Obergoms

Obergoms
Coat of arms
Obergoms Show map of Switzerland Obergoms Show map of Canton of Valais
Location of Obergoms
Coordinates: 46°32′N 8°21′E / 46.533°N 8.350°E / 46.533; 8.350Coordinates: 46°32′N 8°21′E / 46.533°N 8.350°E / 46.533; 8.350
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Valais
District	Goms
Government
• Mayor	Christian Imsand
Area
• Total	155.83 km2 (60.17 sq mi)
Elevation	1,377 m (4,518 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	650
• Density	4.2/km2 (11/sq mi)
Postal code	3999
SFOS number	6076
Localities	Oberwald, Ulrichen, Obergesteln, Gletsch
Website	http://www.obergoms.ch SFSO statistics

Obergoms is the upper part of the Goms and a municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It was formed on 1 January 2009 when the three municipalities Ulrichen, Obergesteln and Oberwald merged.

Obergesteln is first mentioned in 1322 as castellione. In 1415 it was mentioned as obergestillen. Oberwald is first mentioned in 1386 as Superiore Valde. In 1419 it was mentioned as Oberwaldt. Ulrichen is first mentioned in 1235 as Vlrighingen. In 1240 it was mentioned as holriquinguen.

The municipality of Obergoms occupies the uppermost reaches of the valley of the Rhone, extending up to and including the Rhone glacier that feeds the river. It is surrounded on all but its downstream boundary by high mountains, and forms the junction of routes over the Grimsel, Furka, Nufenen and the Gries Passes, as well as the lower level route down the Rhone valley towards Brig. With the exception of the Gries Pass, which is traversed only by a track, all these passes carry paved roads. The Furka–Oberalp railway line also passes through the municipality, with its current route entering the western portal of the Furka Base Tunnel at Oberwald, whilst its earlier route, now preserved as a heritage railway, passes over the Furka Pass.

The lowest settlement of Obergoms is Ulrichen, which lies in the Rhone valley at the foot of the Nufenen and Gries Passes. The route to both passes initially passes through the side valley of the Agene, and the municipality includes that valley, its surrounding slopes, the Griessee lake at its head, and the Gries glacier that feeds it. To the south of the lake and glacier, the municipality reaches as far as the border with Italy, a border crossed by the Greis Pass, whilst to the east it reaches the border with the canton of Ticino at the summit of the Nufenen Pass.