Capital of Switzerland. Which countries does Switzerland border on? The southern European state that Switzerland borders on.

is a mountainous country located in southern Central Europe, in the heart of the Alps. It borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein.

The name comes from the name of the canton of Schwyz, derived from the Old German “to burn”.

Official name: Swiss Confederation

Capital: Berne

The area of ​​the land: 41.3 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 8.6 million people

Administrative division: Switzerland is a federation of 23 cantons (3 of them are divided into half-cantons).

Form of government: Federal parliamentary republic. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament and government.

Head of State: The president is elected by parliament for a year from among the members of the government.

Population composition: 65% are Germans, 18% are French, 10% are Italians and 1% are Romansh.

Official language: German, French, Italian and Romansh are the national and official languages ​​of the Swiss Confederation.

Religion: 50% are Catholics, 48% are Protestants.

Internet domain: .ch

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +41

Country barcode: 760-769

Climate

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).

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.

Geography

Swiss Confederation, 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.

The Jura Mountains, the Swiss Plateau (the so-called "middle zone") and the Alps are the three main geographical regions of the country.

Most of the country is located in the Alps. The average height of the mountains is 1,700 m. The snow limit lies at an altitude of 2,500 m. The Swiss Alps have about 100 mountains with a height of 4,000 m or more, as well as about 1,800 glaciers. The second highest mountains in Switzerland are the Jura. These mountains became famous thanks to excavations, which resulted in the discovery of numerous dinosaur remains. It was from the excavation site in the limestone Jura Mountains that the name of the geological period was given.

In Switzerland you can find everything that is found in Europe. It has gathered within its borders all the captivating contrasts characteristic of this continent, offering the attention and senses of the traveler a rare combination of natural and man-made attractions.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

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.

Animal world

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.

Attractions

Switzerland is an example of a classic tourist country - elegant cities and famous resorts with cozy hotels, majestic mountains, pristine lakes and picturesque hillsides. Here, all the beauties of nature and outstanding creations of human hands are concentrated in a small space.

The country is replete with small towns with unique flavor, such as Biel - the “watch capital” with two official languages, the famous Solothurn - a city with Baroque buildings and many cultural monuments, Chur - the oldest city in Switzerland (2500 BC). ), Disentis with an interesting Benedictine monastery and museum (8th century), Münster with a Benedictine nunnery (8th century, UNESCO protected cultural monument), Guarda and Splügen - typical Alpine villages with many beautiful "chalets", the birthplace of Le Corbusier - La Chaux-de-Fonds with its International Watch Museum, Afoltern and Emmental, where the famous cheese exhibitions are held, or Romont with its Swiss Museum of Glass Painting. Each such town has a unique charm and deserves special attention.

Banks and currency

Swiss franc (CHF), equal to 100 centimes (rappen in German Switzerland). There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs, as well as coins in 5, 2, 1 franc, 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Banks and currency exchange are open from 8.00 to 16.00 (some until 17.00 - 18.00) on weekdays, break from 12.00 to 14.00. Once a week banks are open longer than usual. Currency exchange offices at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8.00 to 22.00, often around the clock.

Many stores accept convertible currencies, and all major credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted. You can change money at any bank branch, in the evening - at exchange offices of large department stores, airports and at some travel agencies. It is better to change money abroad, since in Switzerland itself the exchange rate of the national currency is overvalued.

Useful information for tourists

There are no endemic infectious diseases in Switzerland. Vaccinations against such are not required upon entry, with the exception of those who have been in an epidemic area 14 days before arriving in Switzerland. Swiss medical institutions are among the best in the world. For a doctor's visit or hospitalization, you must pay a deposit in cash, traveler's checks, or provide medical insurance. You will be sent an invoice after your hospitalization, but you may be asked to pay on the spot.

The most popular items among buyers are jewelry, watches and chocolate. All major jewelry companies have their representative office in Geneva. For Switzerland, watches have become the embodiment of precision, elegance, and a kind of world standard.

It is usually not customary to tip, except in restaurants, where the tip is 10% of the order price. We advise you to read the bill carefully, not to save money, but to respect tradition, and never exceed a 10% tip. They are handed over only after the change to the centime is brought.

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 name comes from the name of the canton of Schwyz, derived from the Old German “to burn”.

Capital of Switzerland. Berne.

Switzerland area. 41284 km2.

Population of Switzerland. 7300 thousand people

Administrative divisions of Switzerland. Switzerland is a federation of 23 cantons (3 of them are divided into half-cantons).

Form of government of Switzerland. Federal parliamentary republic. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament and government.

Head of State of Switzerland. The president is elected by parliament for a year from among the members of the government.

Supreme legislative body of Switzerland. Federal Assembly (bicameral parliament), consisting of the National Council and the Council of Cantons and elected for a term of 4 years.

Supreme executive body of Switzerland. Federal Council (government).

Major cities in Switzerland. Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne.

Official language of Switzerland. German, French, Italian, Romansh.

Fauna of Switzerland. The fauna is represented by: chamois, marten, hare, marmot, fox, etc. For birds, the climate of the Alps provides a unique opportunity for rapid seasonal birds, so there are a large number of them here. There are many swans and ducks on the lakes and floodplains. A Swiss National Park has been created along the border with Italy.

SWITZERLAND
Swiss Confederation, 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 - along the Italian Alps and Lake Geneva. The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Switzerland. The capital is Bern. Population - 7100 thousand people (1997). Population density: 172 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 61%, rural - 39% (1996). Area - 41.3 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Peak Dufour (4634 m above sea level). The lowest point is 192 m above sea level. National languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh. The main religions are Catholicism, Protestantism. Administrative division: 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. Currency: Swiss franc = 100 rappenams (centimes). National holiday: Founding Day of the Confederation ("oath on Rütli") - August 1. National anthem: "Swiss Psalm".

NATURE
Surface structure. 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). Rivers and lakes.

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 Inn river basin (a 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. Switzerland has pronounced climatic differences due to altitude and exposure to sun and winds. The climate is humid, on the plateau - moderately warm, in the mountains - cold. Daily temperatures in the lowlands fluctuate on average throughout the year from 10 to 16°C; in summer they rise to 27°C or more. The hottest month is July, the coldest is January. The highest peaks of the Alps are covered with eternal snow. The snow line rises to 2700 m on the western slopes and to 3200 m on the eastern ones. In winter, temperatures drop below 0°C throughout the country, with the exception of the northern shore of Lake Geneva and the shores of lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore, some of which belong to Italy. The climate there is as mild as in Northern Italy, since the mountains protect against the invasion of cold northern winds (bizet). In January-February, when high pressure prevails over the Alps, clear, cold weather sets in, favorable for winter sports. The southern slopes receive a lot of solar heat at this time. In Switzerland there are frequent sharp strong winds accompanied by rain and snowfall. In spring, summer and autumn, foehns prevail - warm, dry winds blowing from the east and southeast. As currents of moist air from the Mediterranean Sea rise up the slopes of the Alps and then descend to the Swiss plateau, precipitation falls on the southern slopes almost twice as much as on the northern ones. The average annual precipitation in Basel (277 m above sea level) is 810 mm, in Lausanne (375 m) on the northern shore of Lake Geneva - 1040 mm, and in Davos (1580 m) in the southeast of the country - 970 mm.
Flora and fauna. 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.
POPULATION
Ethnic groups. 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.
Languages. 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. The Romansh language is spoken only in the mountainous canton of Graubünden.
Religion. 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.
Population. In 1997, the population of Switzerland was 7,097 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).

STATE AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE
Federalism and democracy. The basic principles of the Swiss constitution of 1874 are federalism and democracy. Article 3 of the constitution guarantees the 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons into which Switzerland is divided all rights of self-government, with the exception of those that are the prerogative of the federal government. These include declaring war and concluding peace, signing international treaties and joining alliances, training, material support and leadership of the armed forces, and regulation of foreign trade. The federal government and cantonal authorities have the right to impose taxes. In addition, the federal government exercises control over communications, higher education, and labor. The adoption of the principle of federalism played a significant role in uniting the very diverse cantonal states into the first all-Swiss union state in 1848. Over time, the federal government began to more actively influence all aspects of life in the country. Nevertheless, the Swiss still feel a strong attachment to their native cantons and their traditions. Until 1971, Switzerland was one of the few countries in the world where women did not have the right to vote on a national level. In February 1971, the male electorate approved a constitutional amendment giving the country's women the right to vote and be elected in federal elections. At the cantonal level, the granting of voting rights to women was delayed: in the German-speaking semi-canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, women finally received the right to vote only in 1991. The Swiss constitution also includes mandatory referendums on all amendments to the constitution, popular initiatives to put forward such amendments, and legislative referendums on certain laws and treaties. The same rights, often in conjunction with legislative initiative, apply at the cantonal and local levels. In addition, some cantons retained direct democracy in the form of a general assembly of residents (Landsgemeinde): a system of direct participation of all voters of a canton or locality in the approval of certain laws and the election of officials. Following a referendum held in March 1991, the voting age for federal elections was lowered from 20 to 18 years.
Political system. The main organs of the Swiss Confederation are the Federal Council, the Federal Assembly and the Federal Court. The executive body is a federal council of seven members elected by parliament for a term of four years. The only formal limitation on the composition of this body is that only one deputy can be elected from each canton. However, in fact, the composition of the council is strictly limited by tradition: for example, the main geographical regions of the country and two of the language groups (French- and Italian-speaking) must be represented in it. Since 1959, the composition of the council has wherever possible reflected the influence of the main political parties. Each year, one of the council members is elected President of Switzerland, but this position is not vested with special powers. Switzerland's legislative body, the Federal Assembly, consists of two chambers: the cantonal council, to which two representatives are elected from each canton and one from each half-canton, and the national council of 200 deputies, elected in proportion to the population of the cantons. The Assembly is elected for a term of four years. It has normal legislative powers, but some laws must be approved by popular referendum. 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. The federal court consists of 26-28 judges and 11-13 jurors, who sit in separate rooms 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. Much 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, the Union of Independents, the Liberal Party and the 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.
ECONOMY
General characteristics. Switzerland is poor in natural resources, apart from hydropower. Nevertheless, it is a prosperous country, in many respects the richest in Europe, primarily due to the high development of the manufacturing and service industries (tourism is especially important). During the period 1950-1990, the economy grew steadily, unemployment was kept low, inflation was contained by the Swiss National Bank, and business downturns were short-lived. The economic downturn that hit most European countries in the early 1990s also affected Switzerland: unemployment reached its highest level since 1939 and inflation rates increased. Nevertheless, the standard of living in the country remained very high. In 1997, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Switzerland was estimated nominally at 365 billion Swiss francs, in reality - at 316 billion. In per capita terms - 51.4 thousand Swiss francs (nominally) and 44.5 thousand (real).
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), in agriculture and forestry - 5% 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 do 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 positive foreign trade balance was achieved for the first time: in 1997, the value of exports amounted to 105.1 billion Swiss francs, and imports - 103.1 billion. The leading foreign trade partners of Switzerland are Germany, the USA, Italy, France and Great Britain. 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 plants meet 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 section Basel - Rheinfelden. 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.
Money circulation and banking activities. Switzerland is one of the most important financial centers in the world. Its banking system greatly exceeds the volume needed 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 exchange in Zurich 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.
Public finances. 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.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education. Universal primary and secondary education is the responsibility of the cantonal authorities, so the age limit for compulsory education varies. Most children attend school between the ages of 7 and 15 or 16 years. Almost all public schools are free. There are practically no illiterates in the country. There are many private schools in Switzerland that accept students from all over the world. There are 9 universities in the country - in Basel, Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Friborg, Neuchâtel, Lugano and St. Gallen. All of them are under the control of the cantons. There are many foreign students studying at universities. There are several other higher education institutions. The total number of students in 1997/1998 was 93 thousand.
Development of culture. 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. Recognized 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 are famous: Otmar Scheck (1886-1957), Frank Martin (1890-1974) and Willy Burkhard (1900-1955). 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. 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 Tepffer 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.
STORY
Creation of the Swiss Confederation. Among the Celtic tribes that inhabited the territory of Switzerland in prehistoric times, the Helvetii stood out, becoming allies of the Romans after they were defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Bibractus in 58 BC. e. In 15 BC The Rhaetae were also conquered by Rome. In the next three centuries, Roman influence contributed to the development of the culture of the population and its Romanization. In the 4th-5th centuries. AD The territory of present-day Switzerland was captured by the German tribes of the Alemanni and Burgundians. In the 6th-7th centuries. it became part of the kingdom of the Franks and in the 8th-9th centuries. was under the rule of Charlemagne and his successors. The subsequent fate of these lands is closely connected with the history of the Holy Roman Empire. After the collapse of the Carolingian Empire, they were captured by the Swabian dukes in the 10th century, but they were unable to keep them under their rule, and the region disintegrated into separate fiefs. In the 12th-13th centuries. Attempts were made to unite them under the rule of large feudal lords, such as the Zähringens, the founders of Bern and Fribourg, and the Habsburgs. In 1264 the Habsburgs gained a dominant position in eastern Switzerland. The Counts of Savoy gained a foothold in the west. The Habsburgs encountered strong resistance when they tried to unify their domains by abolishing the privileges of some local communities. At the center of this resistance were the peasants living in the mountain valleys of Schwyz (hence the name of the country Switzerland), Uri and Unterwalden. These forest cantons, located on the strategically important road over the Gotthard Pass, benefited from the struggle between the Hohenstaufen emperors and the papacy. In 1231, Uri, and in 1240, Schwyz received the rights of imperial territories of the Holy Roman Empire, freed from dependence on petty feudal lords. After the death of Emperor Frederick II in 1250, the empire entered a period of decline, marked by civil war during the Great Interregnum of 1250-1273. The Habsburgs, who did not recognize the rights of Uri and Schwyz, tried to conquer Schwyz in 1245-1252. Uri and Unterwalden came to his aid and entered into a temporary alliance. In August 1291, the Swiss communities entered into a permanent defensive alliance among themselves and signed a treaty known as the "Eternal Alliance", the first documented evidence of cooperation between the forest cantons. This year marks the beginning of the official history of the Swiss state. Part of the traditional legend about these events, associated with the name of William Tell, is not confirmed in historical documents.

Growth and expansion of the confederation. The first proof of the strength of the confederation was given in 1315, when the highlanders of the forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden faced superior forces of the Habsburgs and their allies. At the Battle of Morgarten they won what is considered one of the most important victories in Swiss history. This victory encouraged other communities to join the confederation. In 1332-1353, the cities of Lucerne, Zurich and Bern, the rural communities of Glarus and Zug entered into separate agreements with the three united cantons, forming a number of confederations. Although these agreements did not have a common basis, they were able to ensure the main thing - the independence of each of the participants. Having been defeated at the battles of Sempach in 1386 and Näfels in 1388, the Habsburgs were finally forced to recognize the independence of the cantons, united in a confederation. At the beginning of the 15th century. The confederates felt strong enough to go on the offensive. During numerous wars and campaigns against the Austrian Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire, the Dukes of Savoy, Burgundy and Milan, and the French King Francis I, the Swiss gained a reputation as magnificent warriors. They were feared by their enemies and respected by their allies. During the "heroic age" of Swiss history (1415-1513), the territory of the confederation expanded by annexing new lands in Aargau, Thurgau, Vaud, as well as south of the Alps. 5 new cantons were created. From 1513-1798 Switzerland became a confederation of 13 cantons. In addition to them, the confederation included lands that entered into an alliance with one or more cantons. There was no permanent central body: all-Union Sejms were periodically convened, where only full-fledged cantons had the right to vote. There was no all-Union administration, army or finance, and this situation remained until the French Revolution.
From the Reformation to the French Revolution. In 1523 Huldrych Zwingli openly defied the Roman Catholic Church and led a movement for religious reform in Zurich. He was supported by residents of a number of other cities in northern Switzerland, but in rural areas he met resistance. In addition, differences arose with the radical Anabaptist wing of his followers in Zurich itself. The Zwinglian movement of Protestantism subsequently merged with the movement of John Calvin from Geneva into the Swiss Reformed Church. Since the cantons of central Switzerland remained Catholic, a schism along religious lines was inevitable. After short religious clashes, an approximate balance was established between both religions. In 1648, Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was officially recognized by the Treaty of Westphalia. Political life of Switzerland in the 18th century. was calm. The Bernese naturalist and poet Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777), the historian J. von Müller, as well as the Geneva-born philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau and the great educator and humanist from Zurich I. G. Pestalozzi became famous in the “Age of Enlightenment.” At this time, a stream of foreign guests rushed to Switzerland, among them Voltaire, Gibbon and Goethe.
Revolution and restoration of the Confederacy. The French Revolution had a profound impact on Switzerland, both politically and philosophically. In 1798, French troops invaded the country and occupied it. The French provided the conquered cantons with a constitution that replaced the loose federation with a "single and indivisible Helvetic Republic." Revolutionary ideas of democracy, civil liberties and centralized power led to the creation of a strong centralized government for the first time in Swiss history. The Constitution of 1798, based on the constitution of the first French Republic, provided all Swiss with equal rights before the law and a code of civil liberties. However, it encroached on traditional federalism, and many Swiss did not want to recognize it. The struggle between the federalists, who opposed the new system, and the centralists, who supported it, temporarily subsided when Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 granted the republic a constitution known as the "Act of Mediation (mediation)." It restored many of the cantons' previous privileges and expanded the number of cantons from 13 to 19. After Napoleon's defeat, the cantons disassociated themselves from the regime imposed by the French and attempted to revive the old confederation. After lengthy negotiations, a Treaty of Union was developed, signed in September 1814. It proclaimed a union of 22 sovereign cantons, but did not indicate that they constituted one state. In the declaration of the Congress of Vienna (March 1815) and the Treaty of Paris (November 1815), the great powers recognized the eternal neutrality of Switzerland.
Civil war and the new constitution. Over the next three decades, liberal sentiment grew in Switzerland. In response to the actions of radicals in the Diet and in some cantons (closing of monasteries in Aargau, expulsion of the Jesuits), seven conservative Catholic cantons formed the Sonderbund defensive union. In 1847, the Sejm, by a small majority of votes, announced the dissolution of this association. The federal army, under the leadership of General Guillaume Dufour, won the civil war before European powers could intervene in the conflict. As a result of the victory over the Sonderbund, a new constitution was adopted (1848). A balance was achieved between the aspirations of the centralist radicals and the federalist conservatives. From a fragile union of cantonal states, Switzerland turned into a single union state. A permanent executive body was created in the form of a federal council of seven members elected by the legislature from two chambers - the national council and the council of cantons. The federal government was given the power to issue money, regulate customs regulations, and, most importantly, determine foreign policy. Bern was chosen as the federal capital. The revised constitution of 1874 and subsequent amendments further strengthened the power of the federal government without jeopardizing the federal basis of the Swiss state. In the last decades of the 19th century. Swiss industry developed and railway construction began. Imported raw materials were processed into high-quality products, which were then supplied to the world market.
Switzerland in the world wars. With the outbreak of the First World War, a threat arose to the national unity of Switzerland: the French-speaking Swiss mainly sympathized with France, and the German-speaking Swiss with Germany. The four-year mobilization placed a heavy burden on the country's economy, there was a shortage of industrial raw materials, unemployment grew, and there was a shortage of food. General discontent resulted in mass strikes in November 1918. In 1919, Geneva was elected as the headquarters of the League of Nations. Switzerland became a member of this organization only after heated internal debates and after receiving guarantees of its neutrality. The outbreak of World War II found the country's population more united: few people in Switzerland welcomed Nazism. However, strategically the position of the confederation was much more vulnerable, since it was surrounded by totalitarian powers.
Foreign policy. With the end of World War II, the League of Nations ceased to exist. Switzerland decided not to join the newly created United Nations (UN) and acquired observer status, which allowed the European headquarters and several specialized UN organizations to be located in Geneva, including the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization. Switzerland considered that refusal to join the UN was the best way to maintain its independent position as a neutral country in the ever-changing balance of power on the world stage. This decision strengthened Switzerland's position in international politics. The country is a member of several UN organizations: the International Court of Justice, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Switzerland provides significant assistance to developing countries. Following a traditional policy of neutrality, Switzerland faced great difficulties in participating in various European integration plans in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1948, it joined the Organization of European Economic Cooperation, but refrained from joining the European Economic Community (later the European Union, EU). The obvious political goals of this organization were unacceptable to Switzerland. However, it became one of the founding countries of the European Free Trade Association in 1959, and in 1963 it joined the Council of Europe, again demonstrating its interest in European cooperation. In 1972, a national referendum ratified a free trade agreement with the EU, according to which tariffs on all industrial products were gradually removed by 1977. In 1983, Switzerland became a full member of the Group of Ten, the grouping of major savers of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Political and social changes. In the 1960s, Switzerland faced a severe internal problem. Several French-speaking districts located in the Jura Mountains in the canton of Bern demanded the formation of a new canton. This met with resistance from the German-speaking population of the region. Federal troops were brought in to prevent clashes. In the early 1970s, voters in the canton of Bern approved a referendum in the French-speaking districts on the issue of secession. As a result of a series of plebiscites held over a number of years, three of the seven districts and several border communities voted to create a new canton. This new canton was named Jura. The decision was then approved by a national referendum in 1978, and the new canton joined the confederation in 1979. In the 1960s, noticeable tensions arose over the issue of the large number of workers from southern European countries coming to work in Switzerland. Despite the traditional international character of the country and the need for foreign participation in its economic life, many Swiss were hostile towards migrants from southern Europe and considered them to be responsible for the country's internal problems, such as the housing shortage. Accordingly, the government introduced restrictions that sharply reduced the share of foreigners among the workforce. The political movement, which demanded a further reduction in the number of foreign workers, did not achieve much support in the elections, but was able to organize referendums in 1970, 1974 and 1977 on constitutional amendments to limit the share of foreigners in the Swiss population. These proposals were not approved, but attempts to limit the presence of foreigners in Switzerland continued in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1982, voters rejected a government proposal to liberalize the rules governing the stay of foreign workers and their families, and in 1987 immigration was further restricted. In 1994, referendum participants approved a tightening of the law on the stay of foreigners. Nevertheless, the contingent of foreign workers remains large - 25% of the total number of employees. At the same time, the number of foreign nationals living in Switzerland has increased to approximately 1.4 million. Many of them are refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and developing countries. In the mid-1980s, the Swiss government made attempts to end the country's isolation and conclude a number of bilateral and multilateral agreements with EU countries. In a 1986 referendum, Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected the government's proposal to join the UN, but six years later they voted for Swiss participation in the IMF and the World Bank. In December 1992, seven months after the government announced Switzerland's intention to join the EU, the population rejected the proposal to join the European Economic Area, which since January 1994 has included the countries of the European Free Trade Association with the EU in a single free trade area. Switzerland's attitude towards the gradually strengthening EU remained a stumbling block for the country's foreign policy in the late 1990s. The 1995 elections revealed a growing polarization of voters' opinions on this issue. The greatest success in them was achieved, on the one hand, by the Social Democrats, who actively support integration, and on the other, by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which opposes not only joining the EU, but also against participation in the European Economic Area and cooperation between Switzerland and other trading countries. and political unions. The decision taken in 1996 to allow the Swiss armed forces to participate in the maneuvers and technological programs of the Partnership for Peace organization caused violent protests in the country. Controversy over monetary contributions from victims of Nazi genocide. In the late 1990s, the Swiss government was involved in an international dispute over the return by private Swiss banks of gold and other valuable property confiscated by Nazi Germany during World War II from victims of the genocide. The subject of discussion was also the cash deposits and valuables placed by European Jews in Swiss banks before and during the war in order to protect them from capture by the Nazis. Immediately after the war, Switzerland agreed to return the stolen deposits to the victims and their heirs. But in court cases that attracted much public attention in the mid-1990s, private plaintiffs and Jewish legal groups argued that Switzerland had failed to live up to its obligations and accused Swiss banks of preventing heirs from accessing "frozen" accounts. deceased investors. Since 1996, American local and federal politicians and organizations have launched a campaign to return the so-called. Nazi gold, and many US municipalities, including New York City, threatened to impose economic sanctions against Swiss banks if the latter refused to assist the plaintiffs. In August 1998, the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt banking group and the SchBF agreed to pay $1.25 billion in compensation to the victims of the genocide and their heirs. After this, threats of sanctions were stopped. The controversy damaged Switzerland's international prestige and caused outrage in the country. The US and European media often portrayed Swiss bankers and diplomats as extremely unsympathetic people who showed indifference to the claims of genocide victims. Public attention was also drawn to the aid that came to Nazi Germany from Switzerland. Despite the country's neutrality, Swiss industrialists supplied raw materials and industrial products to Hitler's Germany. Many Swiss politicians felt that US officials were portraying them as villains; The Swiss were of the opinion that the agreement reached was a capitulation to outside pressure, humiliating for the nation as a whole.
The fight for women's rights. The women's enfranchisement movement, which first achieved success in the French-speaking cantons in the late 1950s, achieved its main goal only in 1971, when women gained the right to vote and be elected in federal elections. However, in a number of cantons, women continued to face obstacles for a long time in exercising their voting rights in local elections. In 1991, in the German-speaking semi-canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, the last Swiss territory to oppose women's emancipation, they gained the right to participate in annual meetings of voters. The next step was the adoption of a constitutional amendment in 1981 guaranteeing equal rights for women. In 1984 Elisabeth Kopp became the first woman elected to a federal council. In 1985, women were granted equal rights in the family (before this, the husband was considered the head of the family, which allowed him to unilaterally manage family finances and not allow his wife to work). In 1991, the city council of Bern decided that its membership should not be more than 60% of the same gender.
Environmental measures. Switzerland's transit position in the system of meridional European transportation carried out by heavy vehicles has complicated the environmental situation on the country's mountain roads. In addition, exhaust gases contributed to the destruction of forests that protect mountain villages in Switzerland from avalanches and mudflows. To reduce exhaust emissions from vehicles, the Swiss government introduced road taxes in 1985, established a maximum weight limit for vehicles (28 tons), and limited traffic at night and on weekends. In a 1994 referendum, voters approved a decision that by 2004 foreign commercial cargo would have to be transported through Switzerland only by rail.
Economic development. Until the end of the 1980s, Switzerland had a positive budget balance. Its economy was characterized by low inflation, low unemployment and low interest rates. In 1988 and 1989, budgets exceeded revenues by $900 million and $300 million, respectively; unemployment in 1987 reached a record low of 0.7%. However, rising inflation (6% in 1991) prompted the Swiss National Bank to raise interest rates and limit the issue of money. In the early 1990s, there was a recession in the country's economy. Although gross domestic product contracted by less than 1% between 1991 and 1993, the unemployment rate reached 3.6% in 1992 and 4.5% at the end of 1993, mainly due to a decline in construction and engineering jobs. In 1994 there were signs of economic recovery, especially in international financial services, but unemployment in manufacturing and other industries continued to rise. In 1997, the situation improved due to increased exports, demand revived, and investments increased, but investment in construction continued to decline.
LITERATURE
Sabelnikov L.V. Switzerland. Economics and foreign trade. M., 1962 Mogutin V.B. Switzerland: big business in a small country. M., 1975 Dragunov G.P. Switzerland: history and modernity. M., 1978 A manual on democracy: The functioning of a democratic state using the example of Switzerland. M., 1994 Schaffhauser R. Fundamentals of Swiss communal law using the example of communal law of the canton of St. Gallen. St. Petersburg, 1996

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

The report on Switzerland contains a brief description of the country. The story about Switzerland for children will be complemented by interesting facts about Switzerland.

Brief information about Switzerland

• Geographical location of Switzerland

Switzerland is located in the very center of Europe, between Lake Constance and Lake Geneva. The country is bordered in the north by Germany, in the east by Liechtenstein and Austria, in the south by Italy, and in the west by France.

• Languages ​​of Switzerland

The official languages ​​are German, French, Italian and Romansh. About 66% of the population speak German, 18% speak French, and 10% speak Italian.

• Population of Switzerland

The population of Switzerland is 8.4 million people (2016).

• Administrative structure of Switzerland

Form of government of Switzerland- a federal republic consisting of 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. Each canton has its own constitution, government and parliament, but the sovereignty of the cantons is currently significantly limited. The head of state and government is the president.

• Cities of Switzerland

The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

The major cities of Switzerland are Bern, Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne.

• Industry of Switzerland

The most important industrial sectors are textile, clothing, engineering, food and chemicals.

• Nature of Switzerland

Switzerland is a country of mountains. These mountains are divided into three parts. The first is the Jura Mountains in the north. The second is the central Swiss plateau. And the third is the famous Alps in the south, occupying 60% of the territory of Switzerland.

There is no sea in Switzerland, but there are rivers. And the most stormy ones are the Rhine, Aare, Rhone. There are enough forests in this country. And the lakes are so beautiful, clean and transparent that you can look in them like in a mirror.

Swiss watches, Swiss chocolate and cheese are famous all over the world.

Switzerland is famous for its mountain resorts

It is also famous for its banks, where the money of many rich people from different countries is stored.

The whole world knows this country as the birthplace of the folding knife with many blades

The highest railway is also located in Switzerland. And the highest amazing station is located on the most beautiful peak of the Bernese Alps called Jungfrau. Its height is 4158 meters.

Scientists Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Carl Jung, Albert Einstein, composers Richard Wagner and Sergei Rachmaninov lived and worked in Switzerland.

Switzerland receives 15% of its national income from the tourism industry.