{{Short description|Limmat river island in Zürich, Switzerland}} {{Confusion|Werd (Lake Constance)}} {{Infobox Islands | name = Werdinsel | image_name = Limmat - Zürich Werdinsel IMG 6578.JPG | image_caption = Werdinsel in the Limmat in Zürich | image_size = | native_name = Werdinsel | native_name_link = | nickname = Werd; Flussbad Au-Höngg; Limmatauen; Werdhölzli | location = Limmat | map = Switzerland | map_caption = Location in Switzerland | coordinates = {{coord|47.4000|N|8.4875|E|source:wikidata|display=it}} | archipelago = | total_islands = 1 | major_islands = | area_km2 = 0.06 | highest_mount = | elevation_m = 403 | country = Switzerland | country_admin_divisions_title = Canton | country_admin_divisions = Zürich | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = District | country_admin_divisions_1 = Höngg | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = | country_admin_divisions_2 = | population = 0 | population_as_of = December 2014 | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | additional_info = }} '''Werdinsel''', also known as '''Limmatauen Werdhölzli''', is an island and a protected area in the Limmat river in Switzerland. thumb|upright|Weir at the power plant [[File:Limmat - Zürich Höngg IMG 5854.JPG|thumb|upright|Pathway towards Fahr Abbey]] thumb|upright|The river island's area towards ''Limmatauen''
== Geography == Located in the municipality of Höngg, the river island is a popular recreation area, public park and bathing area in the Limmat, situated in the northern suburban area of the Limmat Valley in Zürich. The island has a maximum length of about {{convert|550|m|ft|0}} and a maximum width of about {{convert|125|m|ft|0}}. Its highest point is about {{convert|403|m|ft|0}} above sea level, a few metres above the river level at Zürich-Höngg. The minimum distance from the river bank is about {{convert|10|m|ft|0}}, and the island is also separated by the artificial ''Giessen'' channel.
== Recreation == The so-called ''Flussbad Au-Höngg'' is one of four public river baths situated in the Limmat within the city of Zürich. The entrance is free but infrastructure for bathers is limited. The Zürich tram line 17 (stop ''Tüffenwies'') and the local Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich VBZ bus lines 80 and 89 (stop ''Winzerhalde'') provide public transportation.<ref name="werdinsel-bad">{{cite web|url=https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/ssd/de/index/sport/schwimmen/sommerbaeder/flussbad_au_hoengg/adresse.html?noCache=true|title=Flussbad Au-Höngg|publisher=Schul- und Sportdepartement Stadt Zürich|author=|language=German|accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref> The island also houses a restaurant, grill stations, family gardens, sand beaches and a forested area, the adjoining ''Limmat-Auen Werdhölzli'' protected area.
For decades, the river island has been called{{by whom|date=November 2025}} a 'conflict zone' related to its public use; it is used by diverse and sometimes conflicting groups of people (i.e. nudists and non-nudists) in the area. Another issue is the high volume of visitors; on peak days, up to 4,500 people come seeking recreation, totalling nearly half a million annually. This influx includes visitors from neighboring cantons, which leads to increased road traffic. The city police (legally) allow anyone to roam naked in public, and "even outdoor sex is not illegal as long as no one raises indictment".{{cn|date=November 2025}} The city police force regularly patrols the ground,<ref name="limmattaler-20140515">{{cite web|url=http://www.limmattalerzeitung.ch/limmattal/zuerich/die-werdinsel-ist-und-bleibt-ein-heiss-umkaempftes-gebiet-127967648|title=Die Werdinsel ist und bleibt ein heiss umkämpftes Gebiet|publisher=Limmattaler Zeitung|author=|language=German|date=2014-05-14|accessdate=2015-01-15|archive-date=2015-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116000301/http://www.limmattalerzeitung.ch/limmattal/zuerich/die-werdinsel-ist-und-bleibt-ein-heiss-umkaempftes-gebiet-127967648|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="20min-20150606">{{cite web|url=http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/zuerich/story/201626057648|title=Werdinsel Zürich: Sex auf der Insel – Polizei knüpft sich Liebende vor|publisher=20 Minuten|author=|language=German|date=2014-06-06|accessdate=2015-06-07}}</ref> and the municipal authorities started to install "beware of the naked" signs in August 2015.<ref name="limmattaler-20150819">{{cite web|url=http://www.limmattalerzeitung.ch/limmattal/zuerich/nach-50-jahren-warnen-schilder-vor-nacktbadenden-129459668|title=Nach 50 Jahren warnen Schilder vor Nacktbadenden|publisher=Limmattaler Zeitung|author=|language=German|date=2015-08-19|accessdate=2015-08-20}}</ref>
== Limmatauen == Limmatauen Werdhölzli is a protected forest and river area, partially situated in the municipality of Oberengstringen, and there is a more than 130 year old flood protection plan between two neighboring municipalities. Set under protection in 1945, the {{convert|1.8|km|mi|1}} long section of the Limmat was renatured, which enhanced the biodiversity, and thus the quality of the river landscape.<ref name="limmautauen">{{cite web|url=https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ted/de/index/gsz/natur-_und_erlebnisraeume/stadtnatur/naturoasen/limmatauen.secure.html|title=Limmatauen Werdhölzli – Perle am Stadtrand|publisher=Tiefbau- und Entsorgungsdepartement Stadt Zürich|author=|language=German|accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref> In cooperation with the Canton of Zurich, the municipalities of Oberengstringen and Zürich, renewed that section of the river in September 2013. In addition to improved access to the Limmat and the hiking path towards the Fahr Abbey, the area was widened for pedestrians and cyclists. Orientation boards share information about the endemic flora and fauna. The area's riparian zone may be crossed via a {{convert|320|m|ft|0}} long wooden bridge, built using material from urban forests, allowing visitors to ''discover with open eyes and senses what lives and grows here''. Along the ridge, there are bat boxes in the trees. After nearly a year of construction, the project was officially presented to the public on 20 September 2013. The costs of 9.4 million Swiss Francs were provided by the city and cantonal government, and some companies in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund Switzerland.<ref name="tagi-2013-09-18">{{cite web|url=http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zuerich/region/Die-Limmat-fliesst-jetzt-mitten-durch-den-Wald/story/12556975|title=Die Limmat fliesst jetzt mitten durch den Wald|publisher=Tages-Anzeiger|author=|language=German|date=2013-09-18|accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref><ref name="wwf">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwf-zh.ch/wwf-zuerich/unsere-themen/wasser/limmatauen-werdhoelzli/|title=Renaturierte Limmatauen Werdhölzli|publisher=World Wildlife Fund Switzerland|author=|language=German|date=|accessdate=2015-11-01}}</ref>
== Cultural heritage == A watermill of the Wettingen Abbey was first mentioned in 1365. The island is a historical site of water industrialization in Zürich, and also houses the former spinning mill "Strickler", as well as the "Kraftwerk Werd", one of the oldest power plants in Zürich. "Werd" is an old term used in the German language for a "river island."<ref name="werdinsel-gangdurzüri">{{cite web|url=http://www.gebrueder-duerst.ch/turicum/strassen/w/werdinsel/werdinsel.html|title=Werdinsel|publisher=|author=Gebrüder Dürst|language=German|accessdate=2015-01-14}}</ref> The sites are listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance.<ref name="kgs">{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html|title=A-Objekte KGS-Inventar|publisher=Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz|author=|language=|date=2009|accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref>
== Trivia == In Switzerland, both burials and cremations are permitted by the law, so the island (or, rather, the river) is also used for flow burials.<ref name="einstein-20151029">{{cite web|url=http://m.srf.ch/sendungen/einstein/einstein-und-die-letzte-ruhe|title=Einstein und die letzte Ruhe|publisher=Einstein (Swiss TV series)|author=|language=German|date=2015-10-29|accessdate=2015-11-01}}</ref>
== See also == *List of islands of Switzerland
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{commons category|Werdinsel}} * [https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ted/de/index/gsz/natur-_und_erlebnisraeume/stadtnatur/naturoasen/limmatauen.html ''Limmat-Auenpark Werdhölzli'' on the website of the city of Zürich] {{in lang|de}}
{{Parks in Zürich}}
Category:River islands of Switzerland Category:Geography of Zurich Category:Buildings and structures in Zurich Category:Limmat Category:Parks in Zurich Category:Protected areas of Switzerland Category:1945 establishments in Switzerland Category:2013 establishments in Switzerland