The southern shore of Lake Aegeri is covered by 55 hectares of mountain forest, owned in equal parts by the corporations of Unterägeri and Oberägeri. Because there have never been any roads in the steep terrain, the felled trees have always been dropped to the lakeshore through steep gullies and ravines, tied together to make a raft and then transported on the lake. In recent times, the floating wooden construction has reached lengths of 175 metres and a weight of 1,000 tonnes. Two motor boats push the raft at a speed of two kilometres per hour to Oberägeri (1.5 kilometres) or Unterägeri (2.5 kilometres). On arrival, the logs are pulled ashore and loaded onto lorries. Until 1999, this work was carried out as a source of extra income by farmers belonging to the corporations. Since the start of this century, the traditional task has been performed by local lumberjacks.
Rafts being pushed by motor boats at the stern, with a further boat employed to maintain stability. Around 1980. © Familie Anton Henggeler-Frank, Morgarten
Anton Henggeler stands on the logs holding a boat hook during the crossing. Around 1980. © Familie Anton Henggeler-Frank, Morgarten
A rafter uses a special lumber pick to pull the logs ashore following a crossing. Around 1980. © Familie Anton Henggeler-Frank, Morgarten
Aerial photograph of the raft at the mouth of the river Lorze in Unterägeri, 2008 © Jürg Bernhard, OK Flössen, Korporation Oberägeri
Arrival in Unterägeri with forest manager Stefan Regenmoser at the prow. © Franz Müller/OK Flössen, Korporation Oberägeri
The raft is already beginning to take shape nine days before the crossing. 2011. © Christian Rogenmoser/OK Flössen, Korporation Oberägeri
Detailed description
Flössen auf dem Ägerisee (PDF, 454 kB, 08.08.2012)Ausführliche Beschreibung
Category
Traditional craftsmanship
Canton
Publications
Anne-Marie Dubler: Flösserei. In: Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz. Bern, 2009 (www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D14055.php)
Stephanie Hess: Tausend Tonnen treiben im See. In: Neue Zuger Zeitung, 29. März 2011, p. 25
Verena Ingold: Flössen: Idyll für harte Männer. In: Gelbes Heft. München, 29. Dezember 1981, p. 4-7
Dany Kammüller: Ägeri 2004: Grösstes Floss der Geschichte! In: Zuger Woche, 11. Februar 2004, p. 1 und 3
Korporation Oberägeri, Korporation Unterägeri (Ed.): Flössen auf dem Ägerisee (DVD). Oberägeri und Unterägeri, 2004
Andrée Stössel: Stamm-Ritual auf dem See. In: Neue Zuger Zeitung, 15. März 2008, p. 29
Monika Wegmann: Über den Ägerisee nach Japan... In: Neue Zuger Zeitung, 13. März 1999, p. 21
Lionel Hausheer: Vom Flösser-Virus gepackt. In: Neue Zuger Zeitung, 7. März 2016, p. 9
Thomas Horat: Vom Flössen am Ägerisee. Dokumentarfilm, 30 Minuten. Schwyz: Mythenfilm, 2016
Links
Multimedia on-line
Keywords
Contact
Korporation Oberägeri
Korporation Unterägeri
Organisationskomitee Flössen