View source for Limmat

{{Short description|River in Switzerland}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox river
| name              = Limmat
| image             = Limmat River.jpg
| image_caption     = The Limmat in Zurich, looking downstream to [[Rathausbrücke, Zurich|Rathausbrücke]] from [[Quaibrücke, Zurich|Quaibrücke]] at Lake Zurich, [[Stadthausquai]] to the left and [[Limmatquai]] to right.
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Switzerland]]
| subdivision_type2 = Cantons
| subdivision_name2 = [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]], [[Canton of Aargau|Aargau]]
| subdivision_type3 = Settlements
| subdivision_name3 = [[Zurich]] (ZH), [[Schlieren]] (ZH), [[Dietikon]] (ZH), [[Oetwil an der Limmat|Oetwil a.d.L.]] (ZH), [[Wettingen]] (AG), [[Baden, Aargau|Baden]] (AG), [[Ennetbaden]] (AG), [[Nussbaumen]] (AG), [[Turgi]] (AG), [[Untersiggenthal]] (AG)
| source1_location  = [[Lake Zurich]], Zurich
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|47.36677|8.54316|region:CH-ZH}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|406|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth_location    = [[Aare]], [[Gebenstorf]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|47.5019|8.2375|region:CH-AG|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation   = {{convert|328|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_location= Baden
| discharge1_min    = {{convert|69.2|m3/s|abbr=on}} (MNQ 1951-2013),<br/>{{convert|24.6|m3/s|abbr=on}} (NNQ, 2003)
| discharge1_avg    = {{convert|101.0|m3/s|abbr=on}} (MQ 1951-2013)
| discharge1_max    = {{convert|141|m3/s|abbr=on}} (MHQ 1951-2013),<br/>{{convert|657|m3/s|abbr=on}} (HHQ, 1999)
| progression       = {{RAare}}
| map               = Karte Limmat.png
| map_caption       =
| length            = {{convert|36.3|km}}, {{convert|140|km}} (Lake Zurich and [[Linth]] included)
| basin_size        = {{convert|2416|km2|abbr=on}} (Lake Zurich and Linth included)
| tributaries_left  = [[Sihl]], Schäflibach, [[Reppisch]], Dorfbach Spreitenbach
| tributaries_right = Länggenbach, Furtbach, Lugibach, Gottesgraben
| waterbodies       = Lake Zurich, Stausee Wettingen
}}
[[File:Gmüesbrugg - Storchen-Weinplatz-Schwert-Rathaus - Münsterbrücke 2011-08-09 15-40-52.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rathausbrücke, Zurich|Rathausbrücke]] and Hotel zum Storchen at [[Weinplatz]] in Zurich]]
[[File:Platzspitz Sihl Limmat.jpg|thumb|right|The confluence of the Limmat and Sihl, just downstream of Zurich city centre]]
[[File:Kraftwerk Letten.jpg|thumb|right|Letten Power Station in Zurich]]
[[File:Kloster Fahr - Unterengstringen - Limmat 2011-09-06 19-13-42.JPG|thumb|right|[[Kloster Fahr]] on the Limmat]]
[[File:Ennetbaden Schiefe Bruecke.jpg|thumb|right|The Limmat in Ennetbaden]]
[[File:Gebenstorf02.JPG|thumb|right|The confluence of the [[Aare]] (to the left) and Limmat]]

The '''Limmat''' is a river in [[Switzerland]]. The river commences at the outfall of [[Lake Zurich]], in the southern part of the city of [[Zurich]]. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, continuing a further 35 km until it reaches the river [[Aare]]. The confluence is located north of the small town of [[Brugg, Aargau|Brugg]] and shortly after the mouth of the [[Reuss (river)|Reuss]].

The main towns along the [[Limmat Valley]] downstream of Zurich are [[Dietikon]], [[Wettingen]], and [[Baden, Switzerland|Baden]]. Its main tributaries are the [[Linth]], [[Wägitalersee|Wägitaler Aa]] and [[Jona (river)|Jona]], all via Lake Zurich, the [[Sihl]] in Zurich, and the [[Reppisch]] in [[Dietikon]].

The [[hydronym]] is first attested in the 8th century, as ''Lindimacus''. It is of [[Gaulish language|Gaulish]] origin, from ''*lindo-'' "lake" ([[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''llyn'') and ''*magos'' "plain" (Welsh ''maes''), and was thus presumably in origin the name of the plain formed by the [[Linth]].<ref name="Staehelin">{{citation |surname1=Felix Stähelin |periodical=Zeitschrift für schweizerische Geschichte |title=Die vorrömische Schweiz im Lichte geschichtlicher Zeugnisse und sprachlicher Tatsachen  |volume=Band 15 |publisher=Leemann |date=1935 |pages=337–368 |language=de |author-link1=Felix Staehelin}}</ref>

== Power generation ==
Like many Swiss rivers, the Limmat is intensively used for production of [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power]]: along its course of {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}}, its fall is used by no less than ten hydroelectric [[power station]]s. These include:

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Station !! Capacity ([[Megawatt|MW]]) !! [[Location (geography)|Location]] !! [[Geographic coordinates]]
|-
| [[Aue Power Station]]<ref name=rwab>{{cite web|url=http://www.regionalwerke.ch/index.php?id=57|title=Limmat Power Generation|publisher=Regional Werke AG Baden|access-date=2013-04-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521094819/http://www.regionalwerke.ch/index.php?id=57|archive-date=2013-05-21}}</ref> || 3.9 || [[Baden, Switzerland|Baden]] || {{Coord|47.47034|N|8.31098|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Aue Power Station}}
|-
| [[Dietikon Power Station]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ekz.ch/content/ekz/de/umwelt/erneuerbare/wasserkraft/dietikon.html|title=Flusskraftwerk Dietikon|publisher=Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich|access-date=2013-04-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522183123/http://www.ekz.ch/content/ekz/de/umwelt/erneuerbare/wasserkraft/dietikon.html|archive-date=2013-05-22}}</ref> || 2.6 || [[Dietikon]] || {{Coord|47.410137|N|8.408344|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Dietikon Power Station}}
|-
| [[Höngg Power Station]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/ewz/de/index/energie/stromproduktion/wasserkraft/ewz-kraftwerke/kraftwerke_an_derlimmat0/Hoengg.html|title=Kraftwerk Höngg|publisher=City of Zürich|access-date=2013-04-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628072256/http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/ewz/de/index/energie/stromproduktion/wasserkraft/ewz-kraftwerke/kraftwerke_an_derlimmat0/Hoengg.html|archive-date=2013-06-28}}</ref> || 1 || [[Zurich]] || {{Coord|47.401835|N|8.487035|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Höngg Power Station}}
|-
| [[Kappelerhof Power Station]]<ref name=rwab /> || 6.8 || [[Baden, Switzerland|Baden]] || {{Coord|47.484469|N|8.292945|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Kappelerhof Power Station}}
|-
| [[Letten Power Station]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ewz/de/index/energie/stromproduktion/wasserkraft/ewz-kraftwerke/kraftwerke_an_derlimmat0/Letten.html|title=Kraftwerk Letten|publisher=City of Zürich|access-date=2013-04-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628075855/http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ewz/de/index/energie/stromproduktion/wasserkraft/ewz-kraftwerke/kraftwerke_an_derlimmat0/Letten.html|archive-date=2013-06-28}}</ref> || 4 || [[Zurich]] || {{Coord|47.387396|N|8.532321|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Letten Power Station}}
|-
| [[Schiffmühle Power Station]]<ref name=rwab /> || 2.6 || [[Untersiggenthal]] || {{Coord|47.488687|N|8.264937|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Schiffmühle Power Station}}
|-
| [[Turgi Power Station]]<ref name=rwab /> || 1 || [[Turgi]] ||
|-
| [[Wettingen Power Station]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/ewz/de/index/energie/stromproduktion/wasserkraft/ewz-kraftwerke/kraftwerke_an_derlimmat0/Wettingen.html|title=Kraftwerk Wettingen|publisher=City of Zürich|access-date=2013-04-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115193756/http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/ewz/de/index/energie/stromproduktion/wasserkraft/ewz-kraftwerke/kraftwerke_an_derlimmat0/Wettingen.html|archive-date=2013-01-15}}</ref> || 26 || [[Wettingen]] || {{Coord|47.456554|N|8.320631|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:CH|name=Wettingen Power Station}}
|-
|}
{{Expand list|date=April 2013}}

== Navigation ==
Historically, the Limmat was an important navigation route. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, voyages from Zurich to [[Koblenz]] are recorded. In 1447, the [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick III]] granted the privilege of free navigation on the Limmat and on the [[Rhine]] to Zurich. Because of the current, navigation was typically downstream only, with the barges being sold on arrival.<ref name=hds>{{cite web | url = http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D8761.php | title = Limmat | work = [[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]] | language = de | access-date = 2013-04-24}}</ref>

Today, the Limmat is navigable for much of its length by small craft only, with many of the hydroelectric power plants incorporating [[boat lift]]s. The traditional boat type used on the river is the [[Weidling (boat)|weidling]], a flat-bottomed vessel that is usually {{convert|10|m}} long.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.funimag.com/suisse/boatlift/boatlift.htm | title = Funicular Boat Lifts of Switzerland | publisher = funimag.com | access-date = 2013-04-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.limmat-club.ch/portrait_schiffe.html | title = Clubportrait Schiffe | language = de | access-date = 2013-04-24 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051215095749/http://www.limmat-club.ch/portrait_schiffe.html | archive-date = 2005-12-15 }}</ref>

The uppermost stretch of the river through the centre of Zurich is navigable by rather larger vessels, albeit limited by low bridges. On this stretch of the river [[ZSG]] (Lake Zurich Navigation Company) operates its Limmat boat service, from the [[Swiss National Museum|Landesmuseum]] to [[Lake Zurich]], using low-profile motor boats.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zsg.ch/limmat-river-cruises.html | title = Limmat river cruises | publisher = Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft | access-date = 2013-04-24}}</ref>

== Towns near the river ==
*In the [[canton of Zurich]]:
*#[[Zurich]]
*#[[Oberengstringen]]
*#[[Unterengstringen]]
*#[[Schlieren, Switzerland|Schlieren]]
*#[[Dietikon]]
*#[[Geroldswil]]
*#[[Oetwil an der Limmat]]
*In the [[canton of Aargau]]
*#[[Spreitenbach]]
*#[[Würenlos]]
*#[[Neuenhof, Aargau|Neuenhof]]
*#[[Wettingen]]
*#[[Baden, Switzerland|Baden]]
*#[[Ennetbaden]]
*#[[Obersiggenthal|Nussbaumen AG]]
*#[[Untersiggenthal]]
*#[[Turgi]]

== Cultural heritage ==
Located on the swamp land between Limmat and [[Lake Zurich]] around [[Sechseläutenplatz]] on small islands and [[peninsula]]s in Zurich, [[prehistoric pile dwellings around Lake Zurich]] were set on piles to protect against occasional flooding by the [[Linth]] and [[Jona (river)|Jona]]. [[Zürich–Enge Alpenquai]] is located on Lake Zurich lakeshore in [[Enge (Zurich)|Enge]], a locality of the [[Municipalities in the canton of Zurich|municipality]] of Zurich. It was neighbored by the settlements at [[Kleiner Hafner]] and [[Grosser Hafner]] on a then peninsula respectively island in the effluence of the Limmat, within an area of about {{convert|0.2|km2|acre|2}} in the city of Zurich. As well as being part of the 56 Swiss sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ''Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps'', the settlement is also listed in the [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance]] as a ''Class object''.<ref name="kgs">{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |title=A-Objekte KGS-Inventar |publisher=Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz |date=2009 |access-date=2014-12-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archive-date=2010-06-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/sites-switzerland/index.html|title=Prehistoric Pile Dwellings in Switzerland|publisher=Swiss Coordination Group UNESCO Palafittes (palafittes.org)|access-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007220441/http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/sites-switzerland/index.html|archive-date=2014-10-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="palafittes-heritage">{{cite web|url=http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/world-heritage/index.html|title=World Heritage|publisher=palafittes.org|access-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209212026/http://www.palafittes.org/en/unesco-world-heritage/world-heritage/index.html|archive-date=2014-12-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Rivers of Switzerland]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{HDS|8761}}

{{Zurich}}
{{Lake Zurich}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Limmat| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Geography of Zurich]]
[[Category:Rivers of the canton of Zurich]]
[[Category:Linth/Limmat basin| ]]