Geneva travel guide

The first glance inevitably lands on the Jet d'Eau, the huge water fountain on Lake Geneva, shooting water 450 feet into the sky. It's as if the fountain must constantly show how active Geneva is. And actually the second look falls on the businesspeople who keep Geneva's engines running. The business of Geneva is first and foremost an active banking sector with a stock exchange and many banking houses. It is supported by industry and trade. The great importance of Geneva in the Swiss economy emphasizes the local clockmakers, the jewelry manufacturers, and the companies that produce precision machines, sewing machines, and motor engines. The climate for international negotiations may be rough, but the weather is not. The proximity of the lake ensures mild winds. The average temperature never falls below freezing during the year. And when it does snow, the result is usually just a bit of powdered sugar all over the streets. Two particular winds are familiar in Geneva: the Bise, a dry northeasterly wind, and the Vent, a warm gusty breeze. Both can be felt especially on the bridges over the Rhone flowing out of the lake.