Limmat
Encyclopedia
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland
. It is the continuation of the Linth
river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich
, in the city of Zurich
. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km
reaching the river Aare. The confluence is located north of the small town of Brugg, Aargau and shortly after the mouth of the Reuss
.
The main towns along the Limmat Valley
downstream of Zurich are Dietikon
, Wettingen
, and Baden
. Its main tributaries are the Sihl
(in Zurich) and the Reppisch
(in Dietikon
).
Like many Swiss rivers, it is intensively used for production of hydroelectric power
: along its course of 35 km (21.7 mi), its fall is used by no less than ten hydroelectric power station
s.
The name Limmat originates as a combination of the names of the Linth and Maag rivers
, the main tributaries of the lake of Zurich before the construction of the Linth canal.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is the continuation of the Linth
Linth
The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to...
river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
, in the city of Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km
1 E4 m
To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 10 and 100 kilometres . The myriametre is a deprecated unit name; the prefix myria- is obsolete, not included among the prefixes when the International System of Units was introduced in 1960.Distances shorter than 10...
reaching the river Aare. The confluence is located north of the small town of Brugg, Aargau and shortly after the mouth of the Reuss
Reuss River
The Reuss is a river in Switzerland. With a length of and a drainage basin of , it is the fourth largest river in Switzerland...
.
The main towns along the Limmat Valley
Limmat Valley
The Limmat Valley is a river valley and a region in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau in Switzerland.- Geography :Limmat is the name of a long river located in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau...
downstream of Zurich are Dietikon
Dietikon
Dietikon is the fifth biggest city of the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, after Zürich, Winterthur, Uster and Dübendorf. It is the capital of the same-named district of Dietikon and part of the Zürich metropolitan area.- Geography :...
, Wettingen
Wettingen
Wettingen is a residential community in the district of Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau. With a population about 20,000, Wettingen is the largest municipality in the canton.-Geography:...
, and Baden
Baden, Switzerland
Baden is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau, on the west bank of the river Limmat, located in the Limmat Valley , northwest of Zürich. It is the seat of the district of Baden...
. Its main tributaries are the Sihl
Sihl
The Sihl is a river of Switzerland. It rises at Drusberg in the Canton of Schwyz. It passes through the Sihlsee near Einsiedeln, and then enters the Canton of Zurich, flowing through the Sihl valley at the foot of the Albis, passing the Sihlwald, the largest remaining deciduous forest of the Swiss...
(in Zurich) and the Reppisch
Reppisch
The Reppisch is a river in Switzerland. It rises in the Türlersee and joins the Limmat as its tributary, near the town of Dietikon. The Reppisch flows in the Säuliamt , canton of Zürich, an area featuring still partially untouched nature....
(in Dietikon
Dietikon
Dietikon is the fifth biggest city of the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, after Zürich, Winterthur, Uster and Dübendorf. It is the capital of the same-named district of Dietikon and part of the Zürich metropolitan area.- Geography :...
).
Like many Swiss rivers, it is intensively used for production of hydroelectric power
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
: along its course of 35 km (21.7 mi), its fall is used by no less than ten hydroelectric power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
s.
The name Limmat originates as a combination of the names of the Linth and Maag rivers
Linth
The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to...
, the main tributaries of the lake of Zurich before the construction of the Linth canal.
Towns near the river
- In the canton of ZurichCanton of ZürichThe Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
:- ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
- OberengstringenOberengstringenOberengstringen is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-History:...
- UnterengstringenUnterengstringenUnterengstringen is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .- Geography :...
- SchlierenSchlieren, ZurichSchlieren is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- History :The oldest artifact discovered in the Canton of Zürich is a Stone Age Neanderthal hand axe which was found in Schlieren, and dates back to approximately 100,000 BCE.Until 1415, Schlieren...
- DietikonDietikonDietikon is the fifth biggest city of the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, after Zürich, Winterthur, Uster and Dübendorf. It is the capital of the same-named district of Dietikon and part of the Zürich metropolitan area.- Geography :...
- GeroldswilGeroldswilGeroldswil is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
- Oetwil an der LimmatOetwil an der LimmatOetwil an der Limmat is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
- Zurich
- In the canton of AargauAargauAargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
- SpreitenbachSpreitenbachSpreitenbach is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .It lies southeast of the district center directly on the border with the canton of Zurich....
- WürenlosWürenlosWürenlos is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It lies north of the river Limmat, next to the canton of Zürich, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
- NeuenhofNeuenhof, AargauNeuenhof is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
- WettingenWettingenWettingen is a residential community in the district of Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau. With a population about 20,000, Wettingen is the largest municipality in the canton.-Geography:...
- BadenBaden, SwitzerlandBaden is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau, on the west bank of the river Limmat, located in the Limmat Valley , northwest of Zürich. It is the seat of the district of Baden...
- EnnetbadenEnnetbadenEnnetbaden is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
- Nussbaumen
- UntersiggenthalUntersiggenthalUntersiggenthal is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
- TurgiTurgiTurgi is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .In 2002, Turgi received the Wakker Prize for the preservation of its architectural heritage.-Geography:...
- Spreitenbach