Switzerland

National name

Schweiz/ Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra

Government

Federal republic.

Geography

Switzerland, in central Europe, is the land of the Alps. Its tallest peak is the Dufourspitze at 4,634m on the Swiss side of the Italian border, one of 10 summits of the Monte Rosa massif. The tallest peak in all of the Alps, Mont Blanc (4,807 m), is actually in France. Most of Switzerland is composed of a mountainous plateau bordered by the great bulk of the Alps on the south and by the Jura Mountains on the northwest. The country’s largest lakes—Geneva, Constance (Bodensee), and Maggiore—straddle the French, German-Austrian, and Italian borders, respectively. The Rhine, navigable from Basel to the North Sea, is the principal inland waterway.

Historical Background

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality

Name

Switzerland

Capital

Bern(de facto)

Government

Federal republic, with directorial system and direct democracy

Language

German,French,Italian,Romansh

Area

Total 41,285 km2 (133rd) 15,940 sq mi   -  Water (%) 4.2

Population

2009 estimate 7,785,600(94th)  -2007 census 7,593,50 -  Density 188/km2 (65th)477.4/sq mi

Currency

Swiss franc (CHF)