Switzerland: Switzerland Geography Profile 2012
2012/04/04
Switzerland Geography Profile 2012
Water
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.
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
47 00 N, 8 00 E
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
1,852 km
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
hydropower potential, timber, salt
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
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