Rigi

Rigi
Rigi behind Lake Lauerz
Highest point
Peak	Rigi Kulm
Elevation	1,797.5 m (5,897 ft)
Prominence	1,290 m (4,230 ft)
Isolation	13.1 km (8.1 mi)
Coordinates	47°03′24″N 8°29′08″E / 47.05667°N 8.48556°E / 47.05667; 8.48556Coordinates: 47°03′24″N 8°29′08″E / 47.05667°N 8.48556°E / 47.05667; 8.48556
Geography
Rigi Location in Switzerland
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Schwyz and Lucerne
Parent range	Schwyzer Alps
Topo map	Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Climbing
Easiest route	Train and Cable-car

The Rigi (or Mount Rigi; also known as Queen of the Mountains) is a mountain massif of the Alps, located in Central Switzerland. The whole massif is almost entirely surrounded by the water of three different water bodies: Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug and Lake Lauerz. The range is in the Schwyzer Alps, and is split between the cantons of Schwyz and Lucerne, although the main summit, named Rigi Kulm, at 1,798 meters above sea level, lies within the canton of Schwyz.

The Rigi Kulm and other areas, such as the resort of Rigi Kaltbad, are served by Europe's oldest mountain railways, the Rigi Railways. The whole area offers many activities such as skiing or sledging in the winter, and hiking in the summer.

The name Rigi is from Old High German *rigî, from rîga ", stripe, furrow", after the stratification that is clearly visible on the north-side of the mountain. The name is first recorded in 1350 as Riginun.

The name was interpreted as Regina montium "queen of mountains" by Albrecht von Bonstetten (1479), who however gives Rigena as alterative form.

Bonstetten's interpretation as Regina was influential in the 17th century, and was still repeated in 18th-century travelogues. Karl Zay (Goldau und seine Gegend, 1807) criticized this latinization, arguing for mons rigidus instead. Later in the 19th century, many authors repeated either rigidus or regina as the name's supposed origin. The two possibilities were also adduced as explanation the name's grammatical gender alternating between masculine and feminine. Brandstetter (Die Rigi, 1914) finally discredited these interpretations and established the origin in Old High German rîga (whence modern German Reihe, Reigen; cognate with English row).

There are multiple public transport options available to ascend Mt. Rigi:

Mt. Rigi offers an area for recreation and sports measuring approximately 90 square kilometres (35 sq mi) offering a variety of well-maintained walking trails or mountain hikes where visitors can have a panoramic view of 150 km (93 mi) from various marked points. There are also numerous public grilling stations located near the hiking trails.