Switzerland - The Heart Of Europe
In the center of Europe lies Switzerland, which happens to be totally land locked. It is definitely very strategically located at what is called the crossroads of Europe. Some people call it kindly the heart of Europe. Let’s explore this great country a bit more and maybe you will decide to take a trip there sometime. GeographyYou’ll be able to see the wonders of the Alps when visiting this country. It has about one-fifth of the Alps inside its border. Quite a few of the areas mountain wise are developed to offer winter sports and other activities for your enjoyment. Winter sports of snowboarding and skiing can be done amidst all the majestic scenery. Along with the mountains like the Alps, this country also has many lakes to enjoy. Lake Geneva is probably the most well known. Lake Geneva is a large lake but there are many other lakes too some of which are very small ones. Also, you’ll be able to find those lakes that are dammed up and allow power plants to operate like the Grande Dixence. There are glaciers that you can go view and possibly even traverse with a hired guide. The largest European glacier is the Aletschgletscher which lies partly in the Bernese canton and partly in the Wallis /Alps and has a length of 22 km. It’s protected by Unesco. I walked there many years ago with my family. It’s a great experience! In fact, there are 3000 km worth of glaciers and what they call firn (snow that has been partially compacted). The glaciers as in other countries are actually starting to decrease in size. There’s nothing like the present to go see them. ClimateThe climate varies depending on the time of year you visit this country. In the spring, you’ll find that Switzerland weather is cool and with a good amount of rainfall. The summer months are dryer and can be very warm with temps climbing as high as 95 degrees F or 35 degrees C. In the autumn, the weather turns cooler and pretty much is a dry time of the year. The temps can fall to 32 degrees F or 0 degree C. The winter can turn cold with plenty of snow. Travel
With plenty of major highways, it is easy to drive through this country. You’ll find it is easy to get from Zurich to Luzern or from Geneva to Lausanne. There are also many interesting small towns. Distances are never long and you can visit a lot of places in a short time. The main road tunnels through the Alps are: for the western part of Switzerland Great Saint Bernard Pass which can be used during summer time. For the winter when the pass is closed there is a tunnel with the same name. Taking this tunnel or pass you’ll arrive in Italy in the Aosta Valley. In the central part of the country you’ll find the Saint Gotthard Pass which is used in summer and when closed the 17 km long road tunnel and the 15 km long train tunnel, a great architectural achievement more than 100 years ago. The most famous monument on this trail is the small church of Wassen which you will see three times, and always from a different level because of the turnaround tunnel in the mountain. Click here to find the best city tours, boat cruises and day trips for Lake Geneva visitors. LanguagesMany languages are spoken in this country. The four official languages are in order of importance are German, French, Italian and Rumantsch. Here, “Good Day” can sound like “Guten Tag”, “Bonjour”, “Buongiorno”, or “Bun di”! You can also check our bank notes: they’re in four languages. Don’t worry if you don’t speak any of those languages. As Switzerland is since more than 100 years used to tourists coming from all over the world, you should easily get around with English. One Swiss language does not exist. We have in Switzerland dialects especially in German and Italian which are not understood either by other German or Italian speaking people. Some say our dialects are like “jungle languages” . Statistical breakdown of Switzerland cultures: Total population
Swiss nationals only
Known ForThe Swiss are well known for their music boxes, clocks, watches and knives, chocolate, and cheeses , food industries, pharmaceuticals products, banking services, among other things. But don’t forget our universities, specialized schools, hospitals, and high precision industries, which have participated in space programs. In the lake Geneva area and especially in Geneva itself, there are many important organizations based such as the United Nations, World Health Organization and the International Red Cross. Our workmanship is applauded the world over. And also the solar industry is catching up, with Swiss Louis Palmer who took a trip around the world in a solar powered car. My country is a must for your list of places to go to see. Read more about it here: Switzerland Weather - No Extremes, Always A Joy Experience And Enjoy The Rich Swiss Culture Swiss History - One Of The World's Oldest Republics The Spectacular Beauty Of Swiss Architecture |
