Uri

Uri, one of the 'Forest Cantons' of Switzerland, forms part of the hill country which surrounds the Lake of Lucerne; area, 416 sq. m.; pop. (1888) 17,234. It consists of one valley, that of the Reuss, through which runs the great road, and also the railway, into Italy by the St Gothard Pass. Uri is almost entirely pastoral; and the constitution is a pure democracy (see SWITZERLAND, p. 22). Altorf, with traditions of Tell (q.v.), is the capital. See Sowerby, The Forest Cantons of Switzerland (1892).