Lake Zurich, Switzerland

Lake Zurich is a lake in northern Switzerland, on the Swiss plateau, north of the Glarn Alps, draining through the Limmat River into the Aar River. The lake is situated in an ancient glacial valley, suggesting that it has glacial origins. The lake has an altitude of 406 m, a length of 40 km, a width of 1-4 km, an area of 88.5 km2 and a depth of up to 143 m. Lake Zurich is definitely an integral part of the charm of the city of Zurich, as this picturesque natural basin is artificially divided into 2 parts by an artificial railway embankment. The eastern part, which follows after the Raperswil Dam, is known as Zurichsee and is located entirely within the Canton of Zurich. The western part of Lake Zurich is upstream of the dam and is called Obersee. The two small islands of Lutzelau and Uffenau lie in the middle of Lake Zurich. There are only two bridges built over Lake Zurich - one is in the town of the same name and the other is at the railway in Rapperswil. Lake Zurich extends more than 28 km southeast of Zurich. This natural gem with crystal clear waters provides much needed breathing space for the hectic city. Its clear, warm and perfectly transparent waters are vital for feeling the pleasure of summer. In other seasons of the year, the picturesque villages perched along its shores, together with the beautiful scenery, offer emotional and memorable excursions. A well-known contributor to National Geographic says "A sunset cruise on Lake Zurich with cheese fondue is an unforgettable experience".

The water in Lake Zurich comes from the mountains of the Lint River, so the lake's clear, clean waters lure all who wish to swim and relax in nature to its shores. The area around the lake remains open to hikers and cyclists. Trails are marked and camping areas are available at many locations. In general, the Lake Zurich area is accessible by boat, train, on foot or on bicycles. No visit to Zurich will be complete unless you take a boat trip on the lake. The leisurely Stadt Zurich paddle steamer or the sleek Panta Rhei depart from the Bürkliplatz boat station. Everywhere in the towns along Lake Zurich there are accommodation options and facilities for practicing various water sports. The north-eastern and south-western shores of Lake Zurich are home to Zurich's most representative precincts, with the north-eastern shore being quite glitzy due to the fact that it is home to some of the most glamorous areas of all Switzerland. Over the years, wealthy Swiss and super-rich expats have invested heavily to build their dream homes on this particular shore of Lake Zurich.

Again in the area starting from the northeastern shore of the lake is the hamlet of Küznacht, whose fame comes from what is considered one of the country's most sought-after restaurants, Ricos' Kunstuben. Its cuisine is highly innovative and sophisticated and was created by Michelin-starred chef and owner Horst Petermann.

Further along the northern shore of Lake Zurich is the town of Steffa, which is set amidst extensive vineyard land and since Roman times winemaking has been an integral part of its economy. With its 60 hectares of vineyards, Zurich has become the largest wine canton in German-speaking Switzerland. Wine enthusiasts wishing to taste some of the red or white wine varieties should visit the Expovina, the world's largest wine tasting exhibition, which includes more than 4,000 wine brands from 24 countries.

On a peninsula at the south-western end of Lake Zurich is the medieval town of Rapperswil, which used to be one of Zurich's biggest political rivals, but the rivalry proved unsuccessful. Rapperswil is sometimes called the "City of Roses" because of its many rose gardens. One of these gardens is unique for being made for the blind with highly scented species and information about them in Braille. Today, Rappersville is a popular destination for those boarding a boat for a ride departing from Zurich. In the centre of the town stands Raperswil Castle, dating back to the 14th century and a well-shaped, triangular fortress with amazing views over the lake. Near the castle is the church of St. The castle is close to St. John's Church, dating from the 14th century, one of the staircases of which leads from the Castle Hill to the Hintergasse, along which are lined ancient houses with colonnades.

Another Rappersville landmark is the Circus Museum, which offers an interesting look at the history of Rappersville's famous Knee family and its Knee National Circus. From Rapperswil and Zurich there are great excursions to the small, peaceful and pretty islet of Uffenau, which is owned by the monastery of Einsiedeln and protected as part of the Frauenwinkel Nature Reserve.

On the southern shore of Lake Zurich is the Alpamare water park. Further along the coast is the town of Vollerau, which is famous in Switzerland and around the world for two things - it has the lowest tax rate and is home to Basel-born world tennis player Roger Federer. There are also interesting museums to explore along the south shore of the lake. One of these is the Wine Museum, which offers a walk through the history of Zurich wines. Another famous town located on Lake Zurich is Kilchberg, where the air smells of chocolate because it is home to the huge Lind and Sprungley chocolate factory.

On the shores of Lake Zurich is another interesting historic town, near which is a beautiful botanical garden where you can see exotic and local plants arranged in 16 sectors. To the east of Betlis, 200 meters above the surface of the lake, is a unique natural landmark - an incredibly beautiful 40-metre waterfall that flows into the Seehrenbach Gorge.