Lake Zurich
Encyclopedia
Lake Zurich is a lake
in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich
. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates 47°15′N 8°41′E.
Zürichsee is strictly the name of the part of the lake downstream of the dam at Rapperswil
, mostly located within the canton of Zurich
. The part upstream of the Rapperswil dam is called Obersee, and is shared between the cantons of St. Gallen
and Schwyz
.
. To the east are – separated by Zürichberg
-Adlisberg
, Forch
and Pfannenstiel
– two minor lakes: Greifensee
(Lake Greifen) and Pfäffikersee
(Lake Pfäffikon). Zimmerberg
and the Etzel
regions lie to the west.
Lake Zurich is formed by the river
Linth
, which, rising in the glacier
s of the Tödi Range in Glarus
, which was diverted by the Escher canal (completed in 1811) into the Lake Walen
, there by means of the Linth canal (completed in 1816), its waters are carried to the east end of the Lake of Zurich. The waters of the Lake of Zurich outflow from the lake at its north-west end, passing through the city of Zurich, however the outflow is then called the Limmat
.
No streams of importance flow into the lake besides the Linth. It is included, or the greater portion, in the Canton of Zurich
, but at its easterly end about 20 km² towards the southern shore are in Canton of Schwyz
, and 10 km² towards its northern shore in Canton of St. Gallen
. The large masonry dam (the Seedamm
), carrying a railway line and road from Rapperswil
to Pfäffikon
, divides the lake. The eastern section of the lake is known as the Obersee, German for "upper lake". West of this dam lie the small islands of Lützelau
and Ufenau
, where in 1523 Ulrich von Hutten
took refuge and died. Both shores are well cultivated and fertile. Another touristic destination is the Au peninsula
at the village of Au
between Wädenswil
and Horgen
.
The lake was frozen in the following years
, Pfäffikon SZ and Rapperswil
.
Besides Bürkliplatz in Zurich
and the Seedamm
, there are no bridges across the lake.
The Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft
– the Lake Zurich Navigation Company – provides with its 17 passenger ships touristic services on Lake Zurich. There are a number of passenger ferry
services, noticeably the Horgen–Meilen ferry
, an auto ferry between Horgen
and Meilen
.
Zurich
, at the north-western end of the lake, is the largest city on Lake Zurich.
On the west shore (which gradually becomes the south shore) are Thalwil
, Horgen
, Wädenswil
, Richterswil
, Pfäffikon
, and Lachen
.
On the opposite shore are Küsnacht
, Meilen
, Stäfa
, and Rapperswil-Jona
with the medieval town of Rapperswil, whose castle is home to the Polish museum
. Schmerikon
is close to the east end of the lake, and a little further east is the larger town of Uznach
.
is very clean and reaches, during summer, temperatures well beyond 20 °C. Swimming in the public baths and beach
es is very popular. The lake's water is purified and fed into Zurich
's water system; it is potable.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates 47°15′N 8°41′E.
Zürichsee is strictly the name of the part of the lake downstream of the dam at Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
, mostly located within the canton of Zurich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
. The part upstream of the Rapperswil dam is called Obersee, and is shared between the cantons of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
and Schwyz
Canton of Schwyz
Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz....
.
Geography
Geographically, Lake Zurich is located in the southwestern part of the canton of ZurichCanton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
. To the east are – separated by Zürichberg
Zürichberg
The Zürichberg is a wooded hill rising to 679 metres , overlooking Lake Zurich and located immediately to the east of the City of Zurich in Switzerland, between the valleys of the Limmat and the Glatt rivers...
-Adlisberg
Adlisberg
Adlisberg is a wooded mountain overlooking the Zürichsee , neighboored in the northwest by the Zürichberg.- Geography :Adlisberg mountain is located to the east of the city of Zürich, between the Glatt river valley and Lake Zürich. Its highest point is about above the Lake Zürich...
, Forch
Forch
Forch is a village and a mountain pass located in the municipalities of Küsnacht and Maur in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Geography :Forch is located approximately in the southeast of Zürich, nearby Zumikon and Maur...
and Pfannenstiel
Pfannenstiel (Zürich)
Pfannenstiel is a wooded mountain respectively a region overlooking the Lake Zürich and Zürcher Oberland in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- Geography :...
– two minor lakes: Greifensee
Greifensee
Greifensee is a small lake in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- Geography :Lake Greifen is located to the northeast of the city of Zurich, separated by the Pfannenstiel from Lake Zürich...
(Lake Greifen) and Pfäffikersee
Pfäffikersee
Pfäffikersee is a lake in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, near the town of Pfäffikon. It is 2.5 km long and 1.3 km wide at the middle. The lake was created in the last ice age when a moraine blocked off the ability for the lake to empty north towards Winterthur...
(Lake Pfäffikon). Zimmerberg
Zimmerberg
Zimmerberg is a mountain and a region located in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Its name bases on the Old High German word zimbar in the meaning of lumber.- Geography :...
and the Etzel
Etzel (mountain)
The Etzel is a mountain in the Alps on the south side of Lake Zurich in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland....
regions lie to the west.
Lake Zurich is formed by the river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
Linth
Linth
The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to...
, which, rising in the glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s of the Tödi Range in Glarus
Glarus
Glarus is the capital of the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Glarus municipality since 1 January 2011 incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern....
, which was diverted by the Escher canal (completed in 1811) into the Lake Walen
Lake Walen
Walensee is one of the larger lakes in Switzerland, for about 2/3 of its surface in the Canton of St. Gallen and for 1/3 in the Canton of Glarus. It is also known as Lake Walen or Lake Walenstadt, after Walenstadt. Other towns and villages at the lake include: Weesen, Quinten, Quarten, and Murg.The...
, there by means of the Linth canal (completed in 1816), its waters are carried to the east end of the Lake of Zurich. The waters of the Lake of Zurich outflow from the lake at its north-west end, passing through the city of Zurich, however the outflow is then called the Limmat
Limmat
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km reaching the river Aare...
.
No streams of importance flow into the lake besides the Linth. It is included, or the greater portion, in the Canton of Zurich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
, but at its easterly end about 20 km² towards the southern shore are in Canton of Schwyz
Canton of Schwyz
Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz....
, and 10 km² towards its northern shore in Canton of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
. The large masonry dam (the Seedamm
Seedamm
Seedamm is the partially artificial dam and bridge at the most narrow area of Lake Zurich, between Hurden and Rapperswil .- Geography and location :...
), carrying a railway line and road from Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
to Pfäffikon
Pfäffikon, Schwyz
Pfäffikon is the principal town of the Municipality of Freienbach in canton Schwyz in Switzerland. Together with Wollerau, Pfäffikon is considered the principal town of the borough Höfe and the center of the region of Ausserschwyz. The former farm town is known today as cultural, economic and...
, divides the lake. The eastern section of the lake is known as the Obersee, German for "upper lake". West of this dam lie the small islands of Lützelau
Lützelau
Lützelau is an island located, with the neighbouring island of Ufenau, in Lake Zürich in Switzerland between Rapperswil and Freienbach .- Geography :...
and Ufenau
Ufenau
Ufenau is an island located, with the neighbouring island of Lützelau, in Lake Zürich in Switzerland between Freienbach and Rapperswil .- Geography :...
, where in 1523 Ulrich von Hutten
Ulrich von Hutten
Ulrich von Hutten was a German scholar, poet and reformer. He was an outspoken critic of the Roman Catholic Church and a bridge between the humanists and the Lutheran Reformation...
took refuge and died. Both shores are well cultivated and fertile. Another touristic destination is the Au peninsula
Au peninsula
The Au peninsula is located in the Swiss Lake Zürich at the municipality Au between Wädenswil and Horgen in the Canton of Zurich.- History :...
at the village of Au
Au, Zurich
Au is a village in the municipality Wädenswil in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland.First mentioned in the year 1130 as «Naglikon» and 1316 as «Owe», Au belongs politically to the urban area of the south-eastern city of Wädenswil on Lake Zurich.- Transport :Au ZH railway...
between Wädenswil
Wädenswil
-References:...
and Horgen
Horgen
Horgen is a village in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.It is one of the larger towns along the south bank of the Lake of Zurich.- History :Horgen is also the type-site of Switzerland's middle Neolithic archaeological culture...
.
The lake was frozen in the following years
- 1223, 1259, 1262
- 1407, 1491
- 1514, 1517, 1573
- 1600, 1660, 1684, 1695
- 1709, 1716, 1718, 1740, 1755, 1763, 1789
- 1830, 1880, 1891, 1895
- 1929, 1963
Population and transportation
The three population and transportation centres are ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Pfäffikon SZ and Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
.
Besides Bürkliplatz in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and the Seedamm
Seedamm
Seedamm is the partially artificial dam and bridge at the most narrow area of Lake Zurich, between Hurden and Rapperswil .- Geography and location :...
, there are no bridges across the lake.
The Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft
Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft
The Lake Zurich Shipping Company or Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft is a public Swiss company operating passenger ships and boats on Lake Zürich....
– the Lake Zurich Navigation Company – provides with its 17 passenger ships touristic services on Lake Zurich. There are a number of passenger ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services, noticeably the Horgen–Meilen ferry
Horgen–Meilen ferry
The Horgen–Meilen ferry, operated by the Zürichsee-Fähre Horgen-Meilen AG company, is a Swiss car ferry that operates across Lake Zurich between the lakeside towns of Horgen and Meilen...
, an auto ferry between Horgen
Horgen
Horgen is a village in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.It is one of the larger towns along the south bank of the Lake of Zurich.- History :Horgen is also the type-site of Switzerland's middle Neolithic archaeological culture...
and Meilen
Meilen
Meilen is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- History :Archaeological findings in Meilen date back more than 4,000 years. In January 1854 the level of lake Zürich was particularly low and the locals took the chance to gain some land...
.
Cities on the lake
| Left shore ¹ | Right shore |
|---|---|
|
|
| |
Notes: ¹ Left shore from the entry of the Linth Linth The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to... River, i.e. the south shore, which gradually becomes the west shore. Cantons Cantons of Switzerland The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848... : SZ Canton of Schwyz Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz.... , SG Canton of St. Gallen The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling... , ZH Canton of Zürich The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch... . | |
Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, at the north-western end of the lake, is the largest city on Lake Zurich.
On the west shore (which gradually becomes the south shore) are Thalwil
Thalwil
Thalwil is a municipality in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. As of 2010 its population was of 17,189.-History:...
, Horgen
Horgen
Horgen is a village in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.It is one of the larger towns along the south bank of the Lake of Zurich.- History :Horgen is also the type-site of Switzerland's middle Neolithic archaeological culture...
, Wädenswil
Wädenswil
-References:...
, Richterswil
Richterswil
Richterswil is a municipality in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Richterswil is first mentioned in 1265 as Richtliswile.During the 17th Century, a series of peasant revolts broke out across Switzerland...
, Pfäffikon
Pfäffikon, Schwyz
Pfäffikon is the principal town of the Municipality of Freienbach in canton Schwyz in Switzerland. Together with Wollerau, Pfäffikon is considered the principal town of the borough Höfe and the center of the region of Ausserschwyz. The former farm town is known today as cultural, economic and...
, and Lachen
Lachen, Switzerland
Lachen is a municipality in March District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.-Geography:Lachen has an area, , of . Of this area, 26.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 5.8% is forested...
.
On the opposite shore are Küsnacht
Küsnacht
Küsnacht is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland.-History:Küsnacht is first mentioned in 1188 as de Cussenacho....
, Meilen
Meilen
Meilen is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- History :Archaeological findings in Meilen date back more than 4,000 years. In January 1854 the level of lake Zürich was particularly low and the locals took the chance to gain some land...
, Stäfa
Stäfa
Stäfa is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Stäfa has an area of . Of this area, 46.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 34% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, and Rapperswil-Jona
Rapperswil-Jona
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
with the medieval town of Rapperswil, whose castle is home to the Polish museum
Polish Museum, Rapperswil
The Polish Museum, Rapperswil, was founded in Rapperswil, Switzerland, on October 23, 1870, by Polish Count Władysław Broel-Plater, at the urging of Agaton Giller, as "a refuge for [Poland's] historic memorabilia dishonored and plundered in the [occupied Polish] homeland" and for the promotion of...
. Schmerikon
Schmerikon
Schmerikon is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-Geography:Schmerikon has an area, , of . Of this area, 38.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23% is forested...
is close to the east end of the lake, and a little further east is the larger town of Uznach
Uznach
Uznach is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Uznach is first mentioned in 741 as Uzinaa in a grant from a noble lady at Benken Abbey to the Abbey of Saint Gall...
.
Water quality
Lake Zurich's waterWater
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
is very clean and reaches, during summer, temperatures well beyond 20 °C. Swimming in the public baths and beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es is very popular. The lake's water is purified and fed into Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
's water system; it is potable.
Gallery
External links
- Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft -- Boat schedules, mainly non-English.
- Zürichsee-Fähre Horgen-Meilen -- Ferry schedules, in German.
- Waterlevels Lake Zurich at ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...