[6] Even though the Swiss Plateau forms a basin, it is by no means a flat territory and it is covered with rolling hills, lakes and rivers. Swiss Alps - Wikipedia The uncultivated mountain areas are exploited by the tourism and the production of hydroelectricity. Switzerland's diversity of cultures makes for dynamic local arts scenes and world-class creative productions. Switzerland is divided by language as well. Conversely, the number of farms in the mountains tend to decrease, many areas are left for the benefit of woodlands to the detriment of landscape diversity. Some of the major economic activities in the Alpine region are tourism, dairy farming, mining of iron ore, and generating hydroelectric power. With a population density of 450 inhabitants per km2, it is one of the most densely populated region in Europe. The average temperature of the deep water of Lake Geneva increased from 4.4C in 1963 to 5.5C in 2016. The habitat is mainly developed in the Swiss Plateau and the northern slopes of the Alps, near lakes and along major rivers. Zurich at 400 meters above sea level is cold between -2.2C (28F) and 2.8C (37F). Then come Lake Lugano, Lake Thun, Lake Biel, Lake Zug, Lake Brienz, Lake Walenstadt and Lake Murten. Or, once it's safe to travel again, consider joining us on a Rick Steves' Europe tour. What's the weather like in Switzerland? - MySwissAlps.com The highest mountain peak (Dufourspitze) is at 4,634 meters. The Alps are a mountain range running across the central and south of the country, constituting about 60% of the country's area. Interested in reading more content like this? Switzerland has more than 1500 lakes and contains 6% of Europe's freshwater stock. Switzerland has a maximum northsouth length of 220 kilometres (140mi) and an eastwest length of about 350 kilometres (220mi).[1]. The Alps may be Switzerland's largest geographical region, stretching from Lake Geneva to the Swiss-Austrian border, but its population density is very low. In the montane zone, which comprehends a large diversity of ecosystems, coniferous trees and snowfall progressively replace deciduous tree and rainfall. Altitude: 2,222m. Most farms include small meadows alternating with fields with a variety of crops and small wooded areas. The Alps cover 65% of Switzerland's total land mass, making it one of . Geography Swiss Alps seen from the Swiss Jura in December 2010 The Alps cover 60% of Switzerland's total 41,285 square kilometres (15,940 sq mi) surface area, making it one of the most alpine countries. While the Rhne flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the French Camargue region and the Rhine flows into the North Sea at Rotterdam, about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) apart, both springs are only about 22 kilometres (14 miles) apart in the Swiss Alps. The Alps mountain range ends in Albania on the rugged Adriatic Sea coastline. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. By Mark Whitman Updated: May 9, 2023 The Alps are a range of mountains in Europe that stretch from Italy through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. On the other hand, the term "Central Europe" refers to the region between Western and Eastern Europe. The name Jurassic actually refers to the Jura region where these fossils were studied at the end of the 18th century. Some of the main issues are listed below. Some 750 miles (1,200 kilometres) long and more than 125 miles wide at their broadest point between Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Verona, Italy, the Alps cover more than 80,000 square miles (207,000 square kilometres). Photos dont do justice to Switzerlands majestic peaks, and it wont take long before you start to relish the fresh mountain air. Crops including fruits and wine grapes are cultivated in the valleys and in the foothills of the Alps. Switzerland is divided in three main geographic regions: the Swiss Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura, each corresponding to very different geological realities. Household structures are also evolving and tend to become smaller. If a peak served as a landmark, then it had a name. Best of the Swiss Alps . In general, the proximity to the Alpine foothills increases the precipitations (Interlaken 1,196 millimetres (47.1in)), Lucerne: 1,173 millimetres (46.2in)), while places further away from the Alps experience less precipitation (Basel: 842 millimetres (33.1in)). In the mountainous regions of the western Central Alps (Valais) and in the south, the agricultural areas (mostly pastures) are proportionately lower. Data includes interval measures of highest and lowest elevation for all 26 cantons, with coordinates of the highest. Shorter snow cover duration since 1970 in the Swiss Alps due to earlier This plate collision (still in progress) began 100 million years ago. Even though Switzerland tops the world rankings for rail travel by passenger-kilometres per capita, the car remains the country's favourite means of transport. Switzerland's national languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh a multilingualism lived out in practice. Countries described as Western European (including Switzerland, according to the United Nations Statistics Division and the National Geographic Society[31]) are invariably high-income developed countries, characterized by stable democratic political systems, mixed economies combining the free market with aspects of the welfare state. January is usually the coldest month of the year in Switzerland. There are three types of altitude sickness, but you wont need to worry about the severe ones (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High Altitude Cerebral Edema). The Swiss Alps form part of a chain of mountains that stretch across southern Europe and isolate Northern Europe from the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhne is both the main source and outflow of Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva, French Lac Lman or Lac de Genve, German Genfersee, largest Alpine lake in Europe (area 224 square miles [581 square km]), lying between southwestern Switzerland and Haute-Savoie dpartement, southeastern France. The Alps extend north from the subtropical Mediterranean coast near Nice, France, to Lake Geneva before trending east-northeast to Vienna (at the Vienna Woods). The European lynx (Lynx lynx) and the marmot (Marmota marmota) have been successfully reintroduced in the Swiss Alps. Twentieth century temperature and snow cover changes in the French Alps The Matterhorn (4,478 metres (14,692ft)) is the seventh highest peak in the Swiss Alps and is the most photographed mountain in Switzerland. The mountain range then continues downwards through the countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. Solar Impulse has brought the dream of flying over long distances without the need for fossil fuel a step closer to reality. [c] [4] The majority of the population live on the Swiss Plateau. They have 48 peaks that are 4,000m or higher, a European record. 2007; Brunetti et al. Europe's longest glacier is the Aletsch Glacier in the canton of Valais: Length: ~23km. Like clockwork, run-off from the Alps replenishes water levels in the Rhine, Rhone, Po and Danube river plains every summer. Switzerland is situated in a relatively tectonically inactive area, although the city of Basel was completely destroyed in 1356 by an earthquake, the largest historical seismic event in central Europe. Most of Switzerland's large lakes are located in the plateau. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. They do not, however, constitute administrative units and are mostly used for statistical and economic purposes. Switzerland - The World Factbook Switzerland lies at an average elevation of 1350 m above sea level and is therefore one of the highest countries in the world. Swiss Alps | European Mountain Range | Alps Travel - Alpenwild A portion of the southwest border with France is drawn through Lake Geneva. Trips. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [27] With these numbers, Switzerland is 31st to 33rd among the 45 nations listed by United Nations Millennium Development Goals Indicators as developed nations and 69th worldwide. Heres what you should expect and how you can overcome your altitude sickness. unece.org", Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, Les bisses du Valais: mythes et ralits, "Zustand und Entwicklung der Bodennutzung - Arealstatistik 1979/85 und 1992/97", Population size and population composition Data, indicators, United Nations Millennium Development Goals Indicators, "La Suisse compte encore prs de 38'000 sites pollus assainir", "National Geographic Traveler: Switzerland", Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Cultural Property of National Significance, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_Switzerland&oldid=1159589144, Articles with German-language sources (de), Articles with French-language sources (fr), Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2001, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2005, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2002, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, On the south runs the main chain of the Alps, which is joined (at, To the north of this main chain there is another great range of mountains (wholly Swiss) only slightly inferior in extent and height, which starts from the hills known as the, The Swiss portion of the main chain of the Alps and the great northern outlier run parallel to each other from Martigny to near Chur, while for a short distance they actually unite near, To the north of the great northern outlier rises the, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Deepest point: in Lake Maggiore: 79m (259ft), This page was last edited on 11 June 2023, at 08:30. enclosing an area of 41,290km2 (15,940sqmi) (land: 39,770km2 (15,360sqmi), water: 1,520km2 (590sqmi)). The Inn which flows into the Danube outside of Switzerland drains about 4.4% of the water into the Black Sea. The Alps is important in European history Trips Hike Best of the Swiss Alps Exploring The Jungfrau Italian Dolomites Best of the Matterhorn Region Best of the French Alps St Moritz to Italy Exploring Croatia With a little self-care, you should be in great shape to drink in the beauty of the Alps. If youdoascend more than 1,000 feet, remember the old adage to climb high, sleep low meaning you should spend the night at a lower elevation. Switzerland topographic map, elevation, terrain It forms an irregular quadrilateral, of which the greatest length from east to west is 350 kilometres (220mi), and the greatest breadth from north to south is nearly 220 kilometres (140mi). For the most part, spruce dominance reaches its upper limit at approximately 7,200 feet in the Western Alps. The following list is a comparison of elevation absolutes in Switzerland. It has three distinct geographical regions: the Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura. Switzerland both shapes and implements international standards. In order to remain free and to keep improving, this site uses cookies created by Google to compile visit statistics and display personalized advertisements. Elevations are shaded blue for high and green for low. Name: Switzerland topographic map, elevation, terrain. The canton of Graubnden has more than 1,200 mountain peaks which are between 2,000 and 3,000m high, but the canton of Uri has the highest density, boasting a 2,0003,000m-high summit every 2.5km2. The protection of Alpine regions is also enshrined in the Federal Constitution. [28], Switzerland is facing a loss of biodiversity. But these two territories are not extensive in comparison to the total area of the country. To investigate the relationship between elevation, local relief and mean slopes, the elevation data of the DEM of the Swiss Alps were divided into height intervals of 200 m. For each height interval, the corresponding slope and local relief data were extracted and average values computed. Since the twentieth century a large number of dams have been built in the Alps and elsewhere, resulting in many artificial lakes. Yet many species of animals and plants have adapted to this environment and thrive there. In 2009, 74% of the 7,785,800 inhabitants lived in urban areas. Switzerland is a Christian country. rate showing a linear decrease of 0.55 C on average per 100 m elevation, we would expect to nd a potential tree line shift in the Swiss Alps of nearly 200 m as a result of these recent climate changes since 1980. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. [1], The total renewable water resources of Switzerland, as of 2005[update], totals 53.3km3 (1.171013impgal; 1.411013USgal),[4] of which the total freshwater withdrawal is 2.5km3 (5.51011impgal; 6.61011USgal) per year. The collision between the Eurasian and African plates made it progressively disappear. Most people come down with altitude sickness 12 to 24 hours after arriving at a higher elevation. Then don't move, you're in exactly the right place! Climate change and its impacts in the Alps | CREA Mont-Blanc Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). On the Plateau, the average precipitation is 1,000 millimetres (39in) with a range of about 8001,300 millimetres (31.551.2in). Elevationdependent warming in the Swiss Alps 1981-2017: Features The box folds are still relatively young, evidenced by their defining the shape of the overlying landscape (meaning they have not existed long enough to experience erosion). Updates? The Alps ( / lps /) [a] are the highest and most extensive mountain range that is entirely in Europe, [b] [2] stretching approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. Habitat areas and infrastructure grow around the urban areas but also in the countryside, at the expense of agricultural land. Location: Switzerland (45.81797 5.95591 47.80846 10.49229). Swiss watches, which are a product of this sector, are known worldwide for their high quality. Currently, the Alpine region is home to about 14 million people in the eight main Alpine countries and is annually visited by more than 120 million tourists. Europe's tallest outdoor lift is the Hammetschwand lift on the Brgenstock in the canton of Nidwalden. 30.8% of the country is covered with forests and woodlands,[24] with an additional 6.8% covered with houses or buildings. The geography of Switzerland encompasses a wide range of climates, from subtropical to perennial snow climate. [4], In Switzerland, there are officially 38,000 polluted sites, 4,000 of which represent a real threat to groundwater. . Bern, the capital, in the Central Plateau, sees freezing nights, with average temperatures in the -3.9C (25F) to 2.8C (37F) range. Surface elevation and mass changes of all Swiss glaciers 1980-2010 The distribution of population is shaped by the topography of the country, the plateau being the most populous area and including the major cities of Switzerland. Though they are not as high and extensive as other mountain systems uplifted during the Paleogene and Neogene periods (i.e., about 65 million to 2.6 million years ago)such as the Himalayas and the Andes and Rocky mountainsthey are responsible for major geographic phenomena. This breaks down to a per capita freshwater withdrawal of 348m3 (77,000impgal; 92,000USgal) per year. You're free to opt out at any time. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, collisions between the Eurasian and the African tectonic plates, The Different Types Of Caves And Cave Systems, Protecting the World's Wetlands Gains Momentum. Located mainly in Austria but also Germany, Italy and Slovenia, the Eastern Alps also comprise the Bavarian Alps, the Carnic Alps, the Dinaric Alps, the Dolomite Alps, and the Julian Alps. [24], The major water issue in Switzerland is water pollution from the increased use of agricultural fertilizers as well as hydrocarbon pollution from transport and industry. if you fly into Switzerland, youll land at a relatively low elevation (1,411 feet at the Geneva Airport, and 1,417 feet at the Zurich Airport). The highest permanently inhabited village in Switzerland is Juf (2,126 metres (6,975ft)) at the head of the Avers valley (a tributary of the Rhine), while the lowest is Ascona (196 metres (643ft)), on Lake Maggiore.[5]. If possible, stay below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) for a full day while you acclimate. In those regions, the lowest averages temperatures can be found on the Plateau (Bern: 8.8C (47.8F)) or north of the Jura Mountains (Fahy: 8.9C (48.0F)). Switzerland's neutrality and humanitarian tradition allow it to host numerous international organisations and undertake protecting power mandates. The Jura is a limestone mountain range running from Lake Geneva to the Rhine river. The geography of Switzerland encompasses the geographical features of Switzerland, a mountainous and landlocked country located in Western and Central Europe. Unless youre visiting the Alps directly after a trip to the Himalayas, plan to experience a little bit of altitude sickness. Later, between 205 and 96 million years ago, the alpine ocean or Tethys Ocean formed between Eurasia and Africa. Swiss ski resorts could see 70% drop in snow cover as climate warms The Alps mountain range stretches from the north of the Mediterranean Sea near Monaco in southern France into Switzerland, then through northern Italy into southern Germany, and towards Vienna in Austria. Forest cover in the central Alps is around 23% and almost 50% south of the Alps. Switzerland - Yearly & Monthly weather forecast M. Fischer et al. The Swiss economy is service-oriented, but also has a strong, export-focused industrial sector. There are considerable differences between the individual cantons, most particularly in terms of population and geographical area; hence seven larger and more homogeneous regions have been defined. The coldest meteorological station is at the Jungfraujoch, and overlook one of Europe's largest glaciers. Switzerland's mountains are a major tourist destination and many Alpine passes and tunnels are key transit routes. Why is CH the Country Code for Switzerland? Mont Blanc sits on the border of France and Italy and rises to an elevation of 4,808 m, making it the highest peak in the Alps Mountain Range. I recommend anyone who wishes to see the Swiss Alps to try this. On average, among our stations, the snowmelt now takes place around 16 March at the lowest station (Airolo, at 1139 m asl on the southern side of the Swiss Alps) and around 25 June at the highest station (Weissfluhjoch, at 2540 m asl on the eastern part of the Swiss Alps), compared to 15 April and 20 July, respectively based on the linear trends. Near Schaffhausen the Rhine passes through the Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall. The term "Western Europe" commonly indicates the region west of the Baltic and Adriatic Sea.

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