Hydrology in Zurich: A Guide to Water in the City Centre

Switzerland is known as the Water Tower of Europe due to its natural reservoirs in the Alps. On this walking tour, you'll find out about the history of Zurich, one of Switzerland's major cities, and how intertwined it is with its waterways. As we walk along Zurich’s pristine canals, you’ll take in the beautiful old city’s major landmarks. And, of course, you’ll also see a lot of water, including the rivers Sihl and Limmat, the city’s many water fountains, and Lake Zurich. Our tour starts near Lake Zurich and the river Limmat. From there, you’ll discover the many different opportunities and challenges water creates in the city, from hydropower production to water management and flood risk. We'll explore how water shaped the city, tracing its impact back to the Roman baths in Zurich. You'll walk along the Schanzengraben, a water channel in Zurich. You'll learn how hydrologists make use of data collected by citizen scientists on mobile app. The tour ends at Lindenhof park, which has always had a fountain in it since 1667. From this central point in the city, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Zurich’s old city. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to: • Enjoy magnificent views of Lake Zurich and the rivers Sihl and Limmat • Understand the role of the historical emergency fountains found across Zurich • Walk alongside the Sihl as it flows through the city and learn about its flood risk • Hear the historical channel Schanzengraben’s past and find out why there have been multiple plans to fill it • Find out how marine wildlife in Zurich use a fish ladder • Stroll through Platzspitz park and see where the Sihl flows into the Limmat • Take photos of the colorful historical houses and narrow paths in the old city This tour introduces you to Zurich’s city centre and is fun for first-time visitors as well as water enthusiasts. It takes about one hour to walk the tour, but there are many beautiful locations and lots of cafes and restaurants where you can take a break. If you want to learn more about water in Switzerland, you might be interested in these excursions and courses: • [CrowdWater app](https://crowdwater.ch/en/app-start-en/) • [MOOC CrowdWater](https://www.geo.uzh.ch/en/units/h2k/Learn-about-water/MOOC-CrowdWater.html) • [Actionbound](https://en.actionbound.com/) • Excursion «[Wasser in der Stadt Zürich](https://actionbound.com/bound/wasserzh)». More information on the excursion can be found [here](https://www.geo.uzh.ch/en/units/h2k/Learn-about-water/Excursion-Water-in-Zurich-.html) • Online course through MOOC «[Water in Switzerland](https://www.geo.uzh.ch/en/units/h2k/Learn-about-water/MOOC-Water-in-Switzerland-.html)»

Price: £4.99 from VoiceMap