Switzerland - Amazing facts and figures

SWITZERLAND THE NATURAL WONDER

          

Switzerland is landlocked, with a total land area of 41,293 sq. kilometres. France surrounds it in the West, Austria and Liechtenstein in the East, Germany in the North and Italy in the South.

Switzerland is a mountainous country in Europe. The famous Alps Mountains are in the southern and southeastern parts of the country.

  It has 26 sovereign cantons, and the country is highly urbanised. The Rhine, Rhone, Aare and Thur are the main rivers of Switzerland. They all originate in the Alps mountains. It also has many lakes, including Geneva, Constance, Zurich, Maggiore, etc.

 

              ZURICH                                 GENEVA

                RHONE                                  RHINE

         

   WEATHER AND CLIMATE 

Switzerland has a moderate climate. However, the temperature drops below freezing point between December and March. July and August are the hottest months. The ideal season for a vacation is spring, summer and autumn. The peak tourist season is between June and August. However, those interested in skiing should visit between December and April.

THINGS WE CAN PURCHASE AS SOUVENIRS     

Apart from its natural beauty, Switzerland is also famous for its wide range of watches. As  souvenirs    

We can also buy crystal items, pottery, laces, ski tools, jewellery, chocolates, cuckoo clocks and more.       

           WATCHES                        CHOCOLATES

   CUCKOO         SWISS        CRYSTAL         SKI

    CLOCKS      JEWELLERY    ITEMS         TOOLS

Some famous historical tourist spots also have their destinations in Switzerland. 

SOME OF THEM ARE LISTED BELOW

 JUNGFRAUJOCH

                                                                       

       

Jungfraujoch is a glacier in the Alps. It can be reached by train from Interlaken. The Jungfraujoch railway station is the highest in Europe. Sphinx Observatory is located here.     

BERN

                

Bern, a medieval town, is the capital of Switzerland. It is located on the Swiss Plateau. The old town of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The tallest cathedral in Switzerland, the clock tower with moving puppets, the sixteenth-century fountain and Lauben, the six-kilometre-long Shopping Arcade are the main tourist attractions in this city.

LUCERN

Lucern, located on the Shore of Lake Lucern, is a popular tourist destination. The city is surrounded by the Alps mountains. The famous landmarks in the city include the Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and the Swiss Transport Museum. The city is famous for its numerous music concerts. It is also the centre of the International Music Festival. 

MATTERHORN

 

The Matterhorn is one of the highest peaks in the Alps mountains. Tourists visit the village of Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. Located at the foothill of the Matterhorn, Zermatt village is famous as a mountaineering and ski resort. It also has world-class hotels and restaurants as well as the highest cable station in the Alps Mountains. The Matterhorn has a pyramidal shape with four faces nearly facing the four compass points. The Matterhorn's faces are steep, and only small patches of snow and ice cling to them. The east face is 1,000 metres high and, because it is a long, monotonous slope of rotten rocks, presents a high risk of rockfall, making its ascent dangerous.

TITLIS

 Titlis is a mountain peak. It is located in the Alps mountains in Central Switzerland. The northern side of the peak has the Titlis Glacier. It is one of the biggest skiing and snowboarding paradise in Switzerland. It can be reached by a rotating cable car called the Rotair.

LAKE  GENEVA

Lake Geneva is the largest Alpine lake in Europe. It is located between Switzerland and France. The city of Geneva is located on the South Western bank while the city of Lausanne is located on the northeastern Bank of Geneva. Geneva has the highest number of international organisations in the world. It has the headquarters of many United Nations agencies. Besides the city also has green faces, museums and government restaurants. The lakeside is dotted with chateaus. Vineyards are found along the hill slopes.

CHATEAU DE  CHILLON

Chateau de Chillon or the Chillon Castle is an old castle. It is located on the shore of Lake Geneva, near Montreux. It is one of the most visited historical building in Switzerland. This castle has inspired artists and writers for centuries. 

ZURICH

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. It is located in North Central Switzerland, on the bank of Lake Zurich. It is a major transportation hub and the starting point for travellers. This city has one of Europe's finest shopping arcades with designer stores selling clothes, watches and jewellery. The city is also famous for its banks, museums and art galleries. 

SWISS NATIONAL PARK

Swiss National Park, founded in 1914 is the oldest National Park in Europe. It is located in the Eastern part of Switzerland. The park has pine forests, flowering shrubs, fast-flowing rivers and limestone crags. Many hiking routes pass through this Park. It is home to golden eagles, chamois, ibexes and marmots. The park is easily accessible from  Zernez.