Switzerland Fact File
Location: Switzerland is located in Western Europe and it shares borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein.
Capital: Although there is no formal capital city of Switzerland, Bern is often considered to be the capital.
Population: 8 million (approx)
Area: 41,285 km sq
Currency: Swiss Franc
Official Languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh
The Flag of Switzerland
The Swiss flag can be both shaped like an oblong (as above) or square-shaped. It has been used as the national flag, in its present form, since 1889.
Other Facts About Switzerland
- Switzerland is landlocked – it doesn’t have any coastline.
- It is one of the richest countries in the world.
- Although the landscape of Switzerland is dominated by the Swiss Alps, most people live in a region known as the Swiss Plateau – a partially flat area between the Alps and the Jura mountain ranges.
- Two of the cities in Switzeland – Geneva and Zurich – are internationally important finincial centres.
- Switzerland has traditionally been thought of as a neutral country. Switzerland wasn’t involved in World War 1 or World War 2 and it hasn’t been in a state of war since early in the nineteenth century.
- There are more than 1500 lakes in Switzerland, including Lake Geneva (which is also in France) and Lake Constance (which is also in Germany and Austria).
- The highest mountains in Switzerland are Monte Rosa (4634 metres) and the Matterhorn (4478 metres).
- Switzerland is a member of the United Nations (it joined in 2002) but it’s not a member of the European Union.
- The Red Cross began in Switzerland, and its symbol is the Swiss flag in reverse (a red cross on a white background).
- The headquarters of the Nestle company is in Switzerland.
- Switzerland is one of the world’s largest exporters of watches.
- Johanna Spyri, the author of Heidi came from Switzerland.
- Winter sports, such as skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering, are incredibly popular in Switzerland.
- Football (soccer) and ice hockey are also popular in Switzerland.
- Tennis stars, Martina Hingis and Roger Federer, are both Swiss.
- Switzerland is known for its cheese (Emmental and Gruyere).
- People from Switzerland eat more chocolate than anyone else in the world. Swiss chocolate is famed for its high-quality.
