Switzerland: Geography#
Location | Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy |
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Geographic Coordinates | 47 00 N, 8 00 E 47.0,8.0 |
Area | total: 41,277 sq km land: 39,997 sq km water: 1,280 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
Land boundaries | total: 1,852 km border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km |
Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m |
Highest Mountains | Due to difference in mountain rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Monte Rosa 4633 m; Nordend 4609 m; Zumsteinspitze 4563 m; Signalkuppe 4556 m; Dom 4545 m According to Geonames: Dom 4545 m; Lyskamm Orientale 4527 m; Weisshorn 4506 m; Täschhorn 4491 m; The Matterhorn 4478 m Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Mountains |
Terrain | mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes |
Natural Hazards | avalanches, landslides; flash floods |
Natural Resource | hydropower potential, timber, salt |
Land Use | arable land: 9.8% permanent crops: 0.57% other: 89.63% (2011) |
Climate | temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers |
Irrigated Land | 550 sq km (2007) |
Renewable Water Resources | 53.5 cu km (2011) |
Environment_CurrentIssues | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity |
Environment - 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 |
Large Cities | Due to difference in city rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Zurich; Geneva; Basel; Lausanne; Bern According to Geonames: Zürich; Genève; Basel; Bern; Lausanne Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Cities |
Geography-note | landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps Important Rivers Important Lakes |