Switzerland is one of the smallest countries in Europe, and one of the most densely populated. Its landmass is only 15,940 square miles, compared to Germany 137,828 square miles. From north to south it measures 137 miles, which takes about four hours to travel by train and three hours by car. From east to west it measures 217 miles, and on any of these journeys one can see contrasting landscapes of great beauty.
The population of Switzerland is 7,3 million, and there are 176 people per square kilometre. Sixty-eight percent of the Swiss live in urban areas and 32 percent in rural.
 Climate:
The climate is extremely varied. Switzerland lies at the point of intersections of the main climatic regions of Europe: the oceanic, the northern European, the Mediterranean, and the continental. Ascona, in the canton of Ticino, lies at the lowest point of the country at 643 feet (196 meters) above sea level. The climate here is much like Mediterranean – there are even palm trees. An Artic climate is found at the country’s highest point, the Dufour Peak, which is 15,199 feet (4,634 meters) high. One would have to travel only 43 miles (70 kilometres), as the crow flies, to cover the distance between these two extremes. To visitors, the country’s most famous mountain and one of the highest in the Alps, would probably be the Mattherhorn. It is situated in the south, in the canon of Valais, which is a dry, mountainous region. However, if one were to travel into the valleys of this region, one would find an abundance of apricots, cherries, tomatoes, and grapes.
Temperatures in Switzerland are on average about 68ºF to 77ºF (20ºC to 25ºC) in summer and 36ºF to 43ºF (2ºC to 6ºC) in winter.
Languages:
Since 1937 there have been four national languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, and Romansh (the closest living descendant of ancient Latin). Of these, German, French, and Italian are official languages.
The German-Speaking Region: this is the largest language region, and was for a long time a mosaic of urban and rural areas with a profusion of very distinct Alemannic dialects, which is still exist today.
The French-Speaking Region: the second national language is spoken in the cantons of Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, and Vaus, as well as in parts of the cantons of Bern, Fribourg and Valais.
The Italian-Speaking Region: Italian is spoken in the southern valley up to the ST. Gotthard, Lukmanier, and San Bernadino passes. This region comprises the whole of the canton of Ticino (or Tesssin in French and German) and the valley of Misox/Calanca, Bergell/Bregaglia, and Poschiavo in the canton of Graubünden (also known as the Grisons). |
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