Reuss flows through this highly decentralized federalist state, which serves as a model for governance and citizen participation.

## Notable For
- Flowing through six distinct Swiss cantons: Uri, Zug, Ticino, Zürich, Aargau, and Lucerne.
- Being located in a country with a Democracy Index score of 9.32 (2024), ranking it 5th globally.
- Existing within a nation possessing a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.962 (2021), classified as "Very High."
- Being situated in a state with a unique directorial system where the Swiss Federal Council acts as a collective head of state and government.
- Flowing through a country that hosts the United Nations Office at Geneva and numerous other international organizations.
- Being part of a multilingual nation with four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
- Located in a country defined by a longstanding policy of armed neutrality, maintaining non-membership in NATO and the European Union.
- Situated in a region that consistently ranks high in global innovation indices and is world-renowned for its banking sector and financial services.

## Body

### Geography and Location
The Reuss is a river located in Switzerland, a landlocked sovereign state in Central Europe. It flows through a diverse range of topography dominated by the Alps, with the country's highest point being Dufourspitze (4,634 m) and its lowest point being Lake Maggiore (193 m). The river traverses six specific cantons: the Canton of Uri (inception 1291), the Canton of Zug, the Canton of Ticino (inception 1803), the Canton of Zürich (inception 1351), the Canton of Aargau (inception 1803), and the Canton of Lucerne. Switzerland covers a total area of 41,291 square kilometres and shares borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein. The geographic center of the country is located at 46.801111°N, 8.226667°E. The Reuss itself has recorded coordinates at 46.563411111111°N, 8.4319111111111°E and 47.492222222222°N, 8.2372222222222°E.

### Administrative and Political Context
The Reuss flows through the Swiss Confederation, a federal republic divided into 26 cantons, each with its own constitution and government. The modern federal state was established on September 12, 1848, though the traditional founding is traced to August 1, 1291. The capital of the country is Bern (de facto since November 28, 1848). Switzerland operates under a directorial system where the Swiss Federal Council serves as the collective head of state and government. The legislative body is the Federal Assembly, and the highest judicial authority is the Federal Supreme Court. The cantons that the Reuss passes through—Uri, Zug, Ticino, Zürich, Aargau, and Lucerne—are integral parts of this federal structure, which allows for significant local autonomy.

### Demographics and Society
The region surrounding the Reuss is part of a highly urbanized country with a population of approximately 9,104,063 as of September 30, 2025. The population is nearly evenly split between males (4,509,263) and females (4,557,881). The largest urban area in the country is Zürich. The society is multilingual, with four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The country boasts a high quality of life and a strong social welfare system, with a life expectancy at birth of around 83 years. The national motto, "Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" (One for all, all for one), reflects the cooperative ethos of the population.

### Economy
The Reuss is situated in a country with a highly developed and innovative economy. Switzerland had a nominal GDP of approximately $807.7 billion in 2022. The economic landscape is characterized by a strong financial sector, advanced manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. The unemployment rate is low, standing at 3.1% as of December 2025. The standard VAT rate is 8.1% (as of 2024). The national currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), managed by the Swiss National Bank. The Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, is 33.1 (2018), indicating a relatively equitable distribution of wealth.

### International Relations
Switzerland, the country containing the Reuss, maintains a policy of armed neutrality and is not a member of NATO or the European Union. However, it is deeply integrated into the international community. It joined the United Nations in 2002 and is a member of the World Trade Organization (1995), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Council of Europe. Switzerland has been part of the European Free Trade Association since 1960 and joined the Schengen Area in 2008. It hosts the United Nations Office at Geneva and many other international organizations, serving as a hub for diplomacy.

### Culture and Symbols
The cultural context of the Reuss includes Swiss national symbols such as the square flag featuring a white cross on a red field and the coat of arms. The national anthem is the "Swiss Psalm," and the country celebrates its National Day on August 1st. The culture is a blend of German, French, and Italian influences, mirroring the linguistic diversity of the region. The country's ISO codes are Alpha-2 CH, Alpha-3 CHE, and Numeric 756, and its top-level domains are .ch and .swiss. The timezone is Central European Time (UTC+01:00 standard, UTC+02:00 daylight saving).

## References

1. Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
2. OpenStreetMap
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. FactGrid