While moving
around Switzerland tourists use certain maps, according to
the itinerary. There are maps of bus lines, rail transport, mountain
tunnels and highways. Numerous guide books contain not only good maps
of the country, but also advice for travelers and information about the
most famous places of interest.
Travel Switzerland
you will feel
yourself a real explorer. This country is of great
geographical
diversity and each part is attractive in its own way.
The land area of Switzerland is 41,284 km2.
Its geographical position is very advantageous - its location is
isolated thanks to the mountains forming a natural fence, and, at the
same time it is the centre of Europe. This fact makes
Switzerland
the most convenient place for international conferences and the home of
The United Nations.
The country is divided into three main
parts: the Plateau, the Jura and the Alps.
The Plateau stretches
from Lake Geneva in the south west to Lake
Constance in the north east and covers 30
percent of the country's surface area, which is little in comparison
with its population: two third of the Swiss occupy this territory. Most
of the Swiss economy is concentrated here. The Swiss capital - Bern -
and the main cities as Zurich,
Geneva and Basle
are situated on the
Plateau.
The Jura, which stretches from Lake Geneva to the Rhine, has given its
name to the Jurassic period because of the fossils that had been found
in this region. Due to its location on
average 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level the Jura has many
picturesque sceneries of river valleys crossing the highlands.
The Alps range along 200 kilometers at an average altitude
of 1700 m (5576 ft) and cover nearly two thirds of the total
surface area of Switzerland.
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