Chalais, Switzerland
| Chalais | ||
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Vercorin village
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 Chalais
Chalais
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Location of Chalais
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| Coordinates: 46°16′N 7°30′E / 46.267°N 7.500°ECoordinates: 46°16′N 7°30′E / 46.267°N 7.500°E | ||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Sierre | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Alain Perruchoud | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 24.46 km2 (9.44 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 557 m (1,827 ft) | |
| Population (Dec 2015) | ||
| • Total | 3,410 | |
| • Density | 140/km2 (360/sq mi) | |
| Postal code | 3966 | |
| SFOS number | 6232 | |
| Surrounded by | Anniviers, Chippis, Grône, Sierre | |
| Website |
www SFSO statistics |
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Chalais is a municipality in the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Chalais is first mentioned in the 11th century as Jaler. In 1425 it was mentioned as Challir.
In 1892 much of the village was destroyed in a fire.
Chalais has an area, as of 2009[update], of 24.5 square kilometers (9.5 sq mi). Of this area, 4.65 km2 (1.80 sq mi) or 19.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.55 km2 (6.39 sq mi) or 67.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2.07 km2 (0.80 sq mi) or 8.5% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.02 km2 (4.9 acres) or 0.1% is either rivers or lakes and 1.16 km2 (0.45 sq mi) or 4.7% is unproductive land.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 5.4% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.9%. Out of the forested land, 64.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.1% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 0.4% is used for growing crops and 4.3% is pastures, while 4.7% is used for orchards or vine crops and 9.6% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 3.0% is unproductive vegetation and 1.8% is too rocky for vegetation.
The municipality is located in the Sierre district, on the left side of the Rhone river. It consists of the villages of Chalais and Réchy on the edge of the valley along with Brie and Vercorin on a terrace in the mountains.
The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent, between a Cross pattee Vert overall four Mullets of Five Gules.
Chalais has a population (as of December 2015[update]) of 3,410. As of 2008[update], 15.0% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010 ) the population has changed at a rate of 17.9%. It has changed at a rate of 14.1% due to migration and at a rate of 0.3% due to births and deaths.
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Wikipedia