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Switzerland
Things to Know
Swiss Confederation
Federal
republic
Capital: Bern
Switzerland is a small, landlocked
country in Central Europe.
Map
of Switzerland
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 & Romansch.
Religion: The majority of the Swiss are either Catholic or Protestant.
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Animals
Chamois (horned goat antelope related to goats but having antelope-like
features) and marmots (cute little furry creatures).
The International Canine Federation (FCI) has attributed seven breeds
of dogs origin to Switzerland.Four breeds of cattle dogs: Bernese
Mountain Dog, Appenzell
Mountain Dog, Entlebuch
Cattle Dog, and Great
Swiss Mountain Dog. One breed of large, mastiff-type mountain
dog (St.
Bernard Dog), and two breeds of scent hound Swiss
Hounds 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 Alps (in south) and Jura (in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling
hills, plains, and large lakes.
The Matterhorn is one of the most popular mountains in the alps.
Mont Dolent is of geographical importance as it is the point where France,
Switzerland, and Italy meet.
How
did the Alps Mountains form?
Plants
Switzerland 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
Legend of Wilhelm Tell
the Swiss Hero
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
A classic story of a young orphan sent to live with her grumpy
grandfather in the Swiss Alps.
The
Heidi Site
A fantastic site on the Heidi book!
Heidi e-book (read online or print)
Cantons
Swiss Cantons
A Canton is one of the states of the Swiss confederation.
There are 26 cantons.
Cantons of Switzerland
The Cantons Online
Explorers
Sir
Edward Whymper
The first men who managed to climb to the top of
the Matterhorn.
Games
Canton
Game
Do you know the Swiss cantons? Click on the map, then drag and drop
the shields into the correct location.
What
In The World-Switzerland
NesKids Isle of Fun
Games, coloring, recipes, and more.
Read
Henri
Nestle started the Nestle Company.
Henri
Dunant started the International Red Cross in 1863.
Alberto Giacometti
Surrealist sculptor
Fun
Facts
Alphorn 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.
Saint Gotthard Automobile Tunnel in Switzerland is 10 miles (16 km)
long , took 10 years to construct, and is the longest in the world.
Yodel
Yodel ('til you get polyps)
The "world's first animated, interactive singing page"
includes aYodel Jukebox with 12 selections.
The Internet Yodel Course
Learn the noble art of yodeling in 10 free lessons.
Yodeling: An Art Form of the Alps.
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