!!!Walgau
Walgau Valley, Vorarlberg, valley of the River Ill (south-eastern
tributary of the River Rhine) extending from the narrows at Loruens
(alt. 583 m) to the upper Illschlucht gorge at Feldkirch (alt.
458 m). The plain of the Walgau valley (alluvial zone) is approx.
20 km long and up to 4 km wide. The Walgau valley is joined
by the Klostertal Valley and the Montafon Valley (upper part of the
River Ill) east of Bludenz (alt. 588 m) and by the Grosses
Walsertal valley near Thueringen (alt. 573 m). The valley´s
name dates back to the time of Rhaetian and later the Romansh-speaking
settlers and means "Gau der Welschen" ("area of the
Romance-speaking"). In the south the Walgau valley is delimited
by the Raetikon Mountains, in the north the valley ascends in terraces
to the foothills of the Walserkamm range and the mountains surrounding
the source of the Lech River. Settlements are mostly located on the
alluvial cones of the tributaries of the River Ill or on the
sun-exposed terraces on the north side. Agriculture in the Walgau
valley is mainly based on grassland farming with dairying and animal
breeding (Braunvieh breed of cattle), partly on field husbandry and
vegetable farming (mainly part-time farmers). Among the most important
sectors in the Walgau valley are textiles, metal, building materials,
foods, wood, paper and chemicals; tourism is only marginally
important. Other important municipalities in the Walgau valley are
Buers (alt. 570 m), Nenzing (alt. 530 m) and Frastanz (alt.
509 m). Along the southern edge of the valley run the Arlbergbahn
railway line and the B 190 federal road; the Rheintalautobahn
motorway (A 14) reaches the Walgau valley at the south portal of
the Amberg tunnel, runs along the River Ill and joins the
Arlberg-Schnellstrasse express road (S 16) at Bludenz.
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