Switzerland

I

Introduction

Switzerland (French, Suisse; German, Schweiz; Italian, Svizzera), federal republic in west-central Europe, bounded to the north by France and Germany, to the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, to the south by Italy, and to the west by France. The country has an area of 41,285 sq km (15,940 sq mi). Its largest city is Zurich, and the capital is Bern.

II

Land and Resources

Switzerland is one of the most mountainous countries of Europe, with more than 70 per cent of its area covered by the Alps, in the central and southern sections, and the Jura, in the north-west. The Swiss Alps are part of the largest mountain system in Europe, and are famous for their jagged peaks and steep gorges. There are several ranges within the Alps, including the Pennine range, which has Switzerland’s highest peak, the 4,634-m (15,203-ft) Dufour Peak of Monte Rosa. The Jura (derived from the Gaulish for “forest”) are much lower and smaller than the Alps, and are popular for cross-country skiing. The renowned Swiss watchmaking industry began in the Jura Mountains.

Between the two mountain systems lies the Swiss plateau, about 395 m (1,300 ft) above sea level in average elevation and some 50 km (30 mi) wide; it extends from Lake Geneva (French, Lac Léman; German, Genfersee) in the extreme south-west to Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the extreme north-east. The plateau is thickly studded with hills. Between the Alps and Jura ranges are long valleys connected by transverse gorges; one such valley is the Engadine along the Inn River in the south-east. Nearly every Swiss valley is traversed by streams, often interrupted by picturesque waterfalls, including the Staubbach Falls (about 300 m/980 ft) in the canton of Bern.

The principal river system is formed by the Rhine and its tributaries. Other important rivers are the Rhône, Ticino, and Inn. However, the Swiss rivers are not navigable for any appreciable distance. Switzerland is famous for its many lakes, particularly those of the Alpine region, known for their scenic beauty. In addition to lakes Geneva and Constance, other important lakes are the Lake of Lugano, and Lake Maggiore (at which lies Switzerland’s lowest point, 193 m/633 ft above sea level), which are not wholly within Swiss borders; and the lakes of Neuchâtel, Lucerne, and Zurich (German, Zürichsee), and the Brienzersee and Thunersee, which are entirely within Switzerland.

A

Climate

On the plateau and lower valleys of Switzerland a temperate climate prevails, with a mean annual temperature of about 10° C (50° F). The temperature decreases about 1.7° C (3° F) for every additional 305 m (1,000 ft) of elevation. Precipitation also varies considerably according to elevation. Precipitation on the plateau and in the lower valleys is about 915 mm (36 in) annually; the higher regions generally receive much more. Much of the precipitation occurs during the winter in the form of snow; the peaks of most mountains higher than 2,743 m (9,000 ft) are snow-covered throughout the year. There are also large glaciers at higher elevations, especially in the Alps. The bise, a cold, northerly wind, predominates in the winter, and the foehn, a warm, dry south-easterly wind, predominates during the rest of the year.

B

Natural Resources

Water-power is the chief natural resource of Switzerland; salt is the only abundant mineral resource. Agricultural opportunities are limited as most of the soil is leached and stony.