Landscape and Living Space
Geography
Switzerland borders Germany in the north, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein in the east, Italy in the south and France in the west. Switzerland is a small, mountainous country, extending over a part of the central Alps and the northern pre-Alps.
With its mountains and hills, rivers and lakes, Switzerland boasts a diverse landscape despite measuring only 220 kilometres (137 miles) from north to south and 348 kilometres (217 miles) from west to east. At Lake Maggiore in the south, palm trees thrive at 192 metres (630 ft) above sea level, while less than 100 kilometres (65 miles) away, the 48 mountain peaks rising 4000 metres (13,120 ft) above sea level are snow-capped all year long.
The Jura, the Plateau, the Pre-Alps and the Alps, and the area south of the Alps form the main geographic regions of the country.
The Jura, a limestone mountain range stretching from Lake Geneva to the Rhine, accounts for about 12% of Switzerland’s surface area. Located on average 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level, it is a picturesque highland crossed by river valleys.
The most densely populated geographic region is the Plateau. It accounts for only about 23% of Switzerland’s surface area, but is where two-thirds of the population live. The topographic and climatic advantages the Plateau has over the mountains to the northwest and to the south have made this economically the most important area of Switzerland and the most densely populated one.
By the Pre-Alps and Alps occupy 60% of Switzerland’s surface area. The Alps span some 200 kilometres (124 miles) at an average height of 1700 metres (5580 ft) above sea level, forming a natural as well as climatic barrier. The area north of the Alps is predominantly under the influence of maritime climatic conditions, with relatively frequent, local precipitation. The climate south of the Alps is influenced by the Mediterranean and is much milder.
The Gotthard range in the centre of the Swiss Alps is a continental watershed: the Rhine flows into the North Sea, the Rhone into the western Mediterranean, the Ticino (via the Po) into the Adriatic Sea and the Inn (via the Danube) into the Black Sea. Because different European rivers have their source in Switzerland and because of its many rivers and lakes, Switzerland is known as the reservoir of Europe.
Another characteristic of the Alps are the glaciers, which cover a surface of about 1,300 km2 (502 square miles), or three per cent of Switzerland’s total surface area of 41,284 km2 (15, 940 square miles). The biggest Swiss glacier is the 23 kilometre (14.3 mile) long Aletsch, part of the “Jungfrau Aletsch Bietschhorn” UNESCO world natural heritage site. The impact of global warming is felt particularly strongly in mountain areas, and the Swiss Alps are no exception.
Switzerland has a high population density: around 240 people per square kilometre of productive land (622 people per square mile). The distribution of the population varies greatly, however. Nature conservation and the preservation of natural living conditions are important to the Swiss.
North-South Transport Links
The many passes have always provided convenient transport links through the Alps. The Gotthard railway tunnel was opened in 1882, creating the most direct route through the Alps between Italy and northern Europe. Since 1980, there has also been a 17 kilometre (10.6 mile) long road tunnel through the Alps at the same point. The NEAT deep rail tunnels, currently under construction, will make north-south transit even easier.
Switzerland borders Germany in the north, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein in the east, Italy in the south and France in the west. Switzerland is a small, mountainous country, extending over a part of the central Alps and the northern pre-Alps.
With its mountains and hills, rivers and lakes, Switzerland boasts a diverse landscape despite measuring only 220 kilometres (137 miles) from north to south and 348 kilometres (217 miles) from west to east. At Lake Maggiore in the south, palm trees thrive at 192 metres (630 ft) above sea level, while less than 100 kilometres (65 miles) away, the 48 mountain peaks rising 4000 metres (13,120 ft) above sea level are snow-capped all year long.
The Jura, the Plateau, the Pre-Alps and the Alps, and the area south of the Alps form the main geographic regions of the country.
The Jura, a limestone mountain range stretching from Lake Geneva to the Rhine, accounts for about 12% of Switzerland’s surface area. Located on average 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level, it is a picturesque highland crossed by river valleys.
The most densely populated geographic region is the Plateau. It accounts for only about 23% of Switzerland’s surface area, but is where two-thirds of the population live. The topographic and climatic advantages the Plateau has over the mountains to the northwest and to the south have made this economically the most important area of Switzerland and the most densely populated one.
By the Pre-Alps and Alps occupy 60% of Switzerland’s surface area. The Alps span some 200 kilometres (124 miles) at an average height of 1700 metres (5580 ft) above sea level, forming a natural as well as climatic barrier. The area north of the Alps is predominantly under the influence of maritime climatic conditions, with relatively frequent, local precipitation. The climate south of the Alps is influenced by the Mediterranean and is much milder.
The Gotthard range in the centre of the Swiss Alps is a continental watershed: the Rhine flows into the North Sea, the Rhone into the western Mediterranean, the Ticino (via the Po) into the Adriatic Sea and the Inn (via the Danube) into the Black Sea. Because different European rivers have their source in Switzerland and because of its many rivers and lakes, Switzerland is known as the reservoir of Europe.
Another characteristic of the Alps are the glaciers, which cover a surface of about 1,300 km2 (502 square miles), or three per cent of Switzerland’s total surface area of 41,284 km2 (15, 940 square miles). The biggest Swiss glacier is the 23 kilometre (14.3 mile) long Aletsch, part of the “Jungfrau Aletsch Bietschhorn” UNESCO world natural heritage site. The impact of global warming is felt particularly strongly in mountain areas, and the Swiss Alps are no exception.
Switzerland has a high population density: around 240 people per square kilometre of productive land (622 people per square mile). The distribution of the population varies greatly, however. Nature conservation and the preservation of natural living conditions are important to the Swiss.
North-South Transport Links
The many passes have always provided convenient transport links through the Alps. The Gotthard railway tunnel was opened in 1882, creating the most direct route through the Alps between Italy and northern Europe. Since 1980, there has also been a 17 kilometre (10.6 mile) long road tunnel through the Alps at the same point. The NEAT deep rail tunnels, currently under construction, will make north-south transit even easier.
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Last modification: 31.07.2007