Albis
Encyclopedia
The Albis is a chain of hills in the Canton of Zurich
, Switzerland
, stretching for some 19 km from Sihlbrugg
in the south to Waldegg near Zurich
in the north. The chain forms, among others, the border between the Affoltern and Horgen districts. The best known point is Uetliberg
at 870 m, overlooking the city of Zurich. Other points of interest include the Albishorn (909m.) the Bürglen (also known as Bürglenstutz, the highest peak, 914.6m.), the Schnabelburg
, an observation tower, the Albis Pass
, the small town of Buechenegg, and the extensive woods (known as the Sihlwald) on both sides of the river Sihl
. The Sihl Valley
borders the Albis chain on its entire east side. On the west side, the Albis is bordered by various streams (including the Reppisch
) and one lake, the Türlersee
.
The chain is mostly wooded, but also has extensive fields, often reaching to the summit, some cultivated, some used as pastures for cows or sheep. Being very near Zurich, the area is heavily visited, especially near its northern end, and includes a large number of restaurants along the summit (from Uetliberg to Albishorn), well-maintained trails and dirt roads, a railroad (the Uetlibergbahn) from Zurich, and a cable car (Felseneggbahn
) from Adliswil
to Felsenegg
.
The Albis chain was formed as the left moraine
of the glacier the bed of which is now the Lake of Zurich. The soil is mostly a conglomerate of gravel, some of it large, and glacial loess
. The frequently steep sides of the chain are often subject to small landslide
s. As a generalization, the eastern side of the chain (overlooking lake Zurich
) tends to be steeper than the western side.
Canton of Zürich
The 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...
, Switzerland
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....
, stretching for some 19 km from Sihlbrugg
Sihlbrugg
Sihlbrugg is a village and important transportation node between the cantons of Zug and Zürich in Switzerland.- Geography :Sihlbrugg is located in the Sihl Valley between the Albis chain and the Zimmerberg region serving as watershed between the Sihl and Lorze rivers...
in the south to Waldegg near 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...
in the north. The chain forms, among others, the border between the Affoltern and Horgen districts. The best known point is Uetliberg
Uetliberg
The Üetliberg is a mountain in the Swiss plateau, part of the Albis chain, rising to 873 m . The Uetliberg offers a panoramic view of the entire city of Zurich and the Lake of Zurich. There is also a hotel in the name of "Uto Kulm" on this small mountain...
at 870 m, overlooking the city of Zurich. Other points of interest include the Albishorn (909m.) the Bürglen (also known as Bürglenstutz, the highest peak, 914.6m.), the Schnabelburg
Schnabelburg
Schnabelburg Castle was a small castle erected in 1150 by the lords of Eschenbach on the Albis chain South-west of Zurich, Switzerland, overlooking the nearby Schnabellücken pass....
, an observation tower, the Albis Pass
Albis Pass
Albis Pass is a mountain pass in the Albis range in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland.It connects Langnau am Albis with the small village of Türlen on the Türlersee and, further on, Aeugst, Hausen, Mettmenstetten and Rifferswil....
, the small town of Buechenegg, and the extensive woods (known as the Sihlwald) on both sides of the river 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...
. The Sihl Valley
Sihl Valley
Sihl Valley is a river valley and belongs to the Zimmerberg-Sihltal region located in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Commonly Sihltal is used as the name of the lower Sihl valley, i.e...
borders the Albis chain on its entire east side. On the west side, the Albis is bordered by various streams (including 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....
) and one lake, the Türlersee
Türlersee
Türlersee is a lake in the district of Affoltern, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It lies on the border of the municipalities of Aeugst and Hausen am Albis at an elevation of 643 m. The lake has an area of 0.49 km² ....
.
The chain is mostly wooded, but also has extensive fields, often reaching to the summit, some cultivated, some used as pastures for cows or sheep. Being very near Zurich, the area is heavily visited, especially near its northern end, and includes a large number of restaurants along the summit (from Uetliberg to Albishorn), well-maintained trails and dirt roads, a railroad (the Uetlibergbahn) from Zurich, and a cable car (Felseneggbahn
Luftseilbahn Adliswil-Felsenegg
Luftseilbahn Adliswil-Felsenegg is an aerial tramway in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. Its name is commonly abbreviated to LAF; the tramway usually is called Felseneggbahn....
) from Adliswil
Adliswil
Adliswil is a municipality in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Adliswil is first mentioned in 1050 as Adelenswile. In the second half of the 12th Century it was mentioned as Adololdiswile and in 1248 as Adeloswile.Under the Helvetic Republic, the hamlet of...
to Felsenegg
Felsenegg
Felsenegg is a vantage point in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- Geography :Felsenegg is located some to the southwest of the city of Zürich on the Albis chain, between the municipalities of Stallikon and Adliswil. The hilltop station of Luftseilbahn Adliswil-Felsenegg aerial tramway is...
.
The Albis chain was formed as the left moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
of the glacier the bed of which is now the Lake of Zurich. The soil is mostly a conglomerate of gravel, some of it large, and glacial loess
Loess
Loess is an aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt, typically in the 20–50 micrometre size range, twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate...
. The frequently steep sides of the chain are often subject to small landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s. As a generalization, the eastern side of the chain (overlooking 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 ....
) tends to be steeper than the western side.