Editing Lake Zurich

{{Short description|Major lake in Switzerland}}
{{about|the lake in Switzerland|the lake and village in the U.S.|Lake Zurich, Illinois|the Gorillaz song|The Now Now}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox body of water
 |name    = Lake Zurich
 |native_name ={{native name|de|Zürichsee}}
 |image   = Pfannenstiel - Zürichsee - Sihltal - Albis Baldern IMG 5316.jpg
 |caption = {{small|Lake Zurich, [[Pfannenstiel (Zurich)|Pfannenstiel]], and [[Sihl Valley]], as seen from [[Felsenegg]]}}
 |image_bathymetry = Karte_Zürichsee.png
 |caption_bathymetry =
 |coords  = {{WikidataCoord||region:CH|display=it}}
 |lake_type = 
 |inflow  = [[Linth]] ([[Linthkanal]])
 |outflow = [[Limmat]]
 |catchment = {{convert|1,829|km2|abbr=on}}
 |basin_countries = Switzerland
 |length  = {{convert|40|km|0|abbr=off}} 
 |width   = {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=off}} 
 |area    = {{convert|88.66|km2|2|abbr=off}} 
 |depth   = {{convert|49|m|0|abbr=off}}
 |max-depth = {{convert|136|m|0|abbr=off}}<!--http://www.hw.zh.ch/chemie/see/01_Be.pdf-->
 |volume  = {{convert|3.9|km3|abbr=on}}
 |residence_time = 440 days
 |shore   =
 |elevation = {{convert|406|m|ft|abbr=on}}
 |islands = [[Lützelau]], Schönenwerd, [[Saffa-Insel|Saffa]], [[Ufenau]]
 |cities  = ''see [[#Coastal settlements|list]]''
 |frozen  = 1929, 1962/1963 (last)
 |sections = [[Obersee (Lake Zurich)|Obersee]]
| pushpin_map=Canton of Zurich#Canton of Schwyz#Canton of St. Gallen#Switzerland#Alps
| pushpin_label_position= right
| embedded      = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=10 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}

'''Lake Zurich''' ({{langx|de|Zürichsee}}, {{IPA|de-CH|ˈtsyːʁɪçˌseː|pron}}; {{langx|gsw|Zürisee}})<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Swiss Federal Office of Topography, [[swisstopo]] |title=Zürichsee |map=National Map 1:50 000 |map-url=http://www.toposhop.admin.ch/en/shop/products/maps/national/n50 |date=16 January 2014  |edition=2011 |url=http://s.geo.admin.ch/6132af21fe |scale=1:50 000 |series="National Map 1:50'000, 78 sheets and 25 composites" |section="5011 Zürichsee - Zug" |location=Bern, Switzerland |isbn=978-3-302-05011-9 |access-date=2014-12-01}}</ref> is a [[lake]] in [[Switzerland]], extending southeast of the city of [[Zurich]]. Depending on the context, Lake Zurich or {{lang|de|Zürichsee}} can be used to describe the lake as a whole, or just that part of the lake downstream of the Hurden peninsula and [[Seedamm]] causeway (between [[Pfäffikon, Schwyz|Pfäffikon]] and [[Rapperswil]]). In the latter case, the upstream part of the lake is called ''[[Obersee (Lake Zurich)|Obersee]]'' ({{lit|Upper Lake}}), while the lower part is sometimes also referred to as the Lower Lake ({{lang|de|unterer Zürichsee}}), respectively.

== Geography ==
Lake Zurich is a [[glacial lake]] that was formed by the {{ill|Rhine-Linth glacier|de|Rheingletscher}}. Its main [[tributary]] is the River [[Linth]], which rises in the [[glacier]]s of the [[Glarus Alps]].  The Linth originally flew directly into Lake Zurich, but was later diverted by the [[Hans Conrad Escher von der Linth|Escher]] canal (completed in 1811) into [[Lake Walen]] ({{lang|de|Walensee}}) from where its waters are now carried to the east end of Lake Zurich (near [[Schmerikon]]) by means of the straightened Linth [[canal]] (completed in 1816). Until the early 16th century, there was another lake upstream of ''Obersee'', [[Tuggenersee|Lake Tuggen]] ({{lang|de|Tuggenersee}}) near [[Tuggen]]. The waters of Lake Zurich flow out of the lake at its north-west end (at the level of the [[Quaibrücke, Zurich|Quaibrücke]]), passing through the city of Zurich; however, the outflow is then called the [[Limmat]]. The Limmat is a tributary of the [[Aare]], which itself is a tributary of the [[High Rhine]].<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911|wstitle=Zürich, Lake of |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge|volume=28 |inline=1}}</ref> The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin is the [[Tödi]] at 3,614 metres above sea level.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Swiss Federal Office of Topography, swisstopo |title=Tödi, Lake Zurich's culmination point |map=National Map 1:25 000 |map-url=http://www.toposhop.admin.ch/en/shop/products/maps/national/n25 |date=16 January 2014  |edition=2009 |url=http://s.geo.admin.ch/9324aa0f5 |scale=1:25 000 |series="National Map 1:25'000, 247 sheets and 17 composites" |section="1193 Tödi" |location=Bern, Switzerland |isbn=978-3-302-05011-9 |access-date=2014-12-01}}</ref>

Besides the River Linth, other tributaries are the [[Jona (river)|Jona]], [[Schmerikoner Aa]], [[Steinenbach]] and [[Wägitalersee|Wägitaler Aa]], which all flow out into ''Obersee'', along with several creeks.<ref name=EB1911/> The [[Seedamm]], an artificial causeway and bridge, crosses the narrowest point of the lake at the level of the [[Hurden Peninsula]], carrying a [[Rapperswil–Pfäffikon railway|railway line]] and road from [[Rapperswil]] to [[Pfäffikon, Schwyz|Pfäffikon]]. The waterway is also crossed by the ''[[Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden]]'', a wooden pedestrian bridge. The eastern section of the lake is known as the ''[[Obersee (Lake Zurich)|Obersee]]'' ({{lit|Upper Lake}}). West of the Seedamm lie the small islands of [[Lützelau]] and [[Ufenau]], where in 1523 [[Ulrich von Hutten]] took refuge and died. Other islands include [[Grosser Hafner]], [[Saffa-Insel|Saffa Island]] and Schönenwerd (near [[Richterswil]]). A popular tourist destination is the [[Au peninsula]] at the village of [[Au, Zurich|Au]] between [[Wädenswil]] and [[Horgen]]. The lake shores are well cultivated and fertile.<ref name=EB1911/> They include [[nature reserve]]s, such as [[Frauenwinkel]] or [[Bätzimatt]]. The bay of Rapperswil and [[reed bed|reed]] in [[Nuolen]] are wintering areas for birds and popular sites for [[bird watching]].

To the east, separated by [[Zürichberg]]-[[Adlisberg]], [[Forch]], and [[Pfannenstiel (Zurich)|Pfannenstiel]], are two smaller lakes, [[Greifensee (lake)|Greifensee]] ({{lit|Lake Greifen}}) and [[Pfäffikersee]] ({{lit|Lake Pfäffikon}}). There are several minor lakes and [[pond]]s in the vicinity, such as [[Egelsee (Bubikon)|Egelsee]], [[Lützelsee]] or [[Türlersee]]. [[Zimmerberg]], [[Etzel (mountain)|Etzel]] and [[Buechberg]] mountains lie to the west and south of the lake, respectively. Further to the east, the [[Speer (mountain)|Speer]], [[Chüemettler]] and [[Federispitz]] can be seen from the southern part of the lake.

Administratively, Lake Zurich is split between the cantons of [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]] ([[Horgen District]]), [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] ([[See-Gaster]]) and [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] ([[Höfe District|Höfe]] and [[March District|March]] districts). The lower lake, to the west of the Seedamm, is largely in the canton of Zurich, while the upper lake is shared between the cantons of St. Gallen and Schwyz.

===Tributaries of lower lake===
{{main|Category:Tributaries of Lake Zurich}}

The following rivers or streams flow into lower part of Lake Zurich.<ref>''Bradshaw's pedestrian route-book for Switzerland, Chamouni, and the Italian lakes'', George Bradshaw (1868)</ref> From the Limmat clockwise, they are:
{{Stack|
[[File:Küsnachter Dorfbach.jpg|thumb|Küsnachter Dorfbach and Küsnacht's Reformed Church]]
}}
*Hornbach (at [[Zürichhorn]])
*Düggelbach (at [[Zollikon]])
*Kusenbach (at [[Küsnacht]])
*[[Küsnachter Tobel|Küsnachter Dorfbach]] (at Hornelanpark, Küsnacht)
*Heslibach (at [[Erlenbach, Switzerland|Erlenbach]])
*Dorfbach Erlenbach (at Erlenbach)
*Tobelbächli (at Erlenbach)
*Schipfbach (at Erlenbach)
*Rossbach (at [[Herrliberg]])
*Meilener Dorfbach (at [[Meilen]])
*Beugenbach (at Meilen)
*Aebletenbach (at Ländeli, Meilen)
*Uetiker Mulibach (at Meilen)
*Feldbach (at [[Feldbach, Switzerland|Horn]])
*Sarenbach (at [[Freienbach]])
*Krebsbach (at Bäch, Freienbach)
*Mülibach (at [[Richterswil]])
*Zürichsee (at [[Wädenswil]])
*Meilibach (at Wädenswil)
*Schanzengraben (Zurich)

==Coastal settlements==
[[Zurich]], at the north-western end of the lake, is the largest city on Lake Zurich. The least populous is [[Hurden]].

On the west shore (which gradually becomes the south shore) are [[Kilchberg, Zurich|Kilchberg]], [[Rüschlikon]], [[Thalwil]], [[Oberrieden]], [[Horgen]], [[Au ZH|Au]], [[Wädenswil]] and [[Richterswil]] in the [[canton of Zurich]], and [[Freienbach]], [[Pfäffikon, Schwyz|Pfäffikon]], Hurden, [[Altendorf, Schwyz|Altendorf]], [[Lachen, Switzerland|Lachen]], [[Nuolen]] and [[Tuggen]] in the [[canton of Schwyz]].

On the opposite shore, which gradually becomes the northern shore towards east, are [[Zollikon]], [[Küsnacht]], [[Erlenbach, Switzerland|Erlenbach]], [[Herrliberg]], [[Feldmeilen]], [[Meilen]], [[Stäfa]], and [[Feldbach, Switzerland|Feldbach]] in the canton of Zurich, and [[Rapperswil-Jona]]. The latter includes the medieval town of [[Rapperswil (St. Gall)|Rapperswil]], whose castle is home to the [[Polish Museum, Rapperswil|Polish museum]], and the coastal villages of [[Kempraten]], [[Busskirch]] and [[Bollingen]]. The municipalities of Rapperswil-Jona and [[Schmerikon]], which is close to the east end of the lake, are both in the [[canton of St. Gallen]]. A little further east is the larger town of [[Uznach]].

[[File:Lake Zürich from Grossmünster.jpg|center|700px|thumb|Lake Zurich from Grossmünster with Quaibrücke and the Limmat River in the foreground]]

===Prehistoric pile dwellings and historic settlements===
Nine [[Prehistoric pile dwellings around Zürichsee]], which are located in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|cantons]] of [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]], [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] and [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]], are among the 56 [[Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps]] in Switzerland.<ref name="palafittes-übersicht">{{cite web|url=http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/sites-switzerland/index.html|title=Prehistoric Pile Dwellings in Switzerland|publisher=Swiss Coordination Group UNESCO Palafittes (palafittes.org)|access-date=2014-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007220441/http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/sites-switzerland/index.html|archive-date=2014-10-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="palafittes-heritage">{{cite web|url=http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/world-heritage/index.html|title=World Heritage|publisher=palafittes.org|access-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209212026/http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/world-heritage/index.html|archive-date=2014-12-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

These nine sites on the Lake Zurich lakeshore are [[Freienbach–Hurden Rosshorn]], [[Freienbach–Hurden Seefeld]], [[Rapperswil-Jona/Hombrechtikon–Feldbach]], [[Rapperswil-Jona–Technikum]], [[Erlenbach–Winkel]], [[Meilen–Rorenhaab]], [[Wädenswil–Vorder Au]], [[Zurich–Enge Alpenquai]], and [[Kleiner Hafner]]. Because the lake has grown in size over time, the original piles are now around {{convert|4|m|ft|0}} to {{convert|7|m|ft|0}} under the water level of {{convert|406|m|ft|0}}. Two other sites are not far away: [[Greifensee–Storen/Wildsberg]] at the Greifensee and [[Wetzikon–Robenhausen]] at the Pfäffikersee.

As well as being part of the 56 Swiss sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, each of these 11 prehistoric pile dwellings is also listed as a ''Class object'' in the [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance]].<ref name="kgs">{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |title=A-Objekte KGS-Inventar |publisher=Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz |date=2009 |access-date=2014-12-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archive-date=2010-06-28}}</ref>

In [[Kempraten]] ([[Rapperswil-Jona]] municipality), there was a [[Gallo-Roman culture|Roman]] [[vicus]] named [[Centum Prata]]. Another settlement was [[Turicum]] in Zurich.

==Transportation==
The main transportation nodes around the lake are Zurich and — given the presence of the [[Seedamm]] causeway — [[Pfäffikon, Schwyz|Pfäffikon]] and [[Rapperswil]]. Besides [[Quaibrücke, Zurich|Quaibrücke]] in Zurich and the Seedamm, there are no bridges across the lake. In addition, the towns of [[Meilen]] and [[Horgen]] are connected by a [[Zürichsee-Fähre Horgen–Meilen|car ferry]].

===Trams and buses===
Bus routes on the western shore are operated by [[Zimmerberg Bus]]. On the eastern side, the [[Verkehrsbetriebe Zürichsee und Oberland|VZO]] provides bus services along the lake shore and to the [[Zürcher Oberland]]. VZO also operates the urban bus routes in Rapperswil and [[Jona, Switzerland|Jona]]. At the northern end of the lake, in Zurich, public transport consists of [[trams in Zurich|trams]], [[trolleybuses in Zurich|trolleybuses]] and busses of [[Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich|VBZ]].

===Rail===
<u>Left bank</u>: The towns on the western and southern shores of Lake Zurich are linked by the [[Lake Zurich left bank railway]] line, which connects {{rws|Zürich HB}} with {{rws|Ziegelbrücke}}. This line is served by the {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|2}}, {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|8}}, {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|24}} and {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|25}} of the [[Zurich S-Bahn]] and [[InterRegio]] (IR) trains. It is also used by [[Transalpin|EuroCity]] (EC), [[Intercity Express]] (ICE), [[InterCity (Switzerland)|Intercity]] (IC) and [[Railjet]] (RJX) trains but they do not call at stations along the lake. At {{rws|Wädenswil}}, the line connects to the [[Wädenswil–Einsiedeln railway]] to [[Einsiedeln]], served by the {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|13}}.

<u>Right bank</u>: Towns on the eastern shore of the lower lake (also known as the [[Goldcoast (Switzerland)|Goldcoast]], or {{lang|de|Goldküste}}) are connected by the [[Lake Zurich right bank railway]] line between Zürich HB and {{rws|Rapperswil}}. This line is served by [[S-Bahn]] services {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|6}}, {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|7}}, {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|16}} and {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|20}} of Zurich S-Bahn.

The [[Rapperswil–Ziegelbrücke railway]] line along the northern shore of Obersee is served by [[St. Gallen S-Bahn]] services {{ric|St. Gallen S-Bahn|4}}, {{ric|St. Gallen S-Bahn|6}} and {{ric|St. Gallen S-Bahn|17}}, and the ''[[Voralpen Express]]''. This line connects Rapperswil with {{rws|Schmerikon}} on the eastern end of the lake via {{rws|Blumenau}}. {{rws|Bollingen}} is a [[ghost station]] since 2004.

<u>Seedamm</u>: The [[Rapperswil–Pfäffikon railway]] line across the Seedamm and Hurden Peninsula is served by Zurich S-Bahn services {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|5}} and {{ric|Zürich S-Bahn|40}} and the Voralpen Express. This short line connects Rapperswil with {{rws|Pfäffikon SZ}} via {{rws|Hurden}}.

===Shipping===
The [[Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft]] – {{lit|the Lake Zurich Navigation Company}} – provides with its 17-passenger ships touristic services on Lake Zurich. There are a number of passenger [[ferry]] services, notably the [[Horgen–Meilen ferry]], an [[Roll-on/roll-off|auto ferry]] between [[Horgen]] and [[Meilen]].

==Freeze over==
{{Stack|
[[File:ETH-BIB-Seegfrörni Zürichsee, 1929-Dia 247-F-00330.tif|thumb|Frozen lake in 1929 ([[Grossmünster]] in the background)]]
}}
The freezing of Lake Zurich, called ''Seegfrörni'' in [[Swiss German]], is a rare and spectacular event. The lake was frozen in the following [[Common Era]]/[[Anno Domini]] years (1963 was the last time). Years 1223 to 1963 are based on<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/pd/de/index/stadtpolizei_zuerich/gewaesser/wasserschutzpolizei1/impressionen/seegfroerni.html |title=Seegfrörni 1962/1963 |trans-title=Freeze over 1962/1963 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222212424/http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/pd/de/index/stadtpolizei_zuerich/gewaesser/wasserschutzpolizei1/impressionen/seegfroerni.html |archive-date=2014-02-22 |access-date=2025-01-19 |language=de}}</ref> (see list at the end of the article) and,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The year Lake Zurich froze over |url=https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2023/02/the-year-lake-zurich-froze-over/ |publisher= nationalmuseum.ch |date=2023-02-01 |access-date=2024-06-19 |language=en}}</ref> for 1435 see.<ref>{{cite book |first=Werner |last=Dobras |title=Seegfrörne. Die spannende Geschichte der Seegfrörnen von 875 bis heute |edition=2 veränderte Auflage |publisher=Stadler Verlagsgesellschaft |location=Konstanz |year=1992 |isbn=3-7977-0266-3 |page=10&nbsp;f |language=de}}</ref>
* 1223, 1259, 1262
* 1407, 1435, 1491
* 1514, 1517, 1573
* 1600, 1660, 1684, 1695
* 1709, 1716, 1718, 1740, 1755, 1763, 1789
* 1830, 1880, 1891, 1895
* 1929, 1963

==Water quality==
Lake Zurich's water is very clean and reaches, during summer, temperatures well beyond {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Swimming in the  [[public bath]]s and beaches is very popular. The lake's water is purified and fed into Zurich's water system; it is potable.

[[File:PanoZueri.jpg|thumb|upright=3.5|center|700px|Lake Zurich view from Zurich to the [[Alps]]]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center" mode="packed">
File:Uetliberg LCD.jpg|View from the top of the observation tower at Uetliberg.
File:Felsenegg - view from the top.jpg|View from [[Felsenegg]] to the eastern part of Lake Zurich
File:Zürichsee.jpg|[[Ufenau]] island
File:Halbinsel Au Nordseite.jpg|[[Au peninsula]]
File:SeedammBachtel.JPG|[[Seedamm]] between [[Rapperswil]] and [[Hurden]], view from [[Bachtel Tower|Bachtel hill]]
File:Rapperswil - Schlosshügel mit Sicht auf Ufenau.JPG|[[Lützelau]] and [[Rapperswil]], view from Ufenau island
File:DS Stadt Zürich & Rapperswil - Rapperswil 1914.IMG 2362.jpg|[[Paddle steamer|Paddle steamships]] ''[[PS Stadt Rapperswil|Stadt Rapperswil]]'' (to the left) and ''[[PS Stadt Zürich|Stadt Zürich]]'' (1914) at [[Rapperswil SG|Rapperswil (SG)]] harbour
File:Zurisee Airplane.jpg|Zurisee from an airplane
File:Insel Schoenenwerd 2014-05-21 11-11-32.jpg|Schönenwerd island near Richterswil
File:Seeuferweg-Steg (Süd) am Zürichsee, Richterswil ZH 20220328-jag9889.jpg|Bank path and pedestrian bridge near Richterswil
File:Holzbrücke - Obersee - Seedamm 2011-11-30 15-20-11 (SX230).JPG|Wooden pedestrian bridge near Rapperswil
File:Federispitz - Chüemettler - Speer - Wurmsbach - Obersee - Jona (SG) Stampf 2010-11-08 16-26-54.jpg|Small islands near Jona delta
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Commons category}}
*[[Obersee (Lake Zurich)]]
*[[Prehistoric pile dwellings around Lake Zurich]]
*[[PS Stadt Rapperswil|Paddle steamer Stadt Rapperswil]]
*[[PS Stadt Zürich|Paddle steamer Stadt Zürich]]
*[[Radio Zürisee]]
*[[Seedamm]]
*[[Zürichsee-Zeitung]]
*[[List of lakes of Switzerland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{HDS|8651|Zürichsee|author=Peter Ziegler|date=28 February 2014}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090228075510/http://www.zsg.ch/index.php?english Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft]—Boat schedules, mainly non-English.
*[http://www.faehre.ch Zürichsee-Fähre Horgen-Meilen]—Ferry schedules, in German.
*[http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/en/2209.html#aktuelle_daten  Lake Zurich water levels] at [[Zurich]]
*[https://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?waterbody=lake+zurich#10.54/47.2556/8.7435 Lake Zurich ENC Chart]

{{Lake Zurich}}
{{Zurich}}
{{Prehistoric pile dwellings in Switzerland}}
{{Lakes of Switzerland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lake Zurich| ]]
[[Category:Lakes of Switzerland|Zurich]]
[[Category:Lakes of the canton of Zürich|Zurich]]
[[Category:Lakes of the canton of St. Gallen|Zurich]]
[[Category:Lakes of the canton of Schwyz|Zurich]]
[[Category:Linth/Limmat basin|LZurich]]
[[Category:Schwyz–St. Gallen border]]