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Geography and Environment of Switzerland
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Switzerland.
Speed
Overview
Switzerland covers an area of 15,944 square miles. A quarter of the country consists of glaciers, mountains, and lakes; another quarter is covered by forests. Switzerland has a varied topography from an altitude of 633 feet above sea level in the Ticino Canton to 15,203 feet — the Monte Rosa peak — in the Alps.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
- Climate
- Because of the varied topography (from an altitude of 633 feet above sea level in the Ticino Canton to 15,203 feet — the Monte Rosa peak — in the Alps), climate and vegetation vary from Mediterranean to arctic. Bern does not have great extremes of hot or cold weather. Rain is common in summer as well as winter, with snowfalls in Bern occurring with more regularity in recent years. Humidity is high during spring and fall. Winter brings some warm spells, and all-day fog and cloudy weather are common. Often a 30-minute drive will get you out of the clouds and into sunshine. The Föhn, a dry south wind that passes over the Alps changing the air pressure, has an enervating and otherwise unpleasant effect on some people. The average high temperature in July is 30°C (86°F), and the average low for that month is 6.1°C (43°F). In February, the thermometer reaches 5.4°C (42°F) and dips to about -10°C (14°F).
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/SZXX0006?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 4634 — Dufourspitze 4,634 m
- Lowest Point
- 195 — Lake Maggiore 195 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
- Border Countries
- Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- hydropower potential, timber, salt
- Natural Hazards
- avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
- International Agreements
- party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea