Switzerland is a small, landlocked
country in Central Europe.
Since the 19th century, Switzerland has followed a policy of
neutrality, which means that it has not been involved in wars between
other nations
Official Languages: German (Swiss German), French, Italian & .
Religion: The majority of the Swiss are either Catholic or Protestant.
Currency: (CHF)
Animals
(horned goat antelope related to goats but having antelope-like
features) and (cute little furry creatures).
The International Canine Federation (FCI) has attributed seven breeds
of dogs origin to Switzerland.Four breeds of cattle dogs: , , , and . One breed of large, mastiff-type mountain
dog (), and two breeds of scent hound and Smaller
Swiss Hounds).
One of the Swiss mainstays is dairy farming and this country is home
to some of the best cheeses that can be found.
Climate
Winters are long and snowy in the mountains, while the valleys have
fog and rain. Summers are usually mild.
Land
Switzerland is known for its high mountains, the (in south) and Jura (in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling
hills, plains, and large lakes.
The is one of the most popular mountains in the alps.
is of geographical importance as it is the point where France,
Switzerland, and Italy meet.
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Plants
ranks second with Germany as the most densely forested country
in Europe. In the Swiss plateau and lowlands grow many varieties of
plants and trees (palm, magnolia, chestnut, walnut, apple, pear,
cherry). Deciduous forests of beech, maple, and oak are
characteristic below about 1,400 m (about 4,500 ft), and coniferous
forests, primarily of pine and fir, flourish above that height. At
higher elevations, the flora consists of Alpine species such as
edelweiss, anemone, lily, and Swiss pines.
Stories
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
A classic story of a young orphan sent to live with her grumpy
grandfather in the Swiss Alps.
A fantastic site on the Heidi book!
(read online or print)
Cantons
Swiss Cantons
A Canton is one of the states of the Swiss confederation.
There are 26 cantons.
Explorers
The first men who managed to climb to the top of
the Matterhorn.
Games
Do you know the Swiss cantons? Click on the map, then drag and drop
the shields into the correct location.
Games, coloring, recipes, and more.
Read
started the Nestle Company.
started the International Red Cross in 1863.
Surrealist sculptor
Fun
Facts
a wooden horn from 3 ft to 12 ft (91 cm–3.7 m) long, sometimes
curved slightly, with conical bore and a cup-shaped mouthpiece. In
Switzerland it is used to call cattle and to entertain tourists.
Automobile in Switzerland is 10 miles (16 km)
long , took 10 years to construct, and is the longest in the world.
Yodel
('til you get polyps)
The "world's first animated, interactive singing page"
includes aYodel Jukebox with 12 selections.
Learn the noble art of yodeling in 10 free lessons.
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