16.07.2026 | The Schreyenbachfall in the canton of Glarus is turned on for 45 days every year
A waterfall at the ‘push of a button’
The Schreyenbachfall is arguably Switzerland’s most unique waterfall. It had almost completely disappeared for 50 years, but has been flowing again since 2008. Initially, it operated for 22 days spread over several periods; since 2017, it has been in continuous operation for exactly 45 days a year. The rest of the time, most of its water is used for electricity generation at the Linth-Limmern power stations.
This video is only available in German.
Thursday, 18 June, shortly before 2 pm: Walter Dürst, deputy head of the construction team at the Linth-Limmern power stations, is standing at the Fiseten water intake, 1,300 metres above sea level, above the Schreyenbach Falls. He is preparing to do what he has done for many years: he turns a crank to close the water intake, so that the water of the Fisetenbach can once again cascade fully down the Schreyenbach Falls.
A tourist spectacle that had disappeared for 50 years. In 1957, the Glarus Cantonal Council granted a licence to Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG. This included several water intakes which channel water from the 140 km2 catchment area to the power station turbines. The Fisetenbach stream, which flows from Uri to feed the Schreyenbach Falls in Tierfed is also used for electricity generation.
As is often the case with hydropower, the challenge was to strike a balance between electricity generation and tourism and environmental interests. A satisfactory compromise was reached with the regulations introduced in 2008 and amended in 2017. Today, the Schreyenbach Falls display their full splendour on 45 days a year – always between 18 June and 2 August. Depending on rainfall levels, up to 1,500 litres of water per second then thunder down the waterfall.
It remains a tourist spectacle to this day. Shortly before 2 pm, around two dozen onlookers have gathered at the foot of the waterfall. They maintain a safe distance, as in the first few minutes the Schreyenbachfall also carries wood and stones from the stream bed. Shortly after 2 pm, the moment arrives: the trickle becomes a roaring waterfall once more. This natural spectacle can be admired until 2 August. Then, again at 2 pm sharp, Walter Dürst will turn the crank in the other direction and ‘switch off’ the Schreyenbachfall – at least until 18 June 2027, 2 pm…
Linth-Limmern Power Stations
Linth-Limmern Power Stations AG is a joint venture between Axpo and the Canton of Glarus. Axpo holds 85 per cent of the shares, whilst the Canton of Glarus holds 15 per cent. The power station began operations in the 1960s and was supplemented in 2015 by the Limmern pumped-storage plant – with a capacity of 1,000 MW, it is the most powerful pumped-storage plant in Switzerland.
A leader in hydropower
- Axpo currently operates 60 hydropower stations with a total turbine capacity of just under 4,000 MW, making it Switzerland’s largest hydropower producer.
- Axpo has been building and operating hydropower stations for over 100 years and therefore possesses immense expertise in this field.
- Including its shareholdings, Axpo is responsible for 11 TWh of hydroelectric power annually, which corresponds to just under a third of the hydroelectric energy produced in Switzerland.
- Axpo employs around 550 staff in the operation, maintenance, refurbishment and management of hydroelectric power stations, 120 of whom work exclusively in hydroelectric engineering.
- Thanks to its extensive hydropower portfolio, comprising over 150 machine sets (generator and turbine) and 45 dams, Axpo has many highly qualified specialists in all specific fields of hydropower. This enables Axpo to efficiently and cost-effectively overcome even the most demanding challenges in the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants.
- Axpo was the first hydropower company in Switzerland to recognise the huge potential of digitalisation and subsequently built Switzerland’s first digital hydropower plant. Axpo continues to lead the way in the development and application of digital tools for the optimised operation of hydropower plants.
