Old Town lies on both banks of the Limmat River, which flows from the lake, runs from the beginning to gradually turn north and then west in a curve. Old city limits are easily recognized by the channel Schanzengraben.
This course was used for the artificial construction of a third century fortress in 17 to 18. Zurich is situated 408 m above sea level in the lower (northern) Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) about 30 km north of the Alps and located between forested hills to the west
and east.
