Albis

For other uses, see Albis (disambiguation).

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The Albis chain as seen from the Uetliberg, looking southeast. In the background left the Glärnisch.

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Hiking trail from Felsenegg to Uetliberg as seen near Balderen.

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So called Fallätsche at Zürich-Leimbach, Wollishofen quarter in the foreground.

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Leimbach (Zürich), lower Sihltal and Albis hills, as seen from Käferberg

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 forest) 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 landslides. As a generalization, the eastern side of the chain (overlooking lake Zurich) tends to be steeper than the western side.