The Valais (German: ) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the south-western part of the country, in the Pennine Alps around the valley of the Rhone River from its springs to Lake Geneva. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhone valley. Paradoxically it is also one of the wettest parts, having large amounts of snow and rain up on the highest peaks found in Switzerland.