Which country does not border Switzerland? Switzerland. Climate, weather conditions

Geography

Switzerland is located in the heart of Western Europe. In the north it borders with Germany, in the east with Austria and Liechtenstein, in the south with Italy and in the west with France. Switzerland is one of the smallest countries in the world: its total area is 41,285 km2. The maximum length from north to south is 220 km, from west to east – 348 km.
Switzerland has gathered within its borders a unique diversity of nature and landscape. The lowest point is on the shores of Lake Lago Maggiore in Ticino (194 m above sea level). Perpetual snow covers the peaks of the mountains, 48 of which are 4000 m or higher. Peak Dufour (4634 m) in the canton of Wallis is the highest point in Switzerland.

Three geographical regions

The Alps, the Swiss Plateau (or Midland) and the Jura form the three main geographical regions.
- The Alps occupy 60% of the country's area and have long defined the national identity of Switzerland, although economically the Middle Belt plays a more important role. Only 11% of the country's population lives in the Alps. Numerous mountain passes are important transit routes.
- More than two-thirds of the population lives on the territory of the Swiss Plateau, which makes up 30% of the country's area. Large agglomerations and important industrial centers are located here. In the west, the plateau borders on Lake Constance, in the east – on Lake Geneva.
- To the north-west. The Jura Mountains extend from the Middle Zone, occupying 10% of the total area of Switzerland. The mountain range consists predominantly of limestone and is formed by a system of ridges, plateaus, valleys and peaks with an average height of 700 m.

Climate and seasons

In Switzerland, the climate differs depending on the region. In the area north of the Alps, a humid temperate climate prevails; south of the Alps, signs of a Mediterranean climate are obvious. The country's complex orographic structure contributes to the creation of numerous regional microclimates. Annual rainfall exceeds the European average.
Switzerland has all four seasons. In spring (March - May) fruit trees bloom and fields turn green. In summer the temperature rises to 25-30°C. In autumn (September - November) the harvest ripens, the leaves of the trees gradually change color and fall off. Winter is snowy and moderately cold.

Inland waters

Switzerland is rich in water resources. Its territory contains 6% of Europe's fresh water reserves. The rivers Rhone, Rhine and Inn take their sources from here, flowing into the basins of the Mediterranean, North and Black Seas. Switzerland has over 1,500 lakes. Lake Geneva on the border with France is the largest in Western Europe.
Glaciers occupy 3% of Switzerland's territory. The largest valley glacier is the Aletsha glacier (23 km).

Transport links across the Alps

Switzerland is an important transit country with strong cargo flows in the direction of the North-South transport corridor. The road and railway tunnels through the Gotthard Pass directly connect Italy with Northern Europe. The New Alpine Railway Line (NEAT) is currently under construction. On June 1, 2016, the Gotthard Tunnel was opened in Switzerland. It became the longest railway. tunnel in the world. The Great Saint Bernard Pass is the main transport link between Western Switzerland and Italy.

Cities

Two thirds of the Swiss population live in cities. Switzerland can be roughly divided into six large metropolises, each of which has over half a million inhabitants. These include Zurich, Bern, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne and Ticino. Today, 84% of the country's economic output is concentrated in these metropolises.

The place where I would like to grow old. Maybe in a chalet in the Alpine mountains, or maybe in a villa on the shore of a beautiful lake. so located that all the surrounding countries supplemented it with the best that is characteristic of them. Several multilingual peoples coexist peacefully in it, creating the richest and most beautiful state in the heart of Europe.

Austrian-Liechtenstein border

We got to Switzerland through eastern - Austrian border, into which a small one fits neatly Principality of Liechtenstein, the smallest state in Europe. Our path lay in Zurich - the capital German-speaking part of Switzerland, city of banks and chocolate. Most of the population speaks German.

Switzerland borders Germany

WITH Germany a country borders on the north, Part borders stretches across Rhine River, part by Lake Borden. The capital of Switzerland - - greeted us with high bridges and ancient squares. It is not only a political center, but also a world cultural heritage. It is very picturesque, located on a high hill, in a bend of the river.

Border with France

Next, our path lay to Lausanne and Geneva. Due to proximity France, with which Switzerland borders on the west, that's basically Francophone region. Part of the French border passes through Lake Geneva, along which the towns of the Swiss Riviera are located: Montreux, Chillon, Vevey... Ancient castles, picturesque villas, cozy beaches, the Rhine Falls... Who has not been here - Tchaikovsky, Chaplin, and the royal dynasties of Spain, Britain, and even grandfather Lenin.

Southern border with Italy

The longest border of Switzerland is southern, with Italy. The capital of the Italian part of the country is the city of Lugano. It is purely Italian, with music, frescoes, palm trees, temperamental residents - a real southern city. On both sides of it framed by mountains, and it itself is located on the shore of the most beautiful lakes Cherizo.

borders with different countries:

in the east with Austria and Liechtenstein;
in the north with Germany;
in the west with France;
in the south fromItaly.

But bordersNo, she open:

for business and cooperation;
for recreation and travel;
for shopping;
for treatment;
for everything.

The area of Switzerland is about 3 thousand square meters. km. There are several other states nearby. Switzerland borders Germany to the north, France to the west, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, and Italy to the south.

A significant part of the border with Germany runs along the Rhine River, and near Schaffhausen the river crosses into Swiss territory. Then, on the eastern side, part of the border with Germany and Austria runs along the shores of Lake Borden. with France it also passes along the water shore - this is Lake Geneva, it is known for its beauty and picturesque landscapes. Of all Switzerland's borders with different countries, the longest is Italian. Its length is approximately 741 km. To feel the difference, it is useful to say that the border with France is only 570 km long, and with Germany it is about 360 km. The total length of the border with Austria and Liechtenstein is about 200 km.

Geography of Switzerland

More than half of Switzerland's territory is covered by the Alps (only 58% of the territory). Another 10% of Switzerland is occupied by the Jura Mountains. It is not surprising that the ski resorts of Switzerland are among the most popular in the world: there are many beautiful peaks and slopes. The highest mountain in the Jura system, Mont Tandre, is located in Switzerland. The highest point in Switzerland, however, is in the Alps, the Dufour peak. Lake Lago Maggiore is the most significant lake in the country.

In the central part of Switzerland there is a mountain plateau, it is called the Swiss Plateau. Most of the industry is located in this part of the country. Agriculture and cattle breeding are also especially developed here. Almost the entire population of the country lives in the Swiss Plateau.

The territory of Switzerland is largely covered by various lakes, many of which are of glacial origin. In total, as experts have calculated, the country contains about 6% of the world's fresh water reserves! Despite the fact that the country's territory is relatively small. Large rivers such as the Rhine, Rhone and Inn begin in Switzerland.

Switzerland is usually divided into 4 regions. The flattest is the northern one, where the cantons of Aargau, Glarus, Basel, Thurgau, St. Gallen and Zurich are located. The western region is already more mountainous, with Geneva, Bern, Vaud, Friborg and Neuchâtel located there. In central Switzerland there are the cantons of Unterwalden, Lucerne, Uri and Schwyz. The southern region of the country is very small in area.

Why is Switzerland called that?

The Russian name of the country goes back to the word Schwyz - this was the name of the canton (as the administrative unit is called in Switzerland), which became the nucleus for all the other cantons to unite around it in 1291. In German this canton is called Schweiz.

Shopping

In the minds of a huge number of people, Switzerland is associated with cheese and watches. And, of course, people come here to make sure that the Swiss cheese is the most delicious and the watches are the most accurate. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that this is so.

Tourists can try Swiss cheeses and dishes based on them in any corner of the country. But many people go to Geneva specifically to buy watches and jewelry. By the way, original products can be bought here on any central street.

The spring months in Switzerland are especially attractive for those who love to purchase designer items. The fact is that it is at this time that many manufacturers offer discounts (up to 70%!) on their goods - from clothes to souvenirs. You can buy things from famous designers in Ticino, in the south of the country.

Among the largest shopping centers are Shop Ville (Zurich) and Fox Town Faktory (Mendrisio). The latter is the largest shopping complex in Europe.

Shopping in Bern will give you great pleasure. In shopping boulevards up to 6 kilometers long you can find everything from souvenirs to cakes.

As for the store opening hours, you will have to get used to it. Firstly, most institutions are closed on Sunday. On Saturday, the working day usually lasts up to 16 hours. Shops used to close on Wednesday, especially in rural areas, but on Thursday they are open longer - until about 21:00. The Swiss are quite strict with lunch: from 12:00 to 14:00 most institutions are closed.

Gas stations are beyond competition: open every day from 08:00 to 22:00. True, food and drinks are more expensive here.

Transport

The largest international airports in Switzerland are in Zurich, Basel and Geneva. They are serviced by the Swiss company Swiss.

In general, transport links in Switzerland are one of the densest. Trains depart approximately every half hour. Large cities have a very dense network of buses and trams. Most metro lines in Switzerland are similar to our tram lines: they run above ground. It was only in 2008 that the first underground metro opened in Lausanne.

Intercity transportation is also organized flawlessly. Even remote settlements regularly require buses. You can get to any place in the city and country quickly, easily and using the transport that you prefer.

Ferries ply on the numerous lakes of Switzerland exactly on schedule. There are cable cars in the mountains: not only very convenient, but also exciting!

In general, transport in this country works - pardon the pun - like a Swiss watch.

As for roads, traveling in your own car can also bring considerable pleasure. At least because of the landscapes that stretch around. In addition, one cannot complain about the quality of coverage and infrastructure. Roads that pass through mountain passes play an important role.

An important point: in order to drive a car on some highways, your car must be equipped with a special ticket. You can buy it when entering Switzerland, at customs. It costs around $30. The permissible speed on highways is 120 km/h, up to 80 km/h outside populated areas, up to 50 km/h in populated areas. There are video cameras on all roads that help catch violators, so be careful. By the way, you can be convicted for speeding in Switzerland. You can pay a fine even for exceeding the speed limit by 5 km/h.

Helpful tip: Don't drive with sunglasses on. The fact is that there are a lot of tunnels on the roads of Switzerland. If you enter a tunnel on a sunny day, you will find yourself in pitch darkness, which is unsafe for you and, possibly, for the vehicle moving towards you.

Connection

Communications in Switzerland, as you may have guessed, also work smoothly. Moreover, modern public telephones open up very unusual opportunities for many tourists. Thus, they have a touch screen through which you can not only make a call, send an email or look through a telephone directory, but also order train tickets.

As for mobile communications, the GSM standard is used here.

Internet access can be found everywhere: in public places or in a virtual cafe - for free or for a couple of francs.

Post offices are open on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from 07:30 to 18:30 (lunch - from 12:00 to 13:30). Most hotel lobbies have one or two computers connected to the Internet that you can use.

Safety

Tourists intending to spend a holiday in Switzerland with accommodation in rented accommodation or a hotel require a tourist visa. To receive it, you need to submit the following documents: a foreign passport and a copy of its first page, a completed application form with a signature and photograph, an original and a copy of a round-trip ticket, confirmation of prepayment for housing, confirmation of the availability of funds. In some cases, the Embassy may require other documents.

Switzerland is considered a safe country, and yet experts recommend getting insurance, which can save you from paying impressive sums for emergency medical care (you never know). And if your property is stolen, insurance will help compensate for the damage.

In general, the crime rate in Switzerland is very low. However, you should still be wary of pickpockets, especially during high season or during exhibitions and conferences. It is recommended to be especially careful at train stations and during night train trips.

In case of theft, immediately contact the police station for a report. It is better to always have your passport with you if you want to avoid problems with the police. By the way, the representatives of the law here are not distinguished by their angelic character.

The level of road safety in this country is also very high. However, winding mountain roads can pose an increased danger, especially during the summer and winter holidays, when congestion increases.

Business

Switzerland is the richest country in the world. In addition, it is one of the most important financial centers in the world: a huge number of branches of foreign banks operate here. The secret of the reliability of Swiss banks is simple: they are located in a country with a stable economic and legal system, and therefore cannot go bankrupt.

It seems completely logical that a country with such a status annually hosts international conferences and exhibitions, which attract tens and hundreds of thousands of people from different parts of the planet. Thus, the most popular exhibitions are: FESPO ZURICH (“Recreation, Travel, Sports”), SICHERHEIT (“International Safety Fair”), IGEHO (“International Exhibition of the Supply Industry, Hotel and Restaurant Business”), Internationaler Automobil-Salon Genf ( “International Automobile Salon”), Blickfang Basel (“Exhibition of Furniture, Jewelry and Fashion Design”) and many others. Conferences on political, financial, banking, industrial and cultural issues are regularly held here.

Real estate

Switzerland has long been considered one of the most closed countries for foreign property buyers. It is impossible to buy real estate here if you do not have a category B residence permit (which means a permanent visa extension for 10 years). Moreover, the buyer is also obliged to comply with the rules of the state “game”: the purchased property cannot be used for commercial purposes. A foreigner is allowed to use housing only for his own needs, with a residence time limit of 6 months a year. You can live in this house permanently only by obtaining a residence permit in this country. At the same time, there is still a limitation on area.

Houses and apartments in Switzerland are very expensive, and the country's real estate market has demonstrated its stability even during the crisis. Experts even noted a slight increase in prices for a number of objects.

The cost of housing in Switzerland depends on many factors. One of the most important is location. So, a small apartment in Villars, in a residential complex, can be purchased for some 60 thousand euros. Apartments in more expensive resorts can cost from 150 thousand to 800 thousand euros (this depends on the area and view from the window). Those who have more serious means and are looking for privacy in the lap of nature and huge personal space, of course, choose luxury villas and chalets. Such housing will cost about 5-8 million euros.

Contrary to popular belief, traveling in Switzerland is no more expensive than traveling in Germany or Italy. It’s just that the Swiss understand very well that “good money” equals “good service”. In this country, tourists always get what they pay for.

If you want to spend as little as possible, then the best option is to live at a camp site, cook by yourself, travel short distances and only by bicycle. With such a vacation, you can spend about $30 per day. You won't spend much more if you eat at fast food restaurants or student canteens at universities: lunch there is relatively inexpensive ($7-9).

Comfortable conditions within reason - a three-star hotel or inn - will cost about $100 per day. Eating out can make a big difference on your wallet. By the way, tips there (+15%) are included in the bill. The same applies to the cost of taxi services.

A visit to a museum or an acquaintance with some attraction will cost about $4. You will spend about the same amount to move around the city using public transport.

Visa information

Citizens of the CIS and the Russian Federation require a visa to travel to Switzerland, which is part of the Schengen countries. A short-term Schengen visa (category C) can be tourist (when booking a hotel or a tour around the country), guest (when visiting relatives or friends), business (if necessary, meetings with business partners) and transit (when traveling in transit to those countries that are not Schengen members).

In addition, the Swiss Embassy issues study visas for people going to study for a period of more than 90 days, and work visas for people who are employed.

The Swiss Embassy in Moscow is located at: per. Ogorodnaya Sloboda, 2/5. You can also contact the Consulate General in St. Petersburg (Chernyshevsky Ave., 17) or the Visa Section of the Embassy (Moscow, Prechistenskaya embankment, 31).

Story

The history of Switzerland dates back to the 12th millennium BC. It was then that the territory covered with eternal snow, under the pressure of global warming, began to become free of ice. Gradually the white cover changed to green, and the “revived” earth found its first inhabitants from the human race.

In ancient times, Switzerland was inhabited by the Celtic tribes of the Helvetii, hence its ancient name - Helvetia. Around the 1st century BC, after the campaigns of Julius Caesar, the country was conquered by the Romans and gained worldwide fame. In the 5th century AD, during the era of the Great Migration, it was captured by the Alemanni, Burgundians and Ostrogoths; in the 6th century - the Franks. In the 11th century, Switzerland became part of the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.”

Initially, the Swiss were not a single nation; Switzerland itself was a union of communities (cantons) striving for self-government. At the beginning of August 1291, the peasants of the forest cantons of Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden, living on the shores of Lake Firwaldstät, entered into an alliance with each other and swore an oath to help each other in the fight against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty; in a stubborn struggle they defended their independence. The Swiss celebrate this joyful event to this day: August 1 is the Swiss National Day - fireworks and fireworks illuminate the Swiss sky in memory of the events of more than seven centuries ago.

For two centuries, Swiss troops defeated the feudal armies of dukes, kings and kaisers. Provinces and cities began to join the original union. The united allies sought to expel the Habsburgs, gradually expanding their borders. In 1499, after the victory over Kaiser Maximilian I of Habsburg, Switzerland was freed from imperial rule. In 1513, there were already 13 cantons in the union. Each canton was absolutely sovereign - there was no common army, no common constitution, no capital, no central government. In the 16th century, a severe crisis occurred in Switzerland. The reason for this was a schism in the Christian church. Geneva and Zurich became centers of activity for the Protestant reformers Calvin and Zwingli. In 1529, a religious war began in Switzerland. Only a serious danger coming from outside prevented the complete collapse of the state. In 1798, the French invaded Switzerland and transformed it into the unitary Helvetic Republic. For fifteen years the country was under their rule. The situation changed only in 1815, when the Swiss introduced their own constitution with equal rights for 22 sovereign cantons. In the same year, the Vienna Peace Congress recognized the “permanent neutrality” of Switzerland and defined its borders, which are still inviolable. However, the unity of the union of cantons was not reliably ensured by the organization of a sufficiently strong central government. Only under the constitution of 1948 did the fragile union turn into a single state - federal Switzerland.

National characteristics

Switzerland is a highly developed country with intensive agriculture. It is the largest exporter of capital, the financial center of the capitalist world. Swiss banks are the most reliable. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that the country has never joined any blocs. It was and remains a stable country in Europe.

In Switzerland, four languages are spoken and written: German (various local dialects of Swiss German and literary High German are spoken by 65% of the population), French (18%), Italian (mainly one of the Lombard dialects, 12%), and in Romansh (in five different dialects). Having the opportunity to study all the languages of the country at school, every Swiss, as a rule, understands them, although he is not always able to express himself in all of them.

The Swiss are very religious: according to the 1980 census, about 50% profess the Protestant faith, 44% the Catholic faith, 6% adhere to other religions or atheism. Traveling around Switzerland, one cannot help but notice the world-famous virtue of the Swiss - the love of cleanliness and order. They are cleaning the streets with a vacuum cleaner! James Joyce once remarked that soup here can be eaten without plates, straight from the pavement. In Switzerland, it is impossible to pass by Swiss watches, which have become the embodiment of precision, elegance, and a kind of world standard. For this small country, watches have become the most prestigious and significant export.

Culture

In Eastern Switzerland there is the Rhine Falls (average water flow - 1100 cubic meters per second). The city of Schaffhausen is located near the waterfall. This part of the country abounds in variegated flower carpets: alpine rose (rhododendron), edelweiss, saxifrage, prolomnik. Most of the plants are perennial herbs and shrubs. Their flowers are relatively large and bright; both flowers and plants themselves are often fragrant. Small towns and villages with an unobtrusive charm fit perfectly into such a natural landscape. In Central Switzerland you can admire Mount Pilatus - a favorite vacation spot for both residents of the country and foreign tourists.

Switzerland is an amazing country. It contains both the beauty of nature and outstanding creations of human hands in a small space. At every step there are traces of various civilizations. The ruins in Nyon and Avenches are reminiscent of the Romans, in particular the amphitheater for 10,000 visitors. In Basel, Geneva and Lausanne, a variety of Romanesque and Gothic architectural monuments attract attention. The Castello di Montebello fortress from the Renaissance has been preserved - one of the places of pilgrimage for tourists. The Baroque is richly represented, mainly in the monasteries of Einsiedeln, Engelberg and the churches of Kreuzlingen and Arlesheim.

The architectural appearance of the city of Schaffhausen is dominated by Baroque and Rococo, and the oldest surviving buildings date back to the late Gothic period. Along a path paved with stones you can climb to the ancient fortress of Munot. The center of Eastern Switzerland is the city of St. Gallen, which, according to legend, owed its birth to the Irish monk Gallus. During the construction of the monastery, Gallus was helped by a bear; his image can be seen today on the city coat of arms. The famous cathedral in St. Gallen and the monastery library are considered the main monuments of the Baroque style in Switzerland.

The cultural life of the country is diverse and rich. Every big city has its own theater and symphony orchestra. The most famous musical theaters are the Opera House in Zurich, the Grand Theater in Geneva and the Basel City Theater. Summer in Switzerland is the time for festivals; they take place in Lausanne, Zurich, Montreux and many other cities. In addition to world-famous international music festivals, Lucerne hosts an annual carnival. The holiday always begins on Thursday and lasts until the first Wednesday of Lent.

Swiss cuisine

The cuisine of Switzerland enjoys well-deserved recognition among gourmets all over the world, and the Swiss themselves at home are by no means shy away from Lucullean delights. So, the favorite pastime of Zurich residents is walking around restaurants and cafes, and if they praise you about one of the eateries, you can safely go there. The local cuisine has been strongly influenced by its neighbors, primarily the “older French cousin” and Italian cuisine, as well as the purely Swabian table, but still it has enough of its own delicacies that are widespread in other countries. A typical Swiss dish is the famous fondue, which is best enjoyed when it is cold outside and raining or snowing. Then sit comfortably in front of the fireplace and, pricking pieces of bread crumb onto a long fork, dip them in the melted cheese. It is best to drink this delicacy with white wine or tea.

Another famous cheese dish that has become widespread is raclette from Wallis. The very name of the dish (“raclette” (French) - large grater) reveals the principle of its preparation. The cheese is grated on a coarse grater or broken into small pieces, heated and served with potatoes. However, to enjoy the taste and aroma of cheese, it is not necessary to reheat it. The best example is Emmental (more often called Swiss) and Appenzell cheeses, which enjoy well-deserved recognition among gourmets, as well as Grayerz cheese. Vacherin, which is prepared only in winter, and Schabziger, a cheese with herbs from Glernerland, have an exquisite taste and aroma.

Among the Ticino delicacies we should mention, first of all, small soft formagini cheeses, which are made from cottage cheese, as well as various varieties of mountain cheese, the most famous of which is Piora. Another famous Swiss delicacy is Zurich schnitzel (veal in cream sauce). Those who like to eat heartily prefer the Berner Platte - a dish of sauerkraut with beans and fried potatoes. Bern is also considered the birthplace of the famous Rosti - thinly sliced fried potatoes with cracklings.

Now is the time to think about soups, for example, Basel flour soup, barley soup from Bünden or Busekka - Ticin tripe soup. The national dish of sunny southern Switzerland is, of course, polenta, a dish of corn grits with cream and pieces of fruit. To the south of Saint Gotthard, risotto is a favorite - a rice dish prepared Milanese style (with saffron), with mushrooms or peasant style (with vegetables).

The menu of Swiss cuisine also includes fish dishes: rudd, trout, pike and aigli (freshwater perch), which are prepared differently everywhere. In late autumn and winter, you can try game delicacies, such as roe deer back, in many restaurants. And another delicacy, famous on both sides of the Swiss border, deserves your attention. This is Bünden meat, dried beef, cut into thin slices. Those who first tasted it in Valais, and not in Graubünden, call this dish “Welsh-style meat.”

The Alpine republic is famous for its wines. White wines are widely known - “Dezaley” and “St.-Saphorin”, “Fendant” and “Johannisberg”, “Twanner”. The best varieties of red wines are the exquisitely fine “Rose der CEil-de-Perdrix”, strong “Dole”, “Pinot Noir” and “Merlot”. But perhaps the best Bünden wines are made in the Italian town of Veltalin, which since 1815 has become the Swiss canton of Grisons. “Sassella”, “Grumello”, “Inferno” - these are the names of strong ruby-red wines that owe their luxurious bouquet to the generous southern sun. All that remains is to say a few words about all kinds of sweets served for dessert, afternoon tea, and evening coffee. These include fruit pies, Zug cherry cake, carrot cake, Engadine nut cake, and of course, the famous Swiss chocolate.

Economy

Switzerland is one of the most developed and richest countries in the world. Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country with intensive, highly productive agriculture and an almost complete absence of any mineral resources. According to Western economists, it is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of economic competitiveness. The Swiss economy is closely connected with the outside world, primarily with EU countries, through thousands of threads of industrial cooperation and foreign trade transactions. OK. 80-85% of Switzerland's trade turnover is with EU countries. More than 50% of all cargo from the northern part of Western Europe to the south and in the opposite direction passes through Switzerland. After noticeable growth in 1998-2000. The country's economy entered a recession. In 2002, GDP grew by 0.5% to CHF 417 billion. fr. Inflation was at 0.6%. The unemployment rate reached 3.3%. The economy employs approx. 4 million people (57% of the population), of which: in industry - 25.8%, including in mechanical engineering - 2.7%, in the chemical industry - 1.7%, in agriculture and forestry - 4.1% , in the service sector - 70.1%, including in trade - 16.4%, in banking and insurance - 5.5%, in the hotel and restaurant business - 6.0%. The policy of neutrality allowed us to avoid the devastation of two world wars.

Policy

Switzerland is a 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.

The head of the country is the president, elected every year on a rotation basis from among the members of the 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.

The federal structure and constitution of Switzerland were enshrined in the constitutions of 1848, 1874 and 1999.

Now Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons (20 cantons and 6 half-cantons). Until 1848 (except for the short period of the Helvetic Republic), Switzerland was a confederation). Each canton has its own constitution and laws, but their rights are limited by the federal constitution. 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 foundations of the Swiss state were laid in 1291. Until the end of the 18th century, there were no central government bodies in the country, but all-Union councils - tagsatzung - were periodically convened.

Switzerland covers an area of just over forty-three thousand square kilometers. The neighbors of this European state are Germany in the north, France in the west, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east and Italy in the south. Most of the border with Germany in the northern part of the country is divided by the Rhine River, even though the river enters Swiss territory near Schaffhausen. In the east, the border with Germany and part of the border with Austria runs along the coastline of Lake Borden. The southwestern part of the border with the French state passes through another picturesque lake - Lake Geneva. Switzerland's longest border is the border with Italy. Its length is more than seven hundred and forty-one kilometers. For comparison, the border between Switzerland and France is a little over five hundred and seventy kilometers long, with Germany - three hundred and sixty-two kilometers, and with Austria and Liechtenstein - a total of just over two hundred kilometers. It is noteworthy that Switzerland is landlocked.

More than fifty-eight percent of the country's area is occupied by the Alpine Mountains and another ten percent by the Jura Mountains. Mont Tandre, the highest peak in the Jura, is also located in Switzerland. But the highest point of the country is considered to be Peak Dufour, and the lowest is Lake Lago Maggiore. The Matterhorn has long been the most famous mountain peak in Switzerland. The central part of the state is occupied by the Swiss Plateau. It is in this part of Switzerland that most of the industry is concentrated, cattle breeding and agriculture are well developed. This is also where most of the Swiss live.

Switzerland contains more than six percent of the fresh water reserves of all Europe. This is primarily due to the large number of lakes of glacial origin. It is in the Swiss lands that rivers such as the Inn, Rhone and, of course, the Rhine originate.

Conventionally, Switzerland can be divided into four regions. The most flat northern region contains the cantons of Aargau, Glarus, Basel, Thurgau, St. Gallen and Zurich. In the more mountainous Western region are Geneva, Bern, Vaud, Fribourg and Neuchâtel. Central Switzerland includes the cantons of Unterwalden, Lucerne, Uri and Schwyz. The southern region of the country is the smallest in area.

SWISS CONFEDERATION

Pronunciation (US):

Dictionary entry overview: What does Swiss Confederation mean?

SWISS CONFEDERATION(noun)
The noun SWISS CONFEDERATION has 1 sense:

1. a landlocked federal republic in central Europe

Familiarity information: SWISS CONFEDERATION used as a noun is very rare.

Dictionary entry details

SWISS CONFEDERATION(noun)

Meaning:

A landlocked federal republic in central Europe

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

Swiss; Suisse; Svizzera; Swiss Confederation; Switzerland

Instance hypernyms:

European country; European nation (countries occupying the European continent)

Meronyms (parts of "Swiss Confederation"):

Weisshorn (a mountain in the Alps in Switzerland (14,804 feet high))

Zurich (the largest city in Switzerland; located in the northern part of the country)

Aar; Aare; Aare River (a river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine)

Alps; the Alps (a large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction)

Lake Geneva; Lake Leman (a lake between southwestern Switzerland and France that is crossed from east to west by the Rhone)

Matterhorn (a mountain in the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy (14,780 feet high); noted for its distinctive shape)

Rhein; Rhine; Rhine River (a major European river carrying more traffic than any other river in the world; flows into the North Sea)

Rhone; Rhone River (a major French river; flows into the Mediterranean near Marseilles)

Lausanne (a city in western Switzerland; cultural and commercial center)

Interlaken (a popular resort town in the Alps in west central Switzerland)

Geneva; Geneve; Genf (a city in southwestern Switzerland at the western end of Lake Geneva; it is the headquarters of various international organizations)

Bale; Basel; Basle (a city in northwestern Switzerland)

Bern; Berne; capital of Switzerland (the capital of Switzerland; located in western Switzerland)

Swiss canton (one of the cantons of Switzerland)

Savoy (a geographical region of historical importance; a former duchy in what is now southwestern France, western Switzerland, and northwestern Italy)

Tessin; Ticino (an Italian-speaking region of southern Switzerland)

Domain member region:

commune (the smallest administrative district of several European countries)

International Relations and Security Network; ISN (Switzerland’s information network for security and defense studies and for peace and conflict research and for international relations)

battle of Sempatch; Sempatch (the Swiss Confederation escaped Hapsburg domination by their victory in 1386)

Holonyms ("Swiss Confederation" is a part of...):

Europe (the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use ‘Europe’ to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles)

"He that will steal an egg will steal an ox." (English proverb)

"Good fences make good neighbors." (Robert Frost)

"Blind bear picks corn, picks one and throws one." (Chinese proverb)

"When two dogs fight over a bone, a third one carries it away." (Dutch proverb)

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» SWISS

Which borders Switzerland

There are large industrial centers such as Zurich. The central part, east and south - mountains, deep gorges, eternal snow and glaciers.

The embankment of Lake Geneva, the Valais valley, where the Rhone River flows, is an area of gardens, fields and vineyards. Here is the famous Swiss resort of Lausanne.

On the border with France, Geneva.

One of the most prestigious resorts in Switzerland, surrounded by three of the highest peaks in Europe - the Zermatt ski center.

This is a great place for skiers of all levels. There is no traffic allowed here, so the air is unusually clean.

Davos is an elite resort. Famous politicians and business people love to visit here. Financiers.

The resort of Saas-Fee is one of the highest mountain destinations in Switzerland.

It has magnificent mountains, the magnificent Mittellallen ski area and many amenities including dedicated toboggan slopes, regular skis, monolines, outdoor skating rinks, etc.

climate:

The mountains are predetermined by the different climatic zones of Switzerland. In the mountains, it is usually not hot in the summer, but in the lowlands and in the northern part of the country it is quite warm.

Weather forecast for non-governmental organizations "Map Makers": Bern, Geneva, Zurich

Internet:

The time for Chisinau is an hour behind.

currency:

The national currency is the Swiss franc.

One of the revelations is equal to 100 centimes.

To obtain a visa, you must have a foreign passport, an application form, a travel commitment signed by the client, an air ticket and 1 photograph. The visa is issued within two days.

State structure

Officially Switzerland is confederation(which means a union of several independent states), but is essentially a federal republic uniting several sovereign cantons under a single authority and with a single federal center.
This discrepancy arose due to the historical name of the country in Latin - Confoederatio Helvetica, corresponding to the state structure before 1848.

In 1848, a new Swiss constitution was announced, according to which several individual cantons united into a strong union state with a single political system.

From this moment the modern history of Switzerland begins as a country with complete order in the political system. The new constitution also laid the foundations federal parliamentary system, which are still in effect today.

Switzerland cannot be called a true parliamentary or presidential republic, since the country has unique rules in its government structure.

Legislative power belongs to a bicameral parliament - the Federal Assembly, which is divided into the National Council and the Council of Cantons, which are completely equal in rights. The National Council consists of 200 deputies elected for 4 years by universal suffrage.

Who does Switzerland border with?

The Council of Cantons consists of 2 representatives from each canton and one from half-cantons.

Any laws adopted must be approved by deputies of both chambers in order to minimize the risk of laws being passed that do not meet the interests of the country's residents. In addition, within 10 days after the parliament passes any law, a national referendum is held, in which at least 50 thousand signatures must be collected for approval.

This is how the policy of direct democracy is implemented in Switzerland. Changes to the Constitution are approved only through a nationwide mandatory referendum.

Members of Parliament appoint 7 members of the Federal Council, which is the government with executive powers. Each year, one of these 7 representatives is appointed to the post of president, thus the head of state changes annually.

The remaining members of the Federal Council head departments or ministries, one of them is also appointed vice-president. The composition of the Federal Council is selected in such a way that it includes representatives of all major political parties and geographical areas of the country.

All government bodies are located in the capital of the country, the city of Bern. The Swiss Federal Court, which has the highest judicial power, is located in Lausanne.

Although this body is essentially the supreme court of the state, it cannot declare federal laws unconstitutional.

Switzerland consists of 26 cantons and semi-cantons, each of which has its own authorities and its own constitution, limited by the main Swiss constitution.

The federal authorities decide issues of war, foreign policy, the army, the management of the federal budget, and railroads. Executive power in the cantons belongs to the government council, consisting of several members - from 5 to 11 people, headed by the president. In small cantons the government operates on a voluntary basis.

The current version of the page has not yet been verified by experienced participants and may differ significantly from the one verified on May 20, 2018; checks are required.

Territorial structure of Switzerland as a federal republic it includes 26 cantons (20 cantons and 6 half-cantons).

The cantons (German Kantone, French cantons, Italian cantoni, romsh.chantuns) are the largest state-territorial units of the Swiss Confederation. The lowest level of territorial-administrative division is communities (German Gemeinde), of which there were 2,495 as of January 2012 (in 2011 - 2,495 communities).

Below is a list of cantons (it is worth noting that many cities in Switzerland have different names, used in different languages of the country).

Each canton has its own constitution and laws, the legislative body is the cantonal council ( cantonsrat ), or grand council, the executive body - the ruling council ( regierungsrat ), or the state council consisting of the governor ( landammann ), or the chairman of the state council, and government advisers ( regierungsrat ), or government advisors.

Canton is completely independent in solving internal problems. The central government is in charge of international affairs, the federal budget and the issue of money.

However, Switzerland is a single state. The country's motto: “One for all and all for one!” (Latin: Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno).

Neighboring countries of Switzerland and their capitals on the map

The most recent by date of formation is the canton of Jura (separated from the canton of Bern in 1979 following a referendum).

1 Until 1999 it had the status of a half-canton. According to the Swiss constitution of 1999, it received de jure cantonal status, but de facto remained a semi-canton with limited rights.

Switzerland

Population of Switzerland

As can be seen from the historical sketch, a single ethnic community has not developed in Switzerland. The linguistic and ethnic differences of the population of Switzerland are still very clear: each of the four Swiss peoples - the German-Swiss, the French-Swiss, the Italian-Swiss and the Romansh - is a separate ethnic community, distinguished by national identity, language and cultural identity.

At the same time, every resident of Switzerland is aware not only of his ethnic and cantonal affiliation, but also of the state community, expressed in a single self-name - the Swiss and in the general outlines of their culture.

Swiss censuses give the composition of the population by language, taking it as a national identifier.

According to the latest census in 1970, of the total Swiss population of 5,189,707 (not counting emigrants), 3,864,684 spoke German, 1,045,091 spoke French, 207,557 spoke Italian and 49,455 spoke Romansh dialects.

The languages of the peoples of Switzerland belong to two different language groups: Romance (French, Italian, Romansh) and Germanic (German).

Despite the multilingual composition of the population, there are no acute national contradictions in Switzerland.

Which countries does Switzerland border with?

According to the Swiss constitution, all four peoples have equal rights, and their languages are recognized as national ones. State paperwork and laws common to all of Switzerland are published in four languages.

Three peoples - the German-Swiss, the French-Swiss and the Italian-Swiss - live in compact groups in historically established areas. The German-Swiss are settled in 15 cantons in the north, northeast and center of the country; The French-Swiss make up the main population of the three western cantons - Vaud, Geneva and Neuchâtel, as well as a significant part of the inhabitants of the cantons of Friborg, Valais and Bern; The Italian-Swiss live in part of the canton of Tessin and in two neighboring areas of the canton of Grisons.

The oldest and smallest population of Switzerland - the Romansh people live in part of the canton of Graubünden. The boundaries of all these areas have developed historically. The native language of the inhabitants of each ethnic region is the main spoken language within its borders, as well as the language of the press, school education, radio broadcasts, etc.

The German-Swiss and Italian-Swiss speak dialects that differ significantly from their respective literary languages. A German, for example, does not always understand a German-Swiss. But the German-Swiss and Italian-Swiss write in literary languages.

Romansh people speak and write in dialects.

Recently, the intensive development of industry and transport, accompanied by an increase in internal migration and increased contacts between the Swiss, has contributed to the spread of bilingualism, mainly among residents of large cities, tourist and resort centers, as well as in border areas.

The peculiarities of the historical development of the Swiss state, which for a long time represented a union of separate independent cantons, have led to the fact that even now the consciousness of belonging to a particular canton often manifests itself much stronger than the ethnic one.

Therefore, the Swiss often call themselves not by nationality, but by cantonal affiliation - “Bernese”, “Wallisians”, etc. Residents of various cantons differ in some features in folk clothing, food, customs, and they are characterized by local patriotism.

The majority of the Swiss belong to two religions: Protestantism (2.9 million).

people) and Catholicism (2.2 million). Among Protestants, followers of Calvin predominate.

The cantons of Vaud, Schaffhausen, City Basel, Zurich, Bern, Glarus, Neuchâtel, and Geneva belong to the Protestant Church.

Catholicism is spread over a larger area, but in a less populated part of the country. The cantons of Schwyz, Uri Unterwalden, Tessin, Friborg, Solothurn, Valais, Lucerne and Zug remained Catholic after the Reformation. In some cantons (Appenzell, Aargau, Grisons) the number of Catholics and Protestants is almost equal. In recent years, the number of Catholics has increased markedly, which is explained by the higher birth rate in Catholic families, as well as the naturalization of foreigners, most of whom profess Catholicism.

until the end of the 1970s, the population of Switzerland grew by 15%. The population of the cantons of Geneva and Tessin grew especially rapidly, where many foreign workers were sent in the 60s and 70s. In the cantons of central and northeastern Switzerland, the increase was minimal, and in Glarus there was even a decrease in population.

Over the past two decades, the birth rate has been declining, but at the same time the mortality rate has also decreased.

Therefore, natural population growth still occurred, although it decreased from 7.9 per 1000 inhabitants in 1960 to 3.0 in 1977.

Along with the Swiss, more than 1 million foreigners live in the country. No other European country has such a high proportion of foreigners in its population. These are primarily workers recruited for a long term to work in industry, construction, and the service sector.

In 1978, there were 750 thousand foreign workers in Switzerland - mainly Italian, Spanish, but also from Turkey, Greece and Portugal.

In addition to permanent immigration, there is also seasonal immigration. About 200 thousand people come to Switzerland for construction and agricultural work. Almost 100 thousand residents of the border areas of Germany and France commute to work in Switzerland every day.

During the years of the economic crisis, about 300 thousand were closed in Swiss industry.

jobs, and yet the number of unemployed in the country is small. The fact is that foreign workers are simply evicted from Switzerland, and unemployment is being “exported”.

Foreign workers are especially widely used in the most difficult, unhealthy or dirty jobs. They huddle in barracks, not protected from the arbitrariness of entrepreneurs; If foreign workers openly express protest and dissatisfaction with their working and living conditions, they face immediate expulsion.

In the northern cantons of Switzerland, hostile attacks against foreign workers are not uncommon; At the same time, behind the chauvinist-minded part of the population are bourgeois political groups interested in pitting the Swiss against immigrants.

The authorities are taking measures to limit the influx of foreigners: for naturalization it is necessary to live in Switzerland for at least 10 years, have guaranteed work and housing, be “reliable” politically, etc.

At the same time, many Swiss travel to foreign countries, although, as a rule, only for temporary residence. These are mainly qualified specialists who travel to foreign countries to work at Swiss enterprises. Some highly qualified personnel are simply lured to the USA and Germany.

325 thousand Swiss live abroad.

In Switzerland, which did not participate in either the first or second world wars, there are almost the same number of women and men - 50.7 and 49.3%, respectively (1970).

The peculiarities of a country's economic development are reflected in the socio-economic structure of its population.

The number of people employed in industry is constantly growing - from 44% in 1941 to 48% in 1970. And the percentage of the economically active population employed in agriculture during the same period decreased from 30 to 8%. During this time, the share of people employed in the service sector increased significantly: from 35 to 44%.

The country is extremely unevenly populated. The average population density is 154 people per 1 sq. km, but on the Swiss Plateau and in the northeastern part of the country it reaches 250 people per 1 sq.

km. In the mountainous central and southern parts of Switzerland (with the exception of the canton of Tessin), as well as in the east, the population is very sparse - from 25 to 50 people per 1 sq. km.

Internal migration of the population is small; It mainly comes from purely agricultural areas to industrialized areas and, to a lesser extent, to large cities. Population movements are complicated by linguistic and religious differences between the cantons.

More than half of the Swiss live in cities, but there are few large cities: only Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Bern and Lausanne have more than 100 thousand.

residents. Only 4 cities have from 50 to 100 thousand inhabitants. The majority of the country's cities have less than 20 thousand inhabitants.