Île de la Harpe

Île de la Harpe
Île de la Harpe
Waters	Lake Geneva
Geographical location	515 539  /  145509 coordinates: 46 ° 27 '20.1 "  N , 6 ° 20' 21.4"  O ; CH1903:  five hundred and fifteen thousand five hundred thirty-nine  /  145509
length	110 m
width	30 m
surface	0.236 8  ha
Residents	uninhabited

The Île de la Harpe is a small, man-made island in Vaud on Lake Geneva in front of the town of Rolle .

The northernmost point of the island is 80 meters from the shore. The surface covers 2,368 square meters with a length of 110 meters. The greatest width is 30 meters.

Around 1835 a group of local merchants decided to expand the port of Rolle. To protect the harbor from erosion, it was decided to create an artificial island on the sandy subsoil in the west of the city . While the work was still in progress, the deserving politician Frédéric-César de La Harpe died in Lausanne in 1838 . Laharpe was probably the most important Rollois of its time. In 1798 he played a key role in the independence of Vaud from Bern. The island was named in his honor. At the same time a committee was set up that was responsible for the erection of a monument. A national collection was put out to tender. With significant support from the cantons of Aargau and Ticino , an obelisk with medallions was erected. The inauguration took place on September 26, 1844.

Today the island is owned by the municipality of Rolle.

See also

• List of Swiss islands

Web links

• History of the municipality of Rolle (French)