Physical Geography
The city of Zurich is located on the northern tip of Lake Zurich and is split down the middle by the River Limmat.





Climate
The climate of Switzerland varies with altitude, especially because 70% of the country is covered in mountains.  In Zurich, the average summer temperature is 72-77 degrees F, and it is usually sunny and warm, but rarely gets really hot. In the winter, snow is expected in higher elevations, and Zurich usually does not get much snow, and the temperature is between 28-38 degrees F.




Physical Features
Lake Zurich- This lake is located at the southeast tip of Zurich. The city is just one of the many that surround this lake. It is a popular destination for swimming and relaxing on the beaches of. The River Limmat in Zurich flows through the canton, then empties into Lake Zurich.
Limmat River- The Limmat River runs through the old town of Zurich, before emptying into Lake Zurich.




Flora
Most parts of Switzerland are covered by forests. The Swiss value plants very much, so when most countries in Europe were cutting down their forests, Switzerland was preserving theirs. The types of forests include deciduous and pine forests. The mountains of the Alps host many species of plants. The Swiss people understand that they need to preserve their forests, and continue to try and keep their biodiversity alive.

Fauna
Marmot- The marmot usually lives in the mountains of the Alps, that lives in family groups and is found during the summer, diving underground for safety.










Wild Ibex- Once extinct, this animal was released back into the wild. It is usually seen on mountains, and can be referred to as a Mountain Goat.


 Chamois- The chamois is found in the Alps, and is usually hunted for its soft leather and fur.


Birds
Birds such as the eagle, vulture, nutcracker, and black grouse are common.

Black Grouse

The biodiversity of Switzerland is very great. There are over 50,000 species of plants and animals, including mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians.

Environment
The Swiss people are very aware about conservation in the environment. They consider recycling to be very important, and in 2003, over 41% of urban waste , 70% of paper, 95% of glass, and 71% of plastic bottles were recycled. Air pollution is a growing problem, with large amounts of greenhouse gas being released from transportation and industrial factories. The government is trying to cut the amount of gas used for vehicle fuels.



Water Power
Hydroelectric power is very important in Switzerland. People have harnessed the power of the rivers and  built dams and power stations along the banks. They want to increase use of this "clean" energy and continue to improve the conditions of the environment.