Switzerland hosts many lakes, from the large Lake Geneva to hundreds of tiny little lakes in the mountains.

Advertisment

Megri.info »» Regional »» Switzerland

Switzerland is a small, landlocked country in the heart of Europe. Switzerland hosts many lakes, from the large Lake Geneva to hundreds of tiny little lakes in the mountains. There are also many dammed-up lakes, mainly to drive water turbines of power plants.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.About two third of the area of Switzerland is covered with forests, lakes and mountains. Since Switzerland has no mineral resources, it must import, process and resell them as products.

"Services" are the most important part of the economy. This includes banking, assurances and tourism.Farming is also an important part of the economy. But the production of the Swiss farmers does not fulfill the needs of all people, so Switzerland must rely on imported goods from other countries.Less than 10% of the population is employed in the agriculture; about 40% population is employed in industry, trade and handicraft; more than 50% population is employed in banking, assurance and tourism. All of them export much of their products to foreign countries and suffer a lot because of the expensive Swiss Franc. The fact that Switzerland does not belong to the European Union additionally slows down the Swiss exports. German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages. There is confederation type of government in Switzerland but it is similar to a federal republic.

The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality. Swiss banks have earned a reputation around the world for providing sophisticated and discreet banking services. There are about 400 banks in Switzerland, ranging from the "Two Big Banks" down to small banks serving the needs of a single community or a few special clients. The Two Big Banks, namely Credit Suisse and UBS, have extensive branch networks both throughout Switzerland and in many international centers. Banks are licensed by the Swiss Federal Government through its banking commission, and may operate throughout the country. Some banks specialize in only a few banking services, whereas others provide a wide range. As in most of continental Europe, individuals usually buy and sell stocks and bonds through their banks. The Swiss banks have a long reputation for managing investment portfolios for their clients, and providing other services such as estate planning, wealth management, trust companies, etc., for individual customers.