Saas-Balen

Saas-Balen is first mentioned in 1304 as baln. Saas-Balen has an area, as of 2011, of 30.2 square kilometers (11.7 mi). Of this area, 10.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 22.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and 65.4% is unproductive land. The municipality is located in the Visp district. It has the smallest area of any municipality in the Saas valley. It consists of the village of Saas-Balen and the hamlets of Niedergut (Ausser-Balen), Bidermatten and a part of Tamatten (Inner-Balen) as well as 25 small, alpine settlements. The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Azure, on Ground Vert a path Argent embowed passing into a cave entrance Sable of a Cliff Argent.