Switzerland Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Switzerland?

Overview

Switzerland covers an area of 15,944 square miles. A quarter of the country consists of glaciers, mountains, and lakes; another quarter is covered by forests. Switzerland has a varied topography from an altitude of 633 feet above sea level in the Ticino Canton to 15,203 feet — the Monte Rosa peak — in the Alps.

Geography - note

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

Switzerland Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	Europe
Total Area	15,937 Square Miles 41,277 Square Kilometers
Land Area	15,443 Square Miles 39,997 Square Kilometers
Water Area	494 Square Miles 1,280 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	1,151 Miles 1,852 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	212 Square Miles 550 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Geographic Coordinates	47 00 N, 8 00 E
Terrain	mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Highest Point	4,634 Meters
Highest Point Location	Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Lowest Point	195 Meters
Lowest Point Location	Lake Maggiore 195 m
Natural Resources	hydropower potential, timber, salt
Time Zone	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time	+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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