Zurich

Zurich (German: Zürich, Swiss German: Züri) is Switzerland’s biggest city, with 400,000 residents in the city itself and 1.2 million in the metropolitan region. Zurich is located in northern Switzerland on Lake Zurich, where it joins the Limmat River. Contrary to popular belief, Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland; that distinction belongs to Berne.

By land area and population, Zurich is the biggest city in the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland). It is Switzerland’s financial center, housing the stock market as well as the headquarters of several national and international corporations. National and international media agencies, as well as the majority of national television channel firms, are headquartered here. Because Zurich is the hub of the Swiss rail network and home to the country’s largest and busiest international airport, it is usually the first stop for visitors. Because of its proximity to tourist destinations in the Swiss Alps and its hilly environment, the city is sometimes referred to as the “Alps gateway.”

Zurich has a long history of being clean and efficient. As a result, it has been consistently named as the city with the greatest living standard in the world for many years. However, it has only been in the past 10 years that it has really become an intriguing and attractive tourism destination. This is largely due to the deregulation of the cultural, entertainment, and gastronomic industries. A more cosmopolitan population has also contributed, but more staid Geneva remains Switzerland’s most culturally diverse city.

The official language is German, which is used in all official publications and announcements, and almost everyone can speak it, although Swiss German is the native language of the majority of the population. Züritüütsch is the most widely spoken dialect. Along with German, English and French are widely spoken and are frequently used in official publications and announcements. For communication, any of these languages will suffice. It’s important to note that it’s frequently better to speak German rather than try to speak Swiss German; some people may assume you’re mocking their language.

Zürich has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) with four distinct seasons, depending on the criteria chosen. The winds from the west, which frequently result in precipitation, and the Bise (east or north-east wind), which is generally connected with high-pressure situations, but colder weather phases with temperatures lower than the average, are both decisive for the climate of Zürich. The Foehn wind, which is significant in the northern alpine valleys, has an effect on Zürich.

The annual mean temperature at the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology’s measurement station at Zürich-Fluntern (556 m[1,824 ft] above sea level on the slope of the Zürichberg, 150 m[490 ft] above the city center) is 9.3 °C (48.7 °F). The lowest monthly mean of daily minimum temperature is 2.0 °C (28.4 °F) in January, and the highest monthly mean of daily maximum temperature is 24.0 °C (75.2 °F) in July. On average, there are 74.9 days with temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) (so-called frost days), and 23.7 days with temperatures above 0 °C (32 °F) (so-called ice days). Throughout the year, there are approximately 30 so-called summer days (maximum temperature equal to or above 25 °C[77 °F]), while 5.8 so-called heat days (maximum temperature equal to or above 30 °C[86 °F]).

In July, the average high temperature is 24.0 °C (75.2 °F), while the average low temperature is 14 °C (57.2 °F). The temperature in Zürich reached a record high of 37 °C (99 °F) on August 13, 2003.

Spring and fall are typically temperate to moderate, however even within the same year, there may be considerable fluctuations between warm and cold days. The maximum temperature of the month of March in 2014 was 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) during a bright afternoon on the 20th, and the lowest temperature was 0.4 °C (31.3 °F) during the night/early morning on the 25th. Since 1864, the lowest average daily temperature in March has been 12 °C (10 °F), while the highest average daily temperature in March has been 16 °C (61 °F). The October average daily temperature low is 16 °C (3 °F), while the October average daily temperature high is 20 °C (68 °F).

Zürich receives an average of 1,544 hours of sunlight each year, with the sun shining on 38% of the time. From April through September, the sun shines between 150 and 215 hours every month. Rainfall totaled 1,134 millimetres (44.6 in) over 133.9 days, with precipitation falling throughout the year. Every third day, on average, there will be some precipitation, which is extremely typical in Switzerland. The intensity of rainfall is greater during the warmer half of the year, particularly during the three summer months, although the number of days with precipitation remains consistent throughout the year (on average 9.9–12.7 days each month). The month of October had the fewest days with precipitation (9.9). Throughout the year, there are an average of 59.5 so-called bright days (number of days with sunlight duration more than 80%), with the greatest in July and August (7.4, 7.7 days) and the fewest in January and December (2.7, 1.8 days). The average number of days with sunlight duration less than 20%, or overcast days, is 158.4 days, with November (17.8 days), December (21.7 days), and January (19 days) having the most cloudy days.

Zürich is located at 408 meters (1,339 feet) above sea level on the lower (northern) end of Lake Zürich (Zürichsee), about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the Alps, nestled between the forested hills on the west and east sides. The Old Town runs on both banks of the Limmat, which flows from the lake, first northwards and then gradually curves westward. The Lindenhof, a tiny natural hill on the west bank of the Limmat, approximately 700 m (2,300 ft) north of where the river emerges from Lake Zürich, serves as the city’s geographic (and historic) center. Today, the incorporated city extends considerably beyond the natural boundaries of the hills, with areas to the northeast in the Glatt Valley (Glattal) and to the north in the Limmat Valley (Limmattal). The Schanzengraben canal clearly delineates the bounds of the ancient city. This artificial stream was utilized in the 17th and 18th centuries to build the third castle.

Zürich is a major financial hub as well as a worldwide metropolis. The Greater Zürich Area serves as Switzerland’s economic hub and is home to a large number of multinational corporations. The service industry, which employs about four-fifths of Zürich’s workforce, is by far the most significant component of the city’s economy. Light industry, machine and textile industries, and tourism are also prominent. The majority of Swiss banks have their headquarters in Zürich, while the Greater Zürich Area is home to a large number of international institutions. The Swiss Stock Market, located in Zürich, was founded in 1877 and is today the world’s fourth most important stock exchange. Furthermore, Zürich is the world’s biggest gold trading center. ABB, UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss Re, and Zürich Financial Services are among the ten biggest firms in the nation, with headquarters in Zürich.