Geneva

Geneva
Country Switzerland Coat of Arms of Geneva
Canton Geneva
District N/A
Population 185,726 (2007)
  - Density 11,710 /km² (30,330 /sq.mi.)
Area 15.86 km² (6.1 sq mi)
Elevation 375 m (1,230 ft)
A view over Geneva
A view over Geneva
Postal code 1200
SFOS number 6621
Mayor (list) Patrice Mugny (as of 2008) Vert
Demonym Genevois
Surrounded by
(view map)
Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier
Website ville-ge.ch
Geneva [zoom]  (Switzerland)
Geneva [zoom]
Geneva [zoom]

Geneva (French: Genève) is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandie (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). Situated where the Rhône River exits Lake Geneva (French Lac Léman), it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. The city proper had a population of 186,825 in June 2008,[1] and the metropolitan area had 769,000 residents according to a 2005 census.[2] The Geneva metropolitan area extends partly over Switzerland (517,000 inhabitants) and partly over France (251,000 inhabitants).[2]

Geneva is a worldwide center for diplomacy and international cooperation, and is widely regarded as a global city, mainly because of the presence of numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations[3] and the Red Cross.[4] It is also the place where the Geneva Conventions were signed, which chiefly concern the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war.

A 2007 survey by Mercer Consulting found Geneva to have the second-highest quality of life in the world (narrowly outranked by Zürich). [5]

Contents

Etymology

The name Geneva is probably of Celtic origin; the city was mentioned in Latin texts with the spelling Genava. The name takes various forms in modern languages. Thus, it is Geneva in English and pronounced /dʒɨˈniːvə/, French: Genève IPA[ʒənɛv], German:

Nuvola apps kweather.svg Weather averages for Geneva Weather-rain-thunderstorm.svg
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high °C (°F) 4
(39)
6
(43)
10
(50)
15
(59)
19
(66)
23
(73)
25
(77)
24
(75)
21
(70)
14
(57)
8
(46)
4
(39)
Average low °C (°F) -1
(30)
-2
(28)
2
(36)
5
(41)
9
(48)
13
(55)
15
(59)
14
(57)
12
(54)
7
(45)
3
(37)
0
(32)
Precipitation mm (inches) 63
(2.48)
56
(2.2)
55
(2.17)
51
(2.01)
68
(2.68)
89
(3.5)
64
(2.52)
94
(3.7)
99
(3.9)
72
(2.83)
83
(3.27)
59
(2.32)
Source: BBC[7] 2008