Plaus, situated in the lower Vinschgau Valley, belongs to the smallest villages in South Tyrol. The central village, a compact scattered village, is situated on the bottom of the Etschtal, parts of it are located even under the level of the river bed. The rest of the village, with the ten Birchberger farmhouses, lies on the slopes of the Nörderberg on the right bank of the Etsch River. The local economy is mainly based on trade; agriculture and tourism play minor roles. Fruit-growing is very important, which is best shown by the 1977 founded cooperative of the local fruit farmers, which has been combined with the one in Naturns since 1977. The five bacon producing companies are worth mentioning. For public buildings the energy is generated from vegetable oils, which is unique in the province.