VISIT TO EUROPE - SWITZERLAND - GENEVA - CRUISE ON GENEVA LAKE

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,g
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.

Geneva Lake

Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French: Lac Léman, Le Léman, sometimes Lac de Genève, German: Genfersee) is a lake in Switzerland andFrance. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53% 345.31 km2 (133.32 sq mi) of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland(cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and 40.47% 234.71 km2 (90.62 sq mi) under France (Haute-Savoie).

A view of Geneva Lake taken from a Boat

Another view of the Lake taken from the shore

The Water Jet Fountain

          The Jet d'Eau (French pronunciation: ​[ʒɛ do], Water-Jet) is a large fountain in Geneva, Switzerland, and is one of the city's most famous landmarks, being featured on the city's official tourism web site and on the official logo for Geneva's hosting of the 2008 UEFA Championships. It is also one of the largest fountains in the world. Situated at the point where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhône, it is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over Geneva at an altitude of 10 km (33,000 ft).

            Five hundred litres (132 gallons) of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 140 metres (459 feet) by two 500 kW pumps, operating at 2,400 V, consuming over one megawatt of electricity. The water leaves the nozzle at a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). When it is in operation, at any given moment there are about 7,000 litres (1849 gallons) of water in the air. Unsuspecting visitors to the fountain—which can be reached via a stone jetty from the left bank of the lake—may be surprised to find themselves drenched after a slight change in wind direction.

The Jet d'Eau as seen from the Shore

A bit closer view of The Jet d'Eau from the shore

Boat Cruise on Geneva Lake

          Several navigation companies organise Lake Geneva cruises stopping at charming places. Numerous landing stages along the lake shore, allow passengers to get off and enjoy a walk through the county side or to take a boat back to the city.

At the Geneva Lake Boat siding, prior to commencement of the Cruise

On the Boat, in Geneva Lake

The Jet d'Eau as seen from the Boat

A very close view of The Jet d'Eau, from the Boat

Sailing Boats in the Lake, as seen from the Boat

Port Noir (Located in Geneva Lake)

          Marina like harbor situated at the end of Quai Gustave-Ador and the begin of the Quai de Cologny in Geneva. Here you can see the statue La Brise (the breeze) which was sculpted by Henry Koenig in 1939.

          This is a location of historical and symbolic importance. It was here that on the 1st June 1814 two Swiss contingents - Soleure and Fribourg - landed. This event lead to the integration of Geneva into the Swiss confederation (19th of May 1815).

The Port Noir Monument as seen from the Boat

A closer view of the Port Noir Monument from the Boat

The Statue of Mermaid in Geneva Lake

Maison De Saussure

          Maison de Saussure – Built in 1723. In 1765, it became the residence of Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, a famous scientist. This mansion has had such famous visitors as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.

Maison De Saussure (The House of Horace Benedict de Saussure as seen from the Boat)

Manor Colgate – A mansion built in 1890 for Colgate, the toothpaste manufacturer.

Villa Josephine – Given to Joséphine de Beauharnais by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1811.

Centre William Rappard

           The Centre William Rappard at Rue de Lausanne 154, Geneva, Switzerland, was built between 1923 and 1926 to house the International Labour Office (ILO). It was the first building in Geneva designed to house an international organization. In 1975 the ILO moved to Grand Saconnex and in 1977 the Centre William Rappard was occupied by the secretariat of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the library of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. By 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) replaced the GATT and became the main occupant of the Centre William Rappard. In 2008-2013, the building was completely renovated and an extension was constructed to make available more office space and meeting rooms.

Centre William Rappard - Formerly ILO office and presently the 

World Trade Orhganisation, as seen from the Lake

Villa Bartholoni – Built in 1828, it now houses the History of Science Museum.

Wilson Palace

          The Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, is the current headquarters of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was also the headquarters of the League of Nations until that body moved its premises to the Palais des Nations, which was constructed between 1929 and 1938, also in Geneva. It is named after U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, who was instrumental to the foundation of the League of Nations. The treaty bodies also hold their sessions in the Palais Wilson.

          The building, located on the western side of Lake Geneva, is one of the most prominent on the waterfront.

Palace Wilson on the Lake Front - The HQ of UN Commissioner for Human Rights

A closer view of Palace Wilson from the Boat

Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia