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Switzerland- federal Republic. The current constitution was adopted in 1999. The federal authorities are in charge of issues of war and peace, foreign relations, army, railways, communications, money issue, approval of the federal budget, etc.

Head of State- President, elected for 1 year by the Union (federal) Assembly from among the members of the Union (federal) Council.

The highest legislative body is the bicameral parliament - the Union Assembly, consisting of the National Council and the Council of Cantons (Chambers of equal rights).

The National Council (200 deputies) is elected by the population for a 4-year term using a system of proportional representation.

In 1814-15 The Congress of Vienna guaranteed the “eternal neutrality” of the country, and its federal structure and constitution were enshrined in the constitutions of 1848, 1874 and 1999.

Now Switzerland- a confederation of 26 cantons (currently actually a classical federation). Each canton has its own constitution and laws, but their rights are limited by the federal constitution. The head of the country is the president, elected every year on a rotation basis from among the members of the Federal Council. Legislative power belongs to Parliament, and executive power belongs to the Federal Council (government).

There are 46 deputies in the Canton Council, who are elected by the population using a majority system of relative majority in 20 two-mandate districts and 6 single-mandate districts, that is, 2 people each. from each canton and one from half-canton for 4 years (in some cantons - for 3 years).

All laws adopted by parliament can be approved or rejected in a popular (optional) referendum. To do this, after the adoption of the law, 50 thousand signatures must be collected within 100 days.

The right to vote is granted to all citizens over 18 years of age.

The highest executive power belongs to the government - the Federal Council, consisting of 7 members, each of whom heads one of the departments (ministries). Members of the Federal Council are elected at a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament. All members of the Federal Council alternately hold the positions of President and Vice President.

The Swiss Federal Court is located in Lausanne, the other main government bodies are in Bern. The Federal Court serves as the country's supreme court, although it cannot declare federal laws unconstitutional. There are no lower federal courts, since the cantonal courts are responsible for applying federal laws at lower levels. A federal court consists of 26–28 judges and 11–13 jurors, who sit in separate chambers depending on the nature of the case. Members of the court are elected by the federal assembly for a term of six years.

At the cantonal level, executive power is exercised by a state or government council of 5 to 11 members headed by a president (Landmann). Council members are elected by the population of the cantons for a term of 4 years (except Friborg, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden and Appenzell-Innerrhoden) and in some small cantons they work on a voluntary basis. Most cantons have a single legislative body - a large council, a land council, or a cantonal council, also elected for a term of four years. The legal authorities of the canton are represented by courts of two or three levels, depending on the size of the canton. Most of the local peculiarities of Swiss justice were eliminated with the introduction of a single national code of civil, commercial and criminal law in 1942.

Political parties. Switzerland has a multi-party system. On the right wing is the Christian Democratic People's Party (formerly the Conservative Social Christian or Conservative Catholic). It sees its main task as defending the teachings and institutions of the Roman Catholic Church and defending the rights of the cantons. On the left flank is occupied by the Social Democratic (or Socialist) Party, which advocates broad social reforms, including greater state participation in the country's economic life, but while maintaining a partnership between the state and private enterprise. At the center of the political spectrum is the Swiss Radical Democratic Party. She was truly radical by 19th century standards when she determined the country's policies. In modern conditions, this party has become relatively conservative.

Each of the three parties holds about a fifth of all seats on the national council. This balance of power persists from election to election, which provides Switzerland with political harmony and stability. Since 1959, each of these parties has two of the seven seats in the Federal Council, and the remaining seat is occupied by a representative of the largest of the other parties, the Swiss People's Party (formerly the Party of Peasants, Craftsmen and Burghers). Other small parties include the Greens, Union of Independents, Liberal Party and Freedom Party (formerly the Motorists Party). The latter, formed in 1985, protects the rights of car drivers and advocates restricting immigration.

The Swiss armed forces are based on a national militia system. Military service is universal and compulsory for all men aged 20 to 50, with periodic training. In the mid-1990s, in the event of full mobilization, the Swiss army would have numbered 625 thousand people. The country's air force consists of 250 combat units. There are no soldiers among the professional military personnel: there are 1,600 officers and sergeants serving as instructors.

Switzerland as an international center. Switzerland adheres to a traditional policy of neutrality and therefore does not join the UN. However, it takes part in the work of all specialized UN organizations; Geneva is home to the headquarters of the World Trade Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunications Union, the World Meteorological Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Other organizations with a main seat in Switzerland are the World Council of Churches and the International Red Cross, founded by the Swiss Henri Dunant.
GEOGRAPHY OF SWITZERLAND

In Switzerland, three natural regions are distinguishable: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast.

The Jura Mountains, separating Switzerland and France, stretch from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. They alternate between mountain folds with a predominance of limestone and valleys; The folds are cut in places by small rivers, forming valleys with steep slopes (cluses). Agriculture is possible only in the valleys; The gentle slopes of the mountains are covered with forests or used as pastures.

The Swiss plateau was formed at the site of a trough between the Jura and the Alps, which was filled with loose glacial sediments in the Pleistocene and is currently cut by numerous rivers. The surface of the plateau is hilly, agriculture is developed in the wide valleys, and the interfluves are covered with forests. Most of the country's population is concentrated here, large cities and industrial centers are located. The most fertile agricultural lands and pastures are concentrated in this area.

Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. These high, rugged, snow-capped mountains are dissected by deep gorges. In the ridge zone there are firn fields and glaciers (10% of the country's territory). The wide bottom of the main valleys is used for fields and arable land. The area is sparsely populated. The Alps serve as the main source of income, as the picturesque nature of the highlands attracts many tourists and climbers. The highest peaks are Peak Dufour (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m) ) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Water resources. Most of Switzerland is irrigated by the Rhine and its tributary the Are (the most important of its tributaries are the Reuss and the Limmat). The southwestern regions belong to the Rhone drainage basin, the southern ones to the Ticino basin and the southeastern ones to the river basin. Inn (tributary of the Danube). The rivers of Switzerland have no navigable significance. On the Rhine, navigation is maintained only as far as Basel.

Switzerland is famous for its lakes, the most picturesque of which are located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva, Thun in the south, Firwaldstätt, Zurich in the east, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north. Most of these lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed during an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains onto the Swiss plateau. South of the Alpine axis in the canton of Ticino are lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE

The climate in Switzerland is temperate. In July and August, daytime temperatures range from 18°C ​​to 28°C, in January - February - from -2°C to +7°C. Temperatures may vary depending on altitude.

The diversity of local and regional microclimates is determined by the mountainous landscape. Ticin, in the south, has a hot Mediterranean climate, while most of the country has a continental climate, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees in summer (June to September) and 1 to 6 degrees in winter (November to March). Tourists should be prepared for temperature fluctuations depending on altitude. At an altitude of 3000 meters there is constant snow. Summer is the best time of year for outdoor sports (with the exception of skiing). Strong winds from the south, foehns, bring high temperatures (and sometimes red dust from the Sahara), and are the main cause of landslides.

In Switzerland, temperature is measured in degrees Celsius. To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply the number by 1.8 and then add 32.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF SWITZERLAND

The Swiss plateau is located in the zone of European broadleaf forests. The predominant species are oak and beech, with pine mixed in in some places. On the southern slope of the Alps the chestnut tree is typical. Higher up the mountain slopes, coniferous forests grow, forming a transition zone between broad-leaved forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). There are many bright colors in the mountains. Crocuses and daffodils bloom in spring, rhododendrons, saxifrages, gentians and edelweiss bloom in summer.

The fauna has been strongly influenced by human economic activity. While snow partridge and mountain hare are still quite common, such characteristic animals of the upper tier of the mountains as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common. Great efforts are being made to protect wildlife. The Swiss National Park, located near the border with Austria, is home to roe deer and chamois, and less commonly, alpine ibex and fox; Ptarmigan and several species of birds of prey are also found.
SWITZERLAND ECONOMY

The Swiss economy is one of the most stable in the world. The policy of long-term monetary support and banking secrecy has made Switzerland the place where investors are most confident in the safety of their funds, as a result of which the country's economy has become increasingly dependent on constant inflows of foreign investment. Due to the country's small territory and high specialization of labor, the key economic resources for Switzerland are industry and trade.

Labor resources. In 1996, approximately 28% of the working population of Switzerland was employed in industry (in 1996 it was estimated at 3.8 million people), 5% in agriculture and forestry and 6% in the service sector. Of these latter, approx. 23% worked in hotels, restaurants, wholesale and retail trade, approx. 11% – in banking and credit, insurance and entrepreneurship, approx. 6% in the transport and communications system. The unemployment rate in Switzerland in 1997 was 5.2%. In the same year, there were 936 thousand foreign workers who had a temporary residence permit in the country, of whom 30% were Italians and 15% Yugoslavs. In the early 1960s, the share of foreigners in the labor force reached 30%, but fell to 15% at the end of the same decade as a result of restrictions imposed by the Swiss government. Throughout the 1990s, foreign workers made up over 25% of all employment. They perform most of the work that does not require qualifications, many of them are employed in construction, metallurgy and mechanical engineering.

Industry. The high standard of living of the Swiss population was achieved thanks to the large-scale development of various industries. The Swiss watch industry has gained worldwide fame, concentrated mainly in the western part of the country (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Geneva) and Schaffhausen, Thun, Bern and Olten. In the 1970s, due to competition from East Asian countries, this sector of the Swiss economy experienced a severe crisis, but in the 1980s it was overcome by the production of inexpensive electronic watches.

The textile industry, the oldest in the country, has been a major industry for many years. However, during the Second World War there was a shift towards the metallurgy and chemical industries, and throughout the 1980s the production of machinery and equipment developed rapidly. In the 1990s, the production of chemicals and medicines, scientific and measuring instruments, optical instruments, machine tools and food products, especially cheese and chocolate, played a major role. Other industrial products included shoes, paper, leather and rubber products.

International trade. Switzerland's highly developed foreign trade is based on the export of industrial products such as machinery, watches, medicines, electronic equipment, chemicals and clothing. In 1991, the share of manufacturing products accounted for approx. 90% of the country's export earnings. Export structure in 1997: 20% – machinery and equipment; 9% – electrical machines and equipment; 9% – organic chemical products; 9% – pharmaceutical products; 6% – precision instruments and watches, 6% – precious metals, 4% – artificial materials.

Switzerland's foreign trade balance usually ran a deficit, which was traditionally covered by the import of foreign capital, income from the export of capital, income from foreign tourism, insurance and transport. In the mid-1990s, thanks to improvements in imports, a small trade surplus was achieved for the first time: in 1997, the value of exports was 105.1 billion Swiss francs, and imports - 103.1 billion.

Switzerland's leading foreign trade partners are Germany, the USA, Italy, France and the UK. Switzerland was one of the founding countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1959, in 1972 Swiss voters approved a free trade agreement with the European Economic Community (now the European Union, EU), and in 1977 all tariffs on industrial goods were abolished. In 1992, Switzerland applied to join the EU, but later that year Swiss voters voted against the country's entry into the European Economic Area (EEA). This project was aimed at facilitating the free movement of labor, goods, services and capital in 7 EFTA countries and 12 EU countries. After this, Switzerland entered into an agreement with the EU on limited participation in the EEA; As a result, Switzerland reduced duties on goods transported through its territory by EU member states.

Agriculture. About 12% of Switzerland's area is used for arable land and another 28% for extensive cattle ranching and dairy production. About a third of the country's territory is occupied by unproductive land (at least unsuitable for agriculture), especially in the cantons of Uri, Valais and Grisons, and a quarter is covered with forests. It is not surprising that 40% of food products have to be imported. At the same time, Switzerland provides itself with wheat; meat and dairy products are produced in abundance. The main centers of agriculture are concentrated in the cantons of Bern, Vaud, Zurich, Fribourg and Aargau. The main agricultural crops are wheat, potatoes and sugar beets. In 1996, the country had 1,772 thousand heads of cattle (of which about 40% were dairy cows), 1,580 thousand pigs, 442 thousand sheep and 52 thousand goats. The large timber processing industry serves domestic and foreign markets. However, in recent years, Switzerland's forests have been hit hard by air pollution, prompting the government to impose strict controls on vehicle exhaust emissions. Energy. In 1996, 54% of Switzerland's energy was generated by hydroelectric power plants built on numerous mountain rivers. Five nuclear power plants satisfy most of the country's energy needs. However, the use of nuclear energy remains in question: in 1990, Swiss voters approved a ten-year moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants.

Switzerland has long remained a major oil importer, but natural gas imports since 1974 and energy conservation measures have led to a decline in oil imports. In 1991, crude oil came to Switzerland mainly from Libya and Great Britain, while refined petroleum products came from Germany, the Benelux countries and France. The main suppliers of natural gas are Germany and the Netherlands.

Transport and communications. Switzerland has a highly developed transport system. The Rhine, the largest navigable waterway, is navigable within Switzerland only on the 19 km long Basel-Rheinfelden section. A large river port in Basel was put into operation. In the 1990s, its annual cargo turnover was 9 million tons. The Rhine-Rhone Canal is also of great importance for the transport of industrial goods.

The length of the Swiss railway network in 1995 was 5,719 km. The railways are almost completely nationalized and electrified and are among the best in Europe. Since they were laid in highly rugged terrain, the construction of numerous bridges and tunnels was required. In 1995, Switzerland had over 71,380 km of first-class roads. The passenger car fleet in 1996 reached almost 3.3 million, i.e. There was one car for every two residents of the country. In 1964, the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel was opened, the first road tunnel in the Alps. Built in 1980, the Gotthard Tunnel is currently the longest road tunnel in the world (16.4 km).

Switzerland is the only country that does not have access to the seas, but has a significant navy. In 1941, it acquired several ocean-going vessels to support the delivery of important supplies during World War II, and continued to expand its fleet after the war. In 1985, the cargo turnover of its merchant fleet was estimated at 225.4 million registered tons. The fleet includes many modern vessels designed to transport from 6 thousand to 10 thousand tons of cargo, as well as several tankers.

The federal government owns all telephone and telegraph lines, as well as the radio and television network. In the 1980s, a major program to modernize telecommunications systems was implemented.

Monetary system and banks. Switzerland is one of the most important financial centers in the world. Its banking system greatly exceeds the volume required for domestic transactions. There are two interconnected banking systems: the public system, which includes the Swiss National Bank and cantonal banks, and the private banking system. The Swiss National Bank, which began operations in 1907, is the only financial institution that issues national currency. The main monetary unit is the Swiss franc, one of the most stable currencies in the world. The National Bank is controlled by the federal authorities and has great influence on the economic policy of the confederation.

The Swiss private banking system in the 1990s consisted of several large commercial banks, members of the Big Four: Schweizerischer Bankverein (SBF), Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft (SBG), Schweizerische Kreditanstalt and Schweizerische Volskbank. In 1997, the Big Four became the Big Three after the merger of the SBG with the SBF. There are also 28 cantonal banks, hundreds of regional and savings banks, financial campaigns and other banks, 20 of which are owned by foreigners. The role of foreign banks is increasing: in the late 1990s they owned more than 10% of Swiss banking holdings.

Depositors have long been attracted to Swiss banks: in accordance with the Swiss banking law of 1934, banks are prohibited from providing information about their clients without their consent. Under pressure from other governments, especially the United States, regulations have been passed to allow the disclosure of deposits, especially when depositors are under investigation for currency crimes such as counterfeiting and insider trading. After much debate, the Swiss government in the late 1990s also allowed the secrets of deposits to be revealed in connection with the search for funds belonging to victims of the Nazi genocide.

The Swiss Stock Exchange is one of the most active international markets for trading stocks and bonds. The Zurich exchange is the largest in continental Europe. Switzerland also plays an important role in the global insurance market, especially in the field of commercial insurance. Some leading Swiss insurance companies derive more than half of their income from operations on the foreign market.

Tourism. The tourism industry is one of Switzerland's vital sources of income. In 1996, over 18 million people stayed in Switzerland on holiday, arriving mainly from Germany, Great Britain, France, the USA, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia.

The state budget. Switzerland's budget is usually more or less balanced, but in the early 1990s, due to the economic downturn, the expenditure side of the budget increased. In 1997, expenditures were estimated at CHF 44.1 billion and revenues at CHF 38.9 billion. The main sources of revenue were income taxes, turnover taxes and import duties.
POPULATION OF SWITZERLAND

In 2004, the population of Switzerland was 7,450 thousand people and was concentrated mainly in the lowland areas. Large industrial centers - Zurich, Basel and Geneva - have the highest population density. The largest cities in the country (population in thousands in 1997): Zurich (339), Geneva (173), Basel (171), Bern (124), Lausanne (114), Winterthur (87), St. Gallen (71) and Lucerne (58).

Swiss
The Swiss are a group of peoples, the indigenous population of Switzerland. Total number - 6 million people. (1992). In Switzerland - 5.6 million people. They also live in other countries of Europe and America.
The Swiss include 4 different ethnic groups. This:
1) German-Swiss - 4.58 million people, in Switzerland - 4.22, language is German (literary), in everyday life - the Swiss version of German; believers - Calvinists and Catholics;
2) French-Swiss - 1.21 million people, in Switzerland - 1.17, language - French, believers - Calvinists and Catholics;
3) Italian-Swiss - 265 thousand people, in Switzerland - 230 thousand, language - Italian, believers - Catholics;
4) Romansh people - 50 thousand people, language - Romansh, has dialects: Selvi, Ladin and Romansh.

German-Swiss inhabit the north and east of the country, French-Swiss - the west, Italian-Swiss - the south. All three of their languages ​​are official. The Romansh people live compactly in the canton of Graubünden.

The Swiss form a cohesive national community, although the population consists of ethnic groups speaking different languages ​​(German, French, Italian and Romansh) and often differing in religion. However, mutual tolerance and goodwill allow them to live and work in the same country. A typical Swiss national image has emerged - a short, stocky brown-haired or blond man with brown or gray eyes, who has a reputation as an enterprising, hard-working person with business acumen. Many Swiss occupy key positions in the economies of other countries. There are many foreigners living in Switzerland. In 1997, foreign workers and other foreigners made up 19.4% of the country's population. Most unskilled work in Switzerland is performed by foreign workers, who come mainly from Italy and other countries in Southern and Eastern Europe.

Standard of living
The standard of living in Switzerland is very high, but social legislation is improving slowly. Thus, only in 1983 did the country introduce three weeks of paid leave. The pay gap between men and women is still up to 30%. The average salary in Switzerland is CHF 5,400. fr. per month, the average income for a family of three is approx. CHF 100 thousand fr. in year. It should be taken into account that the average price level in Switzerland is, as a rule, 30-50% higher than in EU countries.

Languages.
LANGUAGES IN SWITZERLAND
The official languages ​​of Switzerland are German, French and Italian. The Romansh language, derived from Latin and also having national status, is spoken by approximately 1% of the country's population. The most common language is German: its local dialect, Alemannic (Schwitzerdütsch), is used by 73% of Swiss citizens and 64% of the country's population. French is spoken by approx. 19% of the population, mainly in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Friborg and Valais. Speaks Italian approx. 4% are Swiss citizens (mainly in the canton of Ticino), and including foreign workers - 8% of the country's population. Romansh is spoken only in the mountainous canton of Graubünden.
CULTURE AND ART

Switzerland is a country with a rich cultural heritage. She gave the world many outstanding artists, writers and scientists. These are Nikolaus Manuel (1484–1530), a talented artist of the Renaissance, and the physician Paracelsus (c. 1493–1541), who is considered the first natural scientist of the modern era. The theologian Nicholas of Flues (1417–1487), who was canonized in 1947, received wide recognition. The activities of the great religious reformers Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) and John Calvin (1509–1564), as well as prominent psychologists Carl Gustav Jung (1895–1961) and Jean Piaget (1896–1980), are associated with Switzerland. Established Swiss artists include Heinrich Füssli (1742–1825), Ferdinand Hodler (1853–1918) and Paul Klee (1879–1940). The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), the sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966), the architect Le Corbusier (1887–1965), and the teacher Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) were also natives of Switzerland.

Music and dancing. Swiss folk music includes song and instrumental music. A specific song genre of the Alpine mountaineers is yodeling, characterized by rapid transitions from the chest low register of the voice to the high head register (falsetto) and back. Swiss composers such as Otmar Schöck (1886–1957), Frank Martin (1890–1974) and Willy Burkhard (1900–1955) are famous. Arthur Honegger (1892–1955), who belonged to the modern French school, had Swiss parents, and he began to study music in Zurich.

Several cities in Switzerland, most notably Zurich, Basel and Geneva, have ballet companies. In 1989, the innovative choreographer Maurice Bejart moved with his dance troupe from Brussels to Lausanne. Expressive traditional folk dances are showcased at national and regional festivals held annually in Switzerland.

Literature. Swiss literature has a rich tradition. Johann Bodmer (1698–1783) and Johann Brettinger (1701–1776) influenced German literature. The famous writer Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) had Swiss parents. The writer and educator Johann Rudolf Wys (1781–1830) is best known as the publisher of Swiss Robinson, a book written by his father, Johann David Wys (1743–1818). Johanna Spiri (1827–1901) became famous as the author of the classic children's book Heidi.

Other famous Swiss writers include Jeremiah Gotthelf, Gottfried Keller, Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, Rodolphe Töpffer and Karl Spitteler. Swiss writers of the 20th century. Albert Steffen and Charles Ferdinand Ramus (1878–1947), Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt created many wonderful works. Payder Lancel, writing in Romansh, gained a reputation as an outstanding poet. The Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt is known for his work The Culture of Italy in the Renaissance, and Johann von Müller (1752–1809, he earned the honorary nickname “Swiss Tacitus”) for his work Swiss History.
RELIGION IN SWITZERLAND

At the end of the 1990s, 46% of the Swiss population were Catholics, 40% were Protestants. The proportion of Protestants declined after World War II due to the influx of foreign workers, mostly Catholics. As a result of a national referendum in 1973, two articles of the constitution were repealed, prohibiting the activities of the Jesuit order and the formation of religious orders.

Confessional differences in Switzerland do not always coincide with linguistic boundaries. Among the Protestants one can find both French-speaking Calvinists and German-speaking followers of Zwingli. The centers of German-speaking Protestantism are Zurich, Bern and Appenzell. The majority of French-speaking Protestants live in the canton of Geneva and the neighboring cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel. Catholics predominate in central Switzerland around the city of Lucerne, much of the French-speaking cantons of Friborg and Valais, and the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. There are small Jewish communities in Zurich, Basel and Geneva.

Switzerland is a country where amazing natural wonders are concentrated in a small space. Its area is just over 41 thousand square meters. km, you can see such a wide variety of landscapes and landscapes that cannot be found in any other country with the same small area.

General information about the country

Switzerland is the country of the most reliable banks in the world. This is the land of army knives, chocolate, watches and cheese. But the main thing is that Switzerland is a country with amazing nature.

We invite you to get acquainted with the nature of Switzerland, its most beautiful corners and features of flora and fauna.

Location

The state is located in the very heart of Europe. It borders with Austria in the east, Germany in the north, France in the west and Italy in the south. More than half of the territory is occupied by mountains. It is mainly an Alpine mountain system (central part) with four main passes: Oberalp, St. Gotthard, Furka and Grimsel. Here are the sources of the Rhine and Rhone.

The nature of Switzerland (photos presented in the article) is magnificent, mainly due to the mountains. The central and southern part of the territory is occupied by the Alps, in the northwest is the Jura, and in the south are the Apennines. The Alps and Jura are separated by hilly plateaus with a large number of tectonic lakes. The area of ​​glaciers is 2,000 square meters. km. The height of the mountains is on average 1,700 meters. Mount Monte Rosa, which is the highest peak of the Apennines (the southern peak of Dufour), has a height of 4,634 meters.

Legend about the nature of Switzerland

According to one ancient legend, when the Lord God distributed the riches of the Earth's interior, there were not enough of them for the country located in the very center of Europe. In order to correct such injustice, the Lord gave Switzerland high mountains with shining glaciers, rushing waterfalls, picturesque valleys, beautiful rivers and azure lakes. This is how the unusually beautiful Switzerland turned out. Its landscapes are magnificent in any season and in any weather.

So, the wildlife of Switzerland. What is she like?

Mount Matterhorn

This is the most famous mountain peak of the Alps, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. The peak has the shape of an almost regular pyramid. It rises among low hills and plains, and it is this isolation that gives this mountain such a charm.

The height of the Matterhorn is 4,478 meters.

The nature of Switzerland is magnificent due to the variety of landscapes. Travelers call this valley almost the most beautiful and amazing in the whole world. In fact, it is a deep crevice located between high cliffs. Its length is 8,000 meters and its width is no more than a kilometer. From this place you can see three beautiful mountain peaks - Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (translated - Ogre, Monk and Virgin).

The peculiarity of the valley lies in its numerous waterfalls. And the name Lauterbrunnen in translation means “many springs”. There are 72 waterfalls in total, and all of them are stunning in their beauty.

It is impossible to imagine the nature of Switzerland without this lake. It is not for nothing that this country is often called “the country of mountains and lakes.” And indeed it is. In addition to the mountains that occupy most of its territory, there are more than 1,500 lakes of extraordinary beauty. The largest in the Swiss Alps and the second largest among freshwater bodies of Central Europe is Lake Geneva. Locals often call it Leman. It lies in the floodplain of the river. Rhone.

The lake fascinates with its amazing pristine beauty and unusually clear water. The Alps reliably shelter the reservoir from the wind, thanks to which the water surface is almost unshakable, and the peaks of the mountains and all the surrounding nature are clearly reflected in it, along with houses and medieval castles, comfortably nestled on the mountain slopes. The lake, stretched out in the shape of a crescent, is located on the border with France (or rather, the border runs through its center).

Vegetable world

The nature of Switzerland is rich in vegetation. The Swiss plateau extends in a zone of deciduous forests. Oaks and beeches predominate here, sometimes pine trees are mixed in with them. Chestnut is typical for the southern slopes of the Alps. Further in height, coniferous forests grow, representing a transition zone between the alpine meadows located above and deciduous forests.

There are many different bright colors in the mountains. Daffodils and crocuses bloom in the spring, edelweiss, rhododendrons, gentians and saxifrages in the summer.

Animal world

The fauna, unlike the flora, is greatly depleted due to human economic activities. The most common inhabitants are the mountain hare and snow partridge. And animals characteristic of the upper tier of mountains, such as marmot, roe deer and chamois, are much less common.

Near the border with Austria there is a Swiss national park inhabited by chamois and roe deer, and foxes and alpine goats are a little less common. Here you can also find white partridge and several species of birds of prey.

Finally

One interesting fact should be noted. Scientists say that the Swiss Alps are still in the process of formation. According to research, the height of the mountains increases by one millimeter every year.

It is impossible to describe all the natural attractions of this small European state. The Rhine Falls, the Aletsch Glacier - these are not all the natural wonders of Switzerland.

The Swiss Confederation is a state in Central Europe. The government system is a federal republic. The area of ​​the country is 41.3 thousand square meters. km. In the north it borders with Germany, in the west with France, in the south with Italy, and in the east with Austria and Liechtenstein. The northern border is partly along Lake Constance and the Rhine, which begins in the center of the Swiss Alps and forms part of the eastern border. The western border runs along the Jura Mountains, the southern border along the Italian Alps and Lake Geneva. The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

In Switzerland, three natural regions are distinguishable: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast.

Switzerland and France, stretching from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. The Swiss plateau was formed at the site of a trough between the Jura and the Alps, which was filled with loose glacial deposits in the Pleistocene and is currently cut by numerous rivers. Most of the country's population is concentrated here, large cities and industrial centers are located. The most fertile agricultural lands and pastures are concentrated in this area.

Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. Mountains of Switzerland high, rugged, snow-covered mountains are dissected by deep gorges. In the ridge zone there are firn fields and glaciers (10% of the country's territory). The highest peaks are Peak Dufour (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Climate of Switzerland

Switzerland belongs to the temperate continental climate region. But, speaking about the climate of this country, it should be borne in mind that about 60% of its territory is occupied by mountains, so here you can get from winter to summer in two hours. The Alps are a kind of barrier that prevents the flow of cold Arctic masses to the south, and warm subtropical masses to the north. In the northern cantons, winter is mild and lasts about 3 months: from December to February. At this time, the minimum temperature is -1...-4, maximum +2...+5 degrees. In summer (from June to August) at night it is usually +11...+13 degrees, during the daytime the air warms up to +22...+25 degrees. There is quite a lot of precipitation throughout the year. Their maximum occurs in the summer (up to 140 mm per month), the minimum from January to March (slightly more than 60 mm per month).

In the south, winter temperatures are almost the same, and summer temperatures are higher. The average minimum temperature is +13...+16, the average maximum +26...+28. There is even more precipitation in this area. From March to November, more than 100 mm of precipitation falls per month, and from June to August this amount approaches 200 mm. The least precipitation falls in January and February (about 60 mm).

Swiss statistics
(as of 2012)

The weather in the mountains depends on the altitude of the area. In the highlands it is snowy in winter. The temperature most of the year (from October to May) is negative both at night and during the day. In the coldest months (January and February), at night the temperature drops to -10...-15, during the day - to -5...-10. It is warmest in July and August (2...7 degrees at night, 5...10 degrees during the day). The maximum snow depth is usually observed in early April. At an altitude of 700 meters it lasts 3 months, 1000 meters - 4.5 months, 2500 meters - 10.5 months.

Water system of Switzerland

Most of Switzerland is traversed by the Rhine and its tributary, the Aare. The southwestern regions belong to the Rhone drainage basin, the southern ones to the Ticino basin and the southeastern ones to the river basin. Inn (tributary of the Danube). The rivers of Switzerland have no navigable significance. On the Rhine, navigation is maintained only as far as Basel.

There are many lakes, the most picturesque of which are located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva, Thun in the south, Firwaldstätt, Zurich in the east, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north. Most of these lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed during an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains onto the Swiss plateau. South of the Alpine axis in the canton of Ticino are lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore.

Flora of Switzerland

About 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with forests. The composition of forests depends on the altitude above sea level. In the area of ​​the Swiss Plateau, up to an altitude of 800 m, broad-leaved forests of oak, beech, ash, elm, maple, and linden predominate. Above 1000 m, the broad-leaved species that remain are mainly beech; spruces, pines, and firs appear. And starting from an altitude of 1800 m, the main place is occupied by coniferous forests of spruce, fir, pine and larch. At the highest altitudes (up to 2800 m) there are subalpine and alpine meadows, thickets of rhododendron, azalea, and juniper.

The Swiss plateau is located in the zone of European broadleaf forests. The predominant species are oak and beech, with pine mixed in in some places. On the southern slope of the Alps the chestnut tree is typical. Higher up the mountain slopes, coniferous forests grow, forming a transition zone between broad-leaved forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). Crocuses and daffodils are typical for alpine flowers in spring, and rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentians and edelweiss in summer.

Wildlife of Switzerland

The fauna is greatly depleted. While snow partridge and mountain hare are still quite common, such characteristic animals of the upper tier of the mountains as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common. Great efforts are being made to protect wildlife. The Swiss National Park, located near the border with Austria, is home to roe deer and chamois, and less commonly, alpine ibex and fox; Ptarmigan and several species of birds of prey are also found. There are numerous reserves and sanctuaries.

In the mountains there are fox, hare, chamois, marten, alpine marmot, and birds - capercaillie, thrush, swift, and snow finch. Along the shores of the lakes you can find seagulls, and in the lakes you can find trout, char, whitefish, and grayling.