Geography of Switzerland
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[[Image:Sz-map.gif|400px|thumb|Overview map of Switzerland]]
[[Image:Switzerland composite NASA.jpg|thumb|350px|Composite satellite image of Switzerland. Clearly visible are the [[Alps]], [[Lake Constance]] and [[Lake Geneva]].]]
[[Switzerland]] is a small, generally mountainous and landlocked country located in the center of [[Europe]]. It has a total area of about 41'290 km² or 15,942 [[square mile|mi<sup>2</sup>]] of which 39'770 km² (15,355 mi<sup>2</sup>) is land and 1'520 km² (587 mi<sup>2</sup>) is water. Switzerland is landlocked and surrounded by [[Austria]] (164 km) and [[Liechtenstein]] (41 km) to the east, [[France]] (573 km) to the west, [[Italy]] (740 km) to the south and [[Germany]] (334 km) to the north.
Switzerland is well known for the [[Swiss Alps|Alps]] in the south and south east. North of the Alps, the [[Swiss plateau]] runs along the east-west axis of the country. Most of the population of Switzerland lives on the rolling hills and plains of the plateau. The smaller [[Jura Mountains]] are located on the north west side of the plateau. Much of the northern border with Germany follows the [[Rhine River]], though the Rhine enters Switzerland near [[Schaffhausen]]. The eastern border with Germany and a portion of Austria is drawn through [[Lake Constance]] (German:''Bodensee''). A portion of the southwest border with France is drawn through [[Lake Geneva]].
Switzerland is divided into 23 cantons, 3 of which are further divided into half cantons ([[Obwalden]]/[[Nidwalden]], [[Basel-City|Basel Stadt]]/[[Basel-Country|Basel Land]], [[Appenzell Ausserrhoden]]/[[Appenzell Innerrhoden]]). The cantons along the Swiss plateau tend to be the most populated<ref name="Statistics">[http://www.about.ch/statistics/index.html Switzerland: Statistical information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, industrial and religiously [[Protestant]]<ref name="Federal Statistics">[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html Swiss Federal Statistics Office, in German]</ref>. The cantons in the Alps tend to be less populated, agrarian or tourist based economies, and religiously [[Catholic]]<ref name="Federal Statistics"/>.
Switzerland is also divided by language. There are four official languages; [[German language|German]] 63.7% of population, [[French language|French]] 20.4% of population, [[Italian Language|Italian]] 6.5% of population and [[Romansh]] 0.5% of population<ref name="CIA Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html CIA - The World Factbook - Switzerland<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. From [[Berne]] east (except [[Ticino]]) the population generally speaks German. West of Berne, the population generally speaks French. In the southern Canton of Ticino, most people speak Italian. Romansh, a group of dialects descended from [[Vulgar Latin]], is spoken in several regions in the canton of [[Graubunden]].
==Regions==
*'''[[Geographic coordinate]]s:''' {{coor dm|47|00|N|8|00|E|type:country_region:CH}}
===Swiss Plateau===
[[Image:Picswiss BE-92-04 Lüderenalp (Kurhaus Hotel).jpg|thumb|right|Rolling hills south of Berne]]
[[Image:Rheinfall bei Schaffhausen 02.JPG|thumb|left|The Rhine Falls (German: Rheinfall) located near Schaffhausen is Europe's largest waterfall]]
The Swiss Plateau runs from Lake Geneva on the French Border across central Switzerland to Lake Constance on the German and Austrian Borders. The plateau has an average altitude of 580m (1902 ft)<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/the_three_regions/the_swiss_plateau/ The Swiss Plateau - Switzerland - Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The entire plateau is covered with rolling hills, small lakes and rivers. Most of Switzerland's large lakes are located in the plateau. Both Lake Geneva (581.3 km<sup>2</sup>) and Lake Constance (541.1 km<sup>2</sup>) are located in the plateau but are shared with other countries. The largest lake totally in Switzerland, [[Lake Neuchâtel]] (218.3 km<sup>2</sup>), is located in the Swiss Plateau. Most of Switzerland's rivers start in the Alps, but every north flowing river will cross the plateau. On the plateau, rivers wind back and forth and combine to form some of the major rivers in Europe. Near [[Schaffhausen]] the [[Rhine River]] passes through the [[Rhine Falls]], Europe's largest waterfall. The Rhine Falls are 150 m (450 ft) wide and 25 m (80 ft) high.
The plateau occupies about one third of the land area in Switzerland and about two thirds of the population live in this area. The population density on the plateau averages about 450 people per km<sup>2</sup> (1,166 per square mile){{ref|reference 4}}. In the regions around Lake Geneva, [[Lake Zurich]] and other cities, the population density exceeds 1000 people per km<sup>2</sup><ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/regionen/thematische_karten/maps/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstand/0/bevoelkerungsstand.parsys.0003.PhotogalleryDownloadFile2.tmp/k01.62s.pdf Swiss Federal Statistics Office Map {{de_icon}}]</ref>. In addition to a majority of the population, the Swiss Plateau is also home to the majority of industry, manufacturing and farming in Switzerland. The farms are generally small and very organized. Most farms include small meadows alternating with fields filled with a variety of crops and with small wooded areas.
===The Swiss Alps===
:'''''Main article:''' [[Swiss Alps]]''
:'''''See also:''' [[Geography of the Alps]]''
[[Image:Matterhorn-EastAndNorthside-viewedFromZermatt.jpg|thumb|left|The Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in Switzerland]]
The Swiss Alps form part of a chain of mountains that stretch across southern Europe and isolate Northern Europe from the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Several important passes through the Alps are located in Switzerland, and control of the passes has been important throughout Switzerland's history. The Alps have an average altitude of 1700m (5576 ft)<ref name="Swiss World Geography">[http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/the_three_regions/the_alps/ The Alps - Switzerland - Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and cover nearly two thirds of the total surface area. Within the Alps there are 48 mountains that are 4000m (13,120 ft) or higher.
The Alps are the watershed of Western Europe. The Rhine River, together with its tributaries the [[Aare River|Aare]] and the [[Thur River|Thur]] drain about two thirds of the water into the [[North Sea]]. The [[Rhone River|Rhone]] and the [[Ticino River|Ticino]] drain about 18% of the water into the Mediterranean Sea. The [[Inn River|Inn]] which becomes the [[Danube River|Danube]] outside of Switzerland drains about 4.4% of the water into the [[Black Sea]]<ref>[http://www.about.ch/geography/index.html#CH_Geo_Rivers Geography of Switzerland<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The Swiss Alps also contain many of Central Europe's [[glacier]]s. There are about 1,800 glaciers<ref name="Swiss World Geography"/> which cover 1,200 km<sup>2</sup> of the total glaciated area of the Alps.<!--This Reference states over 3000km2 <ref>[http://www.about.ch/geography/index.html#CH_Geo_Glaciers Geography of Switzerland<!-- Bot generated title ]</ref>. -->
The Alps are a popular tourist destination and are one of the most recognizable symbols of Switzerland. The tallest point in Switzerland, [[Dufourspitze]] (4634 m or 15203 ft) in Canton [[Valais]], is located in the Alps. Another symbol of Switzerland, the [[Matterhorn]] is also located in the Alps. The Matterhorn (4,478 m or 14691 ft) is the seventh highest peak in the Swiss Alps and is the most photographed mountain in Switzerland.
===The Jura===
[[Image:Creux du Van.jpg|thumb|Creux du Van in Canton Neuchatel showing the limestone layers visible in the Jura Mountains]]
The Jura is a [[limestone]] range running from Lake Geneva to the Rhine river. This area makes up about 12% of Switzerland's land area. Located about 700 m (2,300 ft) above sea level, this region is characterized by a limestone highland with deep river valleys.
The limestone rock in the Jura is a [[Jurassic]] period rock with numerous [[fossil]]s and [[dinosaur]] tracks. The name Jurassic actually refers to the Jura region where these fossils were studied at the end of the 18<sup>th</sup> Century<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/the_three_regions/the_jura/ The Jura - Switzerland - Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The Jura is considered one of the most important sites for dinosaur footprints in the world. In one area near the village of [[Courtedoux]], over 1,500 footprints were discovered in between 2002 and 2004 with an estimated 4,000-5,000 footprints still undiscovered<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5173873 Swissinfo article, August 26, 2004]</ref>
==Climate==
The weather in Switzerland is generally moderate in the Swiss Plateau. On the plateau, freezing temperatures generally occur during December-early March<ref>[http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/about_switzerland/weather Weather - Switzerland Tourism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The higher elevations of the Jura and the Alps naturally cause lower temperatures and in the high Alps glaciers exist. Ticino, on the south side of the Alps, has sub-tropical vegetation and is usually 2-4°[[Celsius|C]] (4-7° [[Fahrenheit|F]]) warmer than the Swiss Plateau.
In the [[Köppen climate classification]], the Swiss Plateau is classed as Maritime Temperate or [[Oceanic climate]] ('''Cfb''') and the Alps are considered [[Tundra]] climates or ([[Alpine climate|ET]]). A maritime temperate area will have changeable, often overcast weather. Summers are cool due to cloud cover and winters are milder than expected due to latitude. The Jura will be slightly cooler due to higher altitude. Within the Alps, temperatures and snow fall correlate to altitude.
==Land Use==
*''arable land:'' 10%
*''permanent crops:'' 2%
*''permanent pastures:'' 28%
*''forests and woodland:''32%
*''other:''28% (1993 est.)
'''[[Irrigated land]]:''' 250 km² (1993 est.)<ref name="CIA Factbook"/>
==Environment==
'''[[environment (biophysical)|Environment]] - current issues:''' [[air pollution]] from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; [[acid rain]]; [[water pollution]] from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of [[biodiversity]]
'''Environment - international agreements:'''
<br>''party to:''
[[Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution|Air Pollution]],
[[Nitrogen Oxide Protocol|Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides]],
[[Sulphur Emissions Reduction Protocol|Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94]],
[[Volatile Organic Compounds Protocol|Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds]],
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
[[Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]],
[[Convention on Biological Diversity|Biodiversity]],
[[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Climate Change]],
[[United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification|Desertification]],
[[Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora|Endangered Species]],
[[Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques|Environmental Modification]],
[[Basel Convention|Hazardous Wastes]],
[[Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter|Marine Dumping]],
[[Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas|Marine Life Conservation]],
[[Nuclear Test Ban]],
[[Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer|Ozone Layer Protection]],
[[International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships|Ship Pollution]],
[[International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983|Tropical Timber 83]],
[[International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994|Tropical Timber 94]],
[[Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat|Wetlands]],
[[International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling|Whaling]]
<br>''signed, but not ratified:''
[[Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty|Antarctic-Environmental Protocol]],
[[Kyoto Protocol|Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol]],
[[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|Law of the Sea]]<ref name="CIA Factbook"/>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:MattRiff.jpg|View of the Matterhorn from Riffelalp [[Valais]]
Image:Liskamm 01.jpg|[[Liskamm]], [[Pennine Alps]]
Image:Schweiz Schloss Chillon Gesamtansicht.jpg|[[Château de Chillon]]
Image:Jungfrau461.jpg|[[Jungfraujoch]]
Image:Switzerland Lucerne.jpg|[[Kapellbrücke]] in [[Lucerne]]
Image:UN building, Genevra.jpg|The United Nations in [[Geneva]]
Image:Basel Messeturm.jpg|Messeturm in [[Basel]]
Image:Matterhorn Mond.jpg|[[Gornergratbahn]]
Image:CH-Bundeshaus-Nord.jpg|[[Bundeshaus]]
Image:ETHZ.JPG|[[ETH Zurich]]
Image:CH Landwasser 2.jpg| The [[Glacier Express]]
Image:Oberengadin.jpg|[[Engadin]]
Image:Piz Bernina mit Biancograt.jpg|[[Piz Bernina]]
Image:Allalin.jpg|Mittel Allalin in [[Saas Fee]]
Image:SchaffhausenRheinfall1.jpg|[[Rhine Falls]]
Image:Picswiss VS-62-04.jpg|The [[Grande Dixence dam]]
Image:Jet-d'eau-Genève.jpg|The Jet d'eau in [[Geneva]]
Image:Einsiedeln wide.jpg|The [[Einsiedeln Abbey]]
Image:Oeschinensee.jpg|The lake of Oeschinen
Image:Grosser Aletschgletscher 3178.JPG|The [[Aletsch Glacier]]
Image:Castelli.JPG|The three castles of [[Bellinzona]]
Image:Klein Matterhorn - Zermatt - Switzerland - 2005 - 04.JPG|View from [[Klein Matterhorn]]
Image:Gotthard Südrampe.jpg|The [[St. Gotthard Pass]]
Image:Stockalper castle.jpg|Stockalper Castle in Brig
Image:Basel rathaus.jpg|City Hall of [[Basel]]
Image:DentBlanche.jpg|The North face of [[Dent Blanche]]
Image:Grossmuenster Wasserkirche .jpg|[[Zurich]]
Image:Jungfrau 2416.jpg|[[Jungfrau]]
</gallery>
==Topography==
*[[List of islands of Switzerland]]
*[[List of lakes in Switzerland]]
*[[Swiss Alps|List of mountain ranges in Switzerland]]
*[[List of mountain passes in Switzerland]]
*[[List of rivers of Switzerland]]
*[[List of glaciers in Switzerland]]
*[[Extreme points of Switzerland]]
*[[Geographical centre of Switzerland]]
==See also==
{{commons}}
*[[Swiss cartography]]
*[[Geography of the Alps]]
*[[Valleys of the Alps]]
==External links==
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html CIA World Factbook]
*http://www.about.ch/geography/index.html
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
[[Category:Geography of Switzerland|*]]
[[bg:География на Швейцария]]
[[es:Geografía de Suiza]]
[[fr:Géographie de la Suisse]]
[[it:Geografia della Svizzera]]
[[he:גאוגרפיה של שווייץ]]
[[hu:Svájc földrajza]]
[[nl:Geografie van Zwitserland]]
[[pt:Geografia da Suíça]]
[[ro:Geografia Elveţiei]]
[[sq:Gjeografia e Zvicrës]]
[[sr:Географија Швајцарске]]
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