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Switzerland: Switzerland Geography Profile 2012

2012/04/04

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Switzerland Geography Profile 2012

Land
Switzerland's dominant physical features, each trending northeast-southwest, are the Alps, the Jura Mountains, and the Swiss Plateau.
The Alps cover about three-fifths of Switzerland. In most areas, except the northern foothills, they are high and magnificently rugged, with ice and snow covering the loftiest peaks. Deep, scenic valleys created by glaciers during the last Ice Age are also characteristic. Numerous remnants of the ice still remain, including the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in continental Europe.
The highest parts of the Swiss Alps flank the upper Rhône River valley. South of the valley are the Pennine Alps, where numerous peaks exceed 14,000 feet (4,267 m), especially on or near the Italian border. Dufourspitze, the highest point of Monte Rosa, reaches 15,203 feet (4,634 m)—the highest elevation in Switzerland. Dom rises 14,913 feet (4,545 m); Weisshorn, 14,782 feet (4,506 m). The 14,692-foot (4,478-m) Matterhorn is probably the best-known peak.
North of the Rhône valley rise the Bernese Alps, or Bernese Oberland, which crest in such massive peaks as Finsteraarhorn (14,022 feet; 4,274 m), Aletschhorn (13,763; 4,195), and Jungfrau (13,642; 4,158). This area, which includes the resort city of Inter-laken, is one of the most scenic and frequently visited sections in the Swiss Alps.
The mountains of southeastern Switzerland, notably the Glarus, Lepontine, Rhaetian, and Bernina Alps, are as rugged as those to the west but somewhat lower. Only a few peaks here rise more than 11,000 feet (3,353 m) above sea level; only one exceeds 13,000 feet (3,962 m).
The Jura Mountains, which lie partly in France, extend northeasterly from the vicinity of Lake Geneva to the Rhine River, east of Basel. They are geologically related to the Alps, but are much lower and have relatively gentle slopes. In general, the Jura Mountains consist of more or less parallel folds, or ridges, separated by narrow valleys. Summit elevations are highest in the southwestern part of the chain, where they generally range from 3,000 to 4,000 feet (900 to 1,200 m). A few peaks exceed 5,000 feet (1,500 m).
The Swiss Plateau, sometimes called the Mittelland, spans the entire country between the Jura Mountains and the Alps. Nearly everywhere the surface is rolling to hilly with broad cultivated valleys. Elevations generally are between 1,000 and 2,000 feet (300 and 600 m). Most of Switzerland's population, all of its largest cities, and virtually all of its productive cropland are situated on the plateau.

Water
The Rhine River, with its many tributaries, drains most of the land. It begins in the Alps at the junction of two main head-streams, the Vorderrhein and the Hinterrhein, and flows first northward and then westward past Basel. For most of its course in Switzerland, the Rhine forms the borders with Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany. The Aare, its chief tributary in Switzerland, drains practically all the plateau and is fed partially by such rivers as the Limmat, Reuss, Emme, and Saane.
The Rhône drains the southwest. It begins at the foot of the Rhône Glacier, near the source of the Rhine, and follows a magnificent, deep valley to enter Lake Geneva. The Rhône emerges at Geneva and continues on into France. The only significant rivers in southeastern and eastern Switzerland are the Ticino and the Inn. The Ticino is the main source of Lake Maggiore's water and is a tributary of the Po. The Inn, following the valley of the Engadine into Austria, flows on to join the Danube.
Notable among Switzerland's numerous waterfalls are the low but mighty Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen and the narrow but high (984 feet; 300 m) Staubbach Falls in the Bernese Alps. The highest, which descends in several leaps, is Cascade de Giétroz, 1,696 feet (517 m).
Switzerland also abounds in lakes, many renowned for magnificent settings and sparkling clear waters. Lake Geneva and Lake Constance are the largest; both have surface areas exceeding 200 square miles (518 km2). Next in size are Lake Neuchâtel, near the Jura Mountains, and Lake Maggiore, on the Italian border. Also sizable are Lakes Lucerne, Lugano, Thun, Biel, Zug, and Brienz. Numerous small lakes dot the Alps.
 
Climate
Switzerland has an invigorating continental climate, marked by warm summers, cold winters, and very little severe weather except in the higher parts of the Alps. On the plateau, average temperatures vary from about 30° F. (-1° C.) during January, the coldest month, to nearly 70° F. (21° C.) in July. The large lakes on the plateau, especially Lake Geneva, act as moderating local influences both in summer and in winter. Conditions are mildest in the extreme south, around Lakes Maggiore and Lugano, where some effects of the Mediterranean climate of southern Europe are felt.
In the mountains, the climate is determined mainly by elevation—the higher the elevation, the colder the climate. Also important is the exposure, or location in relation to the sun. The south sides of mountains, those facing the sun, are considerably warmer than the shaded northern slopes. Above 9,000 to 10,000 feet (2,700 to 3,000 m), the climate is cold, with perpetual ice and snow.
Precipitation is abundant throughout Switzerland, except in parts of the upper Rhône valley, which get as little as 20 inches (500 mm) a year. On the plateau, it varies from about 30 to 40 inches (750 to 1,000 mm), depending on locality. Precipitation is extremely heavy in the mountains, where much of it falls as snow.
Location: 

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Geographic coordinates: 

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Area comparative: 

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries Total: 

1,852 km

Land boundaries Note: 

Climate: 

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Terrain: 

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Natural resources: 

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Natural hazards: 

avalanches, landslides; flash floods

Environment - current issues: 

air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

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