Albis

The Albis is a chain of mountains in the canton of Zurich, which runs from Sihlbrugg in the south to Waldegg near Zurich in the north to about 19 kilometers, parallel to Sihl and Lake Zurich. The highest point of the chain is the Bourguillon with 914.6 m above sea level. M.; the best known point is Uetliberg with a height of 870.6 m above sea level. M. The eastern flank of the Albis is largely covered by the Sihl, often characterized by steep ridges and deep trenches. The west side is less steep and partly meadow land.

Geologically, the Albis to the Upper Freshwater Molasse and consists mainly of marl, marly sandstones and molasse conglomerate rock. At the highest points, especially on the Uetliberg, there is a ceiling cap of gravel löcheriger Nagelfluh ( so named by Arnold Escher von der Linth ), which was deposited during the Ice Age by the foray of Linth and Reuss glacier.

Several footpaths and road passes lead over the Albis. The Albis Pass, the Buechenegg and Waldegg are used throughout the year. The Felsenegg is accessible by the cable car Knives - Felsenegg from Knives, the Uetliberg with the Uetlibergbahn from Zurich. On the Albis is a radar station, which detects the rainfall intensity of the central and northern Switzerland.

The Albis today is primarily a recreational area for the surrounding conurbations. The agricultural and forestry use is declining.

The river Sihl separated by the Sihltal the Zimmerberg from Albis.

The Albis chain and the Reppischtal were recorded in 1983 in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance (Object number 1306). Large parts of the area are forests with natural history significance ( WNB ), and the Albis is a designated conservation area.

Pictures

The Albis chain (front), in the background in the mist of Zimmerberg, on the horizon of the Glarus Alps, seen from Uetliberg from

Behind the Zimmerberg: the Albis chain

View from the lookout Hochwacht on the Albis chain (links) Langnau am Albis, Knives and Zurich to Zurich

Case grapeshot in Leimbach, in the foreground the Church of Wollishofen