Lauterbrunnen
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Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken (district) of the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh. The population of the Lauterbrunnen village is less than that of Wengen, but greater than that of the others.
According to locals, the name Lauterbrunnen is a combination of lauter meaning many, and brunnen meaning spring, fountain, or well. However, there is considerable dispute about the meaning of 'lauter', with some translating it as louder and others as clear, bright, or clean.
The river Weisse Lütschine flows through Lauterbrunnen and overflows its banks about once a year. The source of the river comes from melting snow high in the mountains, thus making it a very pure and clean source of water. It is common practice in the camp sites to sit around the river and cool one's drink in the water, which is usually of a very cold degree.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (literal translation: song of the spirits above the waters) was written while he stayed at the parish house near the Staubbach Falls waterfall in Lauterbrunnen. The Lauterbrunnen valley also provided the pictorial model for J.R.R. Tolkien's sketches and watercolors of the fictitious valley of Rivendell, and possibly also the name of the Bruinen river (meaning 'Loudwater') which flowed through it.
Transport
The Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) train runs from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen. Here a connecting Wengernalpbahn (WAB) train leads to Kleine Scheidegg and on to Grindelwald, while a funicular and connecting train, both operated by the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren (BLM), provide service to Mürren.NB. The funicular is currently not providing any service. It will be replaced by a cable car which will start service in December 2006.
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