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Switzerland :
Switzerland is a small, landlocked
country in the heart of Europe.
Dimensions:
Area: 41285 km² (approx. 10'201'746 acres
or 15'940 square miles)
Boundary: 1882 km (1170 miles)
Largest extension north - south: 220 km
Largest extension west - east: 348 km
Most northern dimension: Oberbargen (N 47° 48' 35")
Most eastern dimension: Piz Chavalatsch (E 10° 29' 36")
Most southern dimension: Chiasso (N 45° 49' 08")
Most western dimension: Chancy (E 5° 57' 24")
Highest elevation: Mount Monte Rosa ("Dufourspitze"),
4634 m.a.s
Lowest elevation: Lake Maggiore ("Lago Maggiore"),
193 m.a.s
Time Zone: Central Europe (GMT +1 hour)
Switzerland is divided in three major geographical areas:
Time zone:
Switzerland is located in the
Central European Time zone also known as Middle European Time
zone. It is one hour ahead of Greenwich Time.
Daylight saving time starts in early spring and ends in late
fall. Begin and end are synchronized with the countries of
the European Union.
Mountains:
Switzerland hosts about 20%
of the Alps. Approximately 100 peaks are close to or higher
than 4000 meters (13125 feet) above sea level. Many mountain
areas are developed, there are trains, cog railways, aerial
cable cars and other means of transportation. Swiss mountains
are famous for climbing, skiing, snowboarding, biking, hiking
and other recreational activities.
Climate:
From a climate point of
view, Switzerland is located in a transition zone. In the
west, there is a strong influence of the Atlantic ocean. Winds
bring a lot of moisture into Switzerland and cause rainfall.
In the east, there is an almost continental climate, with
lower temperatures and less precipitation. On the other hand,
the alps - which run from east to west - act as a climatic
divide. South of the alps, there is an almost Mediterranean
climate, with significantly higher temperatures but also a
lot of precipitation. |