GLARUS

( (German), ) French Glaris, canton, east central Switzerland, comprising the deep, level upper valley of the Linth River, which rises in the southwest in the glaciers of the Tdi (11,857 ft ), highest of the Glarus Alps, and flows north and northeast to the Walensee (lake). It occupies an area of 264 sq mi (685 sq km), of which about 190 sq mi are classed as productive, including more than 50 sq mi of forest. The Linth Valley is almost completely surrounded by high mountains, rising to 10,361 ft at the Hausstock and 9,560 ft at the Glrnisch. The Linth Valley inhabitants are said to have been converted to Christianity in the 6th century by the Irish monk St. Fridolin, founder of the Benedictine convent of Sckingen on the Rhine, east of Basel. From about the 9th century, the district was owned by the convent, over which the Habsburgs gradually claimed all rights by 1288, leading Glarus to join the Swiss Confederation in 1352. The reformer Huldrych Zwingli was priest in Glarus from 1506 until 1516, and it early adopted the Reformation, but the Zwinglians were eliminated by 1564. There were many struggles between Protestants and Catholics, and to secure peace it was arranged that, besides the common Landsgemeinde (democratic open-air assembly), each party should have its separate Landsgemeinde (1623) and tribunals (1683). After being part of Linth canton (17981803), the old government was restored in 1814. In 1836 a new constitution retained only one Landsgemeinde. Under the present cantonal constitution of 1887, the original open-air assembly still meets annually. In the 18th century Glarus' traditional woollen spinning industry was augmented by the introduction of cotton spinning and cotton printing. Other industries include slateworks (since the 17th century), hydroelectric plants, metal and machinery factories, and paper and cardboard mills. Cattle breeding and dairying are important on the mountain pastures. The canton is served by a railway line running north to south, past Glarus (q.v.) the capital, to Linthtal village, and by a line from Schwanden to Elm. The population is mainly German speaking and about two-thirds Protestant. Pop. (1983 est.) 36,209. ( (German), ) French Glaris, town, capital of Glarus canton, eastern Switzerland, on the left bank of the Linth River, at the northeastern foot of the Glrnisch Massif (with four peaks, rising above 8,900 ft ), east of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldsttter See). In 1861 practically the entire town was destroyed by a fire fanned by a violent fhn (south) wind rushing along the Linth Valley. Since rebuilt, it has an art gallery, a natural history museum, and the cantonal library and archives. The ancient Landsgemeinde (open-air democratic assembly) meets there annually. The parish church is used by both Roman Catholics and Protestants. Manufactures include textiles, furniture, skis, and cigars. The population is German speaking and predominantly Protestant. Pop. (1980) 5,969.