Geography and climate[edit]

Geneva seen from SPOT Satellite

Geneva is located at 4612 !orth" 6#$ %ast" at the so&th'(estern end of )a*e Geneva" (here the la*e flo(s +ac* into the ,h-ne ,iver. /t is s&rro&nded +y t(o mo&ntain chains" the 0lps and the 1&ra.

The Geneva area seen from the Sal2ve in 3rance. The 1&ra mo&ntains can +e seen on the hori4on.

The city has an area of 15.$6 *m2 76.2 s8 mi9" (hile the area of the canton is 2:2 *m271#:.$ s8 mi9" incl&ding the t(o small enclaves of ;<ligny in =a&d. The part of the la*e that is attached to Geneva has an area of 6: *m2 714.> s8 mi9 and is sometimes referred to as Petit lac7small la*e9. The canton has only a 4.5 *m 72.: mi9 long +order (ith the rest of S(it4erland. Of 1#>.5 *m 766.: mi9 of +order" 1#6 are shared (ith 3rance" the ?<partment de l 0in to the north and the ?<partement de la @a&te'Savoie to the so&th. Of the land in the city" #.24 *m2 7#.#$6 s8 mi9 or 1.5A is &sed for agric&lt&ral p&rposes" (hile #.5 *m2 7#.1$ s8 mi9 or 6.1A is forested. Of the rest of the land" 14.66 *m2 75.65 s8 mi9 or $1.:A is settled 7+&ildings or roads9" #.4$ *m2 7#.1$ s8 mi9 or 6.1A is either rivers or la*es and #.#2 *m2 74.$ acres9 or #.1A is &nprod&ctive land.[16] Of the +&ilt &p area" ind&strial +&ildings made &p 6.4A of the area (hile ho&sing and +&ildings made &p 46.2A and transportation infrastr&ct&re 25.:A" (hile par*s" green +elts and sports fields made &p 15.>A. 0ll the forested land area is covered (ith heavy forests. Of the agric&lt&ral land" #.6A is &sed for gro(ing crops. Of the (ater in the m&nicipality" #.2A is in la*es and 2.$A is in rivers and streams. [16]

;onfl&ence of ,hone and 0rve ,ivers

The altit&de of Geneva is 6>6.6 metres 71"225.> ft9" and corresponds to the altit&de of the largest of the Pierres d& !iton" t(o large roc*s emerging from the la*e (hich date from the last ice age. This roc* (as chosen +y General G&illa&me @enri ?&fo&r as the reference pointfor s&rveying in S(it4erland.[14] The second main river of Geneva is the 0rve ,iver (hich flo(s into the ,h-ne ,iver B&st (est of the city centre. Cont Dlanc can +e seen from Geneva and is an ho&r s drive from the city centre.