Swiss Geography

Excerpts from "Switzerland", © 1993 Kümmerly & Frey, Geographical Publishers, Berne, Switzerland

Fascinating natural history

Close study of the origins of Switzerland's landscape reveals a complex development reaching far back and far down. The 'superficial' impression is one of mainly recent shaping be post Ice-Age streams and rivers, landslides of earth and rock, Ice-Age glaciers and rivers formed by their melting ice. In addition to, and beneath, these features with ages ranging from just a few thousand to one hundred thousand years, the basic foundation, which is some 500'000'000 years old in all, consists of mighty layers dating from the Tertiary Period (e.g. molasse in the Central Plain) and from the Mesozoic Sea (e.g. limestone alps, Jura) as well as even older mountain cores.

A landlocked, mountainous country on the north-south axis

If one were to try to capture in one word the essence of Switzerland as a whole, it would surely be the word 'diversity' that would be the most appropriate. More essentially, one could say that overall it is this diversity which gives Switzerland its unique identity. It is rare to find so small a country encompassing such scope, variety and individuality in its national life and above all in its natural features. 7Situated in southern central Europe, Switzerland is first and foremost a land of hills and mountains.
There is no direct access to the sea: the nearest port to the south of the country being Genoa, in Italy, 250 kilometres away. Switzerland embraces the central part of the Alps, with its four main passes - Grimsel, Furka, St.Gotthard and Oberalp; here also spring the sources of the Rhone and the Rhine. The Swiss rivers, Ticino and Inn, also feed the Po and the Danube, giving rise to its popular description as the 'Fountain of Europe'. Due to its central position, Switzerland has been, throughout its history, an important link in communications and transport between northern and southern Europe.

Some geographical data

Geology

The geological structure of Switzerland is complex. It forms part of the Alpine arc which stretches almost 1'000 kilometers from Nice (Frenche Maritime Alps) to Vienna (Austrian Alps). The Jurea and the Central Plateau do not form part of the Alps but their development and variety of shapes have been very much affected by the Alpine chain. Although the country boundaries stretch as far as the upper Italian plateau in the south and to the Black Forest byond the Rhine in the north, the major regions of Switzerland are, however, geologically speaking, the Alps and Pres-Alps (60%), the Central Plateau (30%) and the Jura (10%).

Plenty of rivers and lakes, thanks to abundant rainfall as a general rule

Because of its central position, Switzerland's weather is influenced by the four main European air currents - from the Atlantic, the eastern continent, the northern sub-polar region and the Mediterranean south. These external factors and the varied relief of the country itself, with its sudden changes from mountain to plateau, give rise to many local and regional microclimates which can be both unexpected and quite remarkable.
In general, Switzerland has more rainfall than most other regions in Europe, but the amount of rain varies greatly from region to region.

The Glaciers

The Swiss Alps have more glaciers than the rest of the range - some 3'000 km2 in all. The glaciers we see today represent only a small part of the total area covered by ice during the various glacial periods, when almost the whole country was glaciated. Although some glaciers are still advancing the majority have been retreating for the last hundred years or so.

Rivers

Switzerland forms part of the three main continental river basins: 67.6% of the country is drained by the Rhine into the North Sea; the Rhone (18%), the Swiss tributaries of the Po (9.6%) and the Adige (0.3%) drain 27.9% of the waters into the Meriterreanean. 4.4% flows via the river Inn into the Danube and eventually into the Black Sea.

The Lakes

The lakes are a very striking feature of the Swiss scenery, indeed it is possible to cross the whole country and never be further than 15 kilometers from a lake. There a quite a few main lakes like Lake Geneva (582.4 km2), Bodensee (539 km2), Lago Maggiore (212,3 km2).

But Switzerland also boasts hundreds of smaller natural and man-made lakes and reservoirs, mainly in the Alps.

More extensive nature and environmental protection

The increase in population in a relatively small country has created tensions and conflicts between economic necessity and efforts to protect natural resources and cultural heritage. New legislation concerning forests, which cam into effect beginning of 1993, qualifies forests as natural habitats. The total area of forest and its distribution remains protected. If permission is given for felling, an equal area must be replanted with trees of equal ecological value.

Fortunately, Switzerland has so far been spared large-scale environmental disasters, but steadily increasing pressure on the Swiss environment has prompted the preparation of more extensive environmental protection measures. Further efforts are indispensable, particularly in connection with preventing air pollution.