Lax | ||
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Coordinates: 46°23′N 8°7′E / 46.383°N 8.117°ECoordinates: 46°23′N 8°7′E / 46.383°N 8.117°E | ||
Country | Switzerland | |
Canton | Valais | |
District | Goms | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Paul Imhof | |
Area | ||
• Total | 5.02 km2 (1.94 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 1,039 m (3,409 ft) | |
Population (Dec 2015) | ||
• Total | 286 | |
• Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) | |
Postal code | 3994 | |
SFOS number | 6061 | |
Surrounded by | Betten, Ernen, Fiesch, Grengiols, Martisberg | |
Website |
www SFSO statistics |
Lax is a municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Lax is first mentioned in 1295 as Lacx. Lax is next documented as a community named Zend Goms Lax in 1308. The first division of irrigation was in 1347; the current system feeds seven farms around the small town. The first local regulations date from 1436.
Lax has an area, as of 2011[update], of 5 square kilometers (1.9 sq mi). Of this area, 37.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 38.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and 17.6% is unproductive land.
The municipality is located above the Deisch valley on a small plateau on the right bank of the Rhone.
The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Azure, a mountain fesswise Argent, in chief three pine trees eradicated Vert trunked proper.
Lax has a population (as of December 2015[update]) of 286. As of 2008[update], 13.7% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1999–2009 ) the population has changed at a rate of -4.7%. It has changed at a rate of -9.7% due to migration and at a rate of 3.7% due to births and deaths.
Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (273 or 94.1%) as their first language, Serbo-Croatian is the second most common (12 or 4.1%) and Dutch is the third (2 or 0.7%)., 1 person who speaks Italian.