Switzerland Geography

Country Name: Swiss Confederation

Capital City: Bern

Population: 7,523,934 (2006)

Population Growth: 0.43% (2006)

Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)

Languages: German, French, Italian,

Area: 41,290 sq km

Inflation Rate: 1.2% (2006 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 3.8% (2005)

Domain extension: .ch

GEOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF SWITZERLAND

Location:

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Geographic Co-ordinates:

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Area - total:

41,290 sq km

Area - total:

41,290 sq km

Area - land:

39,770 sq km

Area - water:

1,520 sq km

Land Boundaries:

1,852 km

Border Countries:

Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Terrain:

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

Elevation - highest point:

Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Elevation - lowest point:

Lake Maggiore 195 m

Natural Resources:

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Arable Land:

9.91%

Permanent Crops:

0.58%

Other Land Use:

89.51% (2005)

Natural Hazards:

avalanches, landslides, flash floods