NIDWALDEN

demi-canton (half canton), central Switzerland, formerly part of the canton of Unterwalden. Drained by the Engelberger Aa (river), it occupies the eastern part of former Unterwalden canton. Nidwalden means below the forest and refers to the great forest of Kerns that divided the two demi-cantons in the Middle Ages. Nidwalden was the first of the two demi-cantons to ally with Uri and Schwyz in the Everlasting League in 1291, the nucleus of the Swiss Confederation. It acted independently of Obwalden in its revolt against the Helvetic Republic in 1798 and in its refusal to accept the federal constitution of 1815. The latter action resulted in its loss of the abbey lands of Engelberg to Obwalden. A sovereign demi-canton since 1803, with its capital at Stans (q.v.), it is administratively independent of Obwalden. Nidwalden offers winter sports and tourist facilities along Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldsttter See). Most of the population is German speaking and Roman Catholic. Area 107 square miles (276 square km). Pop. (1994 est.) 35,393.