Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich (Alemannic: Zürisee; German: Zürichsee) is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the town of Zürich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates {{coor dm|47|15|N|8|41|E}}.

Related Topics:
Alemannic - German - Lake - Switzerland - Zürich

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Geographically, Lake Zürich is located in the southwestern part of the canton of Zürich. To the east of the lake are two minor lakes, Greifensee (Lake Greifen) and Pfäffikersee (Lake Pfäffikon).

Related Topics:
Canton of Zürich - Greifensee - Pfäffikersee

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It is formed by the river Linth, which, rising in the glaciers of the Tödi Range in Glarus, was diverted by the Escher canal (completed in 1811) into the Lake Walen, whence, by means of the Linth canal (completed in 1816), its waters are carried to the east end of the lake of Zürich. This river issues from the lake at its north-west end, passing through the town of Zürich, but is then called the Limmat.

Related Topics:
River - Linth - Glacier - Tödi Range - Glarus - 1811 - Lake Walen - 1816 - Limmat

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No streams of importance flow into the lake. Its area is about 90.1 km² (34 sq mi), its extreme length 40 km (25 mi), its greatest breadth 3 km (2 mi), and its greatest depth 143 m (469 ft), while its surface is 406 m (1342 ft) above sea-level. Its volume is 3.9 km³. It is included, or the greater portion, in the Canton of Zürich, but at its east end 8 sq mi towards the southern shore are in that of Schwyz, and 4 sq mi towards its northern shore in that of St. Gallen. The great dam of masonry (the Seedamm), carrying the railway line and road from Rapperswil to Pfäffikon, which cuts off the extreme eastern part of the lake from the rest, is passed only by small boats; steamers (of which the first was placed on the lake in 1835) do not go beyond the dam, as the eastern portion of the lake is shallow and choked by weeds. 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.

Related Topics:
90.1 km² (34 sq mi) - 40 km (25 mi) - 143 m (469 ft) - 406 m (1342 ft) - Above sea-level - 3.9 km³ - Canton of Zürich - That of Schwyz - That of St. Gallen - Seedamm - Rapperswil - Pfäffikon - 1835 - Obersee - German - Lützelau - Ufenau - 1523 - Ulrich von Hutten

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The only three nodal points are Zürich, Pfäffikon SZ and Rapperswil.

Related Topics:
Zürich - Pfäffikon SZ - Rapperswil

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Beyond Bürkliplatz in Zürich and the Seedamm, there are no bridges across the lake. There are a few ferry services, noticeably that between Horgen and Meilen.

Related Topics:
Bürkliplatz - Zürich - Seedamm - Horgen - Meilen

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