Switzerland: A Land of Majestic Peaks, Timeless Beauty, and Rich History

Imagine a land where towering snow-capped peaks meet the sky, crystal-clear lakes reflect the heavens, and ancient castles stand watch over charming villages. Welcome to Switzerland, a land where nature’s beauty and rich history come together in perfect harmony. From the majestic Matterhorn to the peaceful shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland is a treasure chest of wonders that captivate the heart and soothe the soul. Whether you’re drawn to vibrant cities or serene landscapes, this Alpine paradise offers a journey like no other, filled with timeless elegance and breathtaking views.

Switzerland Geography

Formation and History

Switzerland is a unique place in Europe. Most countries had a king, but Switzerland didn’t. It was a group of people who didn’t want to align with any king and became independent. Some people say it was during the medieval times or the Napoleonic Wars, but technically, the earliest form of Switzerland was after the Rutlischwur.

Geography and Structure

Switzerland is a landlocked country located at the convergence point of western, central, and southern Europe. It is surrounded by five countries. The country is a federal republic made up of 26 cantons, each with their own flag and coat of arms. Six of these cantons are considered traditional half cantons and are grouped into three pairs with a shared counselor in their government to maintain a decentralized system.

Capital and Major Cities

Technically, Switzerland has no official capital, but Bern is considered the de facto capital, as it holds the House of Parliament and other federal authorities. The largest city is Zurich, located in the northeastern part of the country. Zurich also hosts the largest and busiest airport – Zurich International. The next largest cities are Geneva and Basel, which also carry the second and third busiest airports.

Population and Geographic Distribution

About 75% of the population lives in the north Swiss plateau, even though it only makes up about 30% of the land’s surface.

Nature in Switzerland

Of course, you cannot talk about Switzerland without talking about the mountains and nature. The moment you say Switzerland, images of snow-capped mountains and valleys and cows with cowbells come to mind. Despite Switzerland being famous for the Alps and being the most mountainous country in Europe, the actual Alps only make up about 60% of the country. The rest of the country is made up of two other geographic zones: the Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau, which is the lowest part of the country and where most of the agriculture and livestock raising is concentrated, and the Euro Mountains in the northwest on the border with France.

From the ice melt of the Alps, of course, you get the source of all the rivers that feed Switzerland, including the longest river, the Rhine, which shares borders with its neighbors. However, the longest river fully in Switzerland not shared would be the Aare river. Of course, these rivers also feed into the world-renowned lakes of Switzerland, the largest one being Lake Geneva, in which Switzerland is located. Nonetheless, the largest lake in Switzerland is Lake Neuchatel.

Resources and Economy

Switzerland sure is beautiful, but when it comes to natural resources, they are not so rich; they don’t really have much. Their economy is based on industry and services. We all know high-end things like luxury Swiss watches and Swiss knives are made in Switzerland, which are by the way a multi-billion dollar industry, but the one industry that everyone focuses on even though it only makes up about 15% of their economy is the Swiss banking system, which is home to two world-renowned companies, UBS and Credit Suisse. The appeal is that Swiss banks offer an insane amount of privacy and confidentiality.

Back in 1713, Switzerland’s Great Council decided they would outlaw the financial disclosure to Europe’s financial elites, and in addition, all forms of bribery were criminalized. Since 1934, it was made criminal to disclose the identity of any account holders as long as they didn’t have any extreme felony charges. Even though the interest rates are really low, sometimes the rate is even negative, which means you have to pay to hold funds or to open an account. Nonetheless, the rate of investments is pretty high, like at 2.5% due to the regular stability of the Swiss economy, granted there was some controversy as there have been many lawsuits brought against their banks.