Canton of Lucerne
| Kanton Luzern | ||
|---|---|---|
| Canton of Switzerland | ||
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 Location in Switzerland |
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Map of Lucerne
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| Coordinates: 47°5′N 8°7′E / 47.083°N 8.117°ECoordinates: 47°5′N 8°7′E / 47.083°N 8.117°E | ||
| Capital | Lucerne | |
| Subdivisions | 87 municipalities, 5 districts | |
| Government | ||
| • Executive | Regierungsrat (5) | |
| • Legislative | Kantonsrat (120) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,493.44 km2 (576.62 sq mi) | |
| Population (12/2015) | ||
| • Total | 398,762 | |
| • Density | 270/km2 (690/sq mi) | |
| ISO 3166 code | CH-LU | |
| Highest point | 2,350 m (7,710 ft): Brienzer Rothorn | |
| Lowest point | 406 m (1,332 ft): Reuss plain at Honauer Schachen | |
| Joined | 1332 | |
| Languages | German | |
| Website | LU.ch | |
| Largest groups of foreign residents 2013 | ||
| Nationality | Numbers | % of total (% of foreigners) |
|---|---|---|
 Germany
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14,093 | 3.6 (20.0) |
 Italy
|
7,147 | 1.8 (10.1) |
 Portugal
|
7,063 | 1.8 (10.0) |
 Kosovo
|
6,641 | 1.7 (9.4) |
 Serbia
|
5,986 | 1.5 (8.5) |
 Republic of Macedonia
|
2'299 | 0.6 (3.3) |
 Croatia
|
2,203 | 0.6 (3.1) |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
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2,137 | 0.5 (3.0) |
 Spain
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2,037 | 0.5 (2.9) |
 Turkey
|
1,624 | 0.4 (2.3) |
 Austria
|
1,567 | 0.4 (2.2) |
 Sri Lanka
|
1,477 | 0.4 (2.1) |
The canton of Lucerne (German: Kanton Luzern) is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2015) is 398,762. As of 2007[update], the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.
The canton of Lucerne comprises territories acquired by its capital Lucerne, either by treaty, armed occupation or purchase. The first town acquired was Weggis (in 1380), Rothenburg, Kriens, Horw, Sempach and Hochdorf (all in 1394), Wolhusen and Entlebuch (1405), the so-called "Habsburger region" to the northeast of the town of Lucerne (1406), Willisau (1407), Sursee and Beromünster (1415), Malters (1477) and Littau (1481), while in 1803, in exchange for Hitzkirch, Merenschwand (held since 1397) was given up.
The oldest traces of humans in the Lucerne area are stone artifacts and cave bear bones found in the Steigelfadbalm cave on Mt. Rigi from the Middle Paleolithic or about 30,000 BC. Other animal bones including mammoth, reindeer and giant deer from the local glacial maximum have also been found in the canton. Around 17,000 BC the glaciers disappeared from the Swiss plateau and recolonization is likely at that time.
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Wikipedia