Switzerland Travel Guide

Country of Central Europe located in the western Alps, of a 41.284 km surface ², Switzerland is lined on the West and in the northwest by France, in the North by Germany, in the East by Austria and Liechtenstein, in the South by Italy. 220 km long and 348 km wide, its relief is trained(formed) by two mountain ranges (the Alps in the South and Jura in the northwest), separated by a tray(plateau) of hills, plains and lakes. The Swiss Alps include several chains(channels), among which the Alps Pennines where are the Mountain Rose (with the Point(Headland) Dufour in 4634 m) and Matterhorn (4478 m), and the glacial massifs of Aar-Gothard. The collar(pass) of Saint-Gothard is the main major route between the Central Europe and Italy. The mountains of Jura are less raised(brought up) with 1600 meters. The central tray(plateau) establishes(constitutes) the vital region of the country where concentrates the main part of the population and the towns(conglomerations). Switzerland is crossed(gone through) by numerous rivers or stream: The Rhine, the Rhône, the Tessin and the Inn; numerous lakes are situated in the outlet of the alpine valleys: Lake Geneva, of Constance, Lugano, Lake Maggiore, of Neuchâtel, Four Canton (or of Lucerne), of Zürich, Brienz, Thun. The country also divides about between a quarter of uncultivated regions, a quarter of pastures on average height, a quarter of forests, a quarter of arables. The vegetation is staged as in any country of mountain: cultures and meadows in valleys, forests and high mountain pastures up to the snow line. All the livable zones are very densément populated.

Population
The life expectation in Switzerland(Swiss) is one of the highest of the world. On the other hand, the indication of fertility of the women is among the most low(weakest), where from an ageing of the population. A third(third party) of the Swiss live in five more big cities, the current trend(tendency) being to leave urban areas to settle down in the municipalities(Communes) situated in the suburb of suburbs. Switzerland counts approximately 20 % of foreigners, native mainly of European countries (Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Austria), what places her(it) in the second European row(rank) in term of immigration, after the Luxembourg. The progress of the Turkish communities, the communities of ex-Yugoslavia and refugees is more and more marked.
Population (in millions): 7,3 Density (inhabitants in km ²): 176 natural Increase of the population: 0,27 Indication of fertility: 1,27 Life expectation (in years): 80 Urbanization (in %): 66
Climate
Switzerland enjoys in the whole of a moderate climate, of a mountain type(chap), with continental influences: long and snowy winters, been warm and stormy. Because of its central situation, the country is displayed(exposed) to four big currents of the European climate: the oceanic West, is continental, north sub-polar, and south Mediterranean. He(it) results from it a quantity of local microclimates. The precipitation are uneven, the highest regions receiving more water and snow. The cold winds of the North prevail in winter. The foehn(hairdryer), the dry wind of the southeast, blows so sometimes.

Main cities
A) Zurich Chef-lieu of a German-speaking canton situated in the northeast of the country, in the border with Germany. First city by the population (365.000 inhabitants; town(conglomeration): 1,1 millions), Zurich is also the economic capital of the country. Endowed with a very diversified industry (metal industry, mechanical engineering industry, textile(textile industry), food-processing industry, chemistry, stationeries(stationer's stores)), it is especially an important banking and financial center. University and cultural pole of German-speaking Switzerland, her(it) shelters the federal célébre Ecole polytechnique ( Polytechnicum). (Web site: www.stadt-zuerich.ch)
b) Geneva Administrative centre of the canton, situated in the southwest extremity of the Lake Geneva, in the confluence of the Rhône and the Arve. Main metropolis of Swiss French (180.000 inhabitants; town(conglomeration): 640.000) Geneva accommodates the permanent seat(siege) of numerous international bodies among which the European seat(siege) of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), the seat(siege) of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO)((INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION)) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)((WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION)). His(her,its) economy is dominated by service activities (banks, trades, tourism) but it is also an industrial area specialized in the high-technology industries and the flight mechanics (IT, electronic state-of-the-art, chemistry, biotechnology, watchmaker's shop(watch-making), jeweller's shop). Cosmopolitan city, it counts 30 % of foreigners. She(it) possesses a university and multiple technical establishments. The old town conceals number of former(ancient) and picturesque buildings. (Web site: Www.ville-ge.ch)
c) Basel Le German-speaking canton of Basel, in the northwest of Switzerland on the border of Germany and France, is divided into two half-cantons: Basel-campaign, turned(shot) to the breeding and the forestry development and Basel-city (166.000 inhabitants; town(conglomeration): 690.000), industrialist. The city welcomes several big groups of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (Novartis, Rock). River port on the Rhine and in the heart of Europe, the city is an important knot of communications. Among its numerous historic and cultural buildings is the most former(ancient) university of the country where taught Erasme. (Web site: www.basel.ch) continental, north sub-polar, and south Mediterranean. He(it) results from it a quantity of local microclimates. The precipitation are uneven, the highest regions receiving more water and snow.
D) Bern Capitale federal of the Helvetian Confederacy (127.000 inhabitants; town(conglomeration): 300.000) and capital of a bilingual canton, situated on Aar, on the West of Switzerland, Bern is a German-speaking city where French is still spoken by a part(party) of the population. Among his(her,its) industrial activities represent the mechanical engineering, the manufacturing of instruments of precision, the chemical and pharmaceutical production, the chocolate. We can admire former(ancient) buildings and several museums there of which one dedicated to an important collection of Paul Klee's works. (Web site: www.bern.ch)
e) Lausanne Capitale of the canton of Vaud, situated on the right bank of the Lake Geneva, in the heart of Swiss French ( 126.000 inhabitants). Essentially tertiary city (administration, business, tourism, finance), sit of the International Olympic Committee (CIO)((NATIONAL CAREERS GUIDANCE CENTRE)), it arranges only light industries (textile(textile industry), pharmacy, chemistry, flight mechanics, printing office, food-processing industry). She(it) welcomes a university, an Ecole polytechnique as well as the company and the school of ballet based(established) by Maurice Béjart. (Web site: www.lausanne.ch)