Fine stone lithography depicting the huge landslide that destroyed much of Goldau.
Weibel Comtesse
GOLDAU
Published in Switzerland ca 1825
Leaf size: 28.3 x 20.7 cm
On September 2, 1806 heavy rains triggered a landslide from the Rossberg which destroyed Goldau and the adjacent villages of Busingen, Röthen and Lauerz. The landslide comprised 40,000,000 cubic metres (52,000,000 cu yd) of material, with a mass of 120,000,000 tonnes (118,000,000 long tons; 132,000,000 short tons).
Part of the mass hit Lake Lauerz (which had been created by an even larger landslide in the 14th century), and the resulting tsunami-like displacement wave caused more devastation towards Seewen. The event destroyed 111 houses, 220 barns, and two churches in a disaster area of about 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi), parts of which were covered with debris to a height of 30–70 metres (98–230 ft). It resulted in the confirmed death of 457 people.
