According to an old legend, when the Lord distributed the wealth of the earth's interior to a country in the very heart of Europe, Switzerland, they were not enough. To correct this injustice, God gave her high mountains, shining glaciers, stormy waterfalls, picturesque valleys, beautiful rivers and pristine azure lakes. The unusually beautiful views of Switzerland attract thousands of tourists, it is like a special world - magical and mesmerizing, making you believe that paradise does exist. And it doesn't matter what time of year the trip will take, the landscapes of Switzerland will not disappoint in any season and in any weather.

The climate in Switzerland as a whole can be called moderate, however, this is very generalized, because for each canton, depending on its geographic location are characterized by their own landscape and climate. The natural zones of Switzerland are diverse - from the Arctic to the tropics: mosses and lichens grow high in the mountains, the slopes are covered with coniferous and deciduous forests, and in the south of the country, on the coast of lakes, the lush southern greenery of cypresses, magnolias and palms pleases the eye. Switzerland in winter attracts tourists with its famous ski resorts, in summer the mountains and passes of Switzerland are greeted with amazing landscapes, and clean lakes - beach vacations comparable to those of resorts Mediterranean Sea.

Holidays in the Swiss Alps

Switzerland and mountains are two inseparable concepts, because mountains occupy more than half of the country's territory. In Switzerland, three natural regions are distinguished: in the northwest stretches mountain range Jura, the Swiss plateau - in the center and the Alps, which occupy the entire south-east of the country. According to scientific data, the Alps appeared as a result of a collision of tectonic plates in ancient times, but, amazingly, researchers argue that the Swiss Alps are still in the process of formation - their height increases every year, however, by only one millimeter. Experts believe that a powerful earthquake can cause more rapid growth of the mountains, and they will reach the mark of 7 thousand meters, however, this can happen very, very long time ago, about a couple of million years.

The Swiss Alps stretch for almost 200 kilometers, offering unique landscapes of the most beautiful mountain passes and valleys, slopes and snow-capped peaks.

Holidays in the Swiss Alps in winter are, of course, ski resorts, which are considered the best in the world. An abundance of snow, flawless tracks, the best training in alpine skiing, cozy hotels, cafes and restaurants with excellent cuisine, the highest level of service - everything is created here for an ideal holiday. Sports fans will find excellent downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and airboarding trails, toboggan runs, speed skating grounds and even ice diving. Lovers of quieter leisure will be offered hiking, sledding, health improvement on thermal springs, winter fishing, acquaintance with the unique culture and traditions of Switzerland, so this is not just a vacation, but a real revived winter fairy tale!

In summer, the Swiss Alps attract, first of all, for their stunning mountain panoramas, but rest, of course, will not be limited to simple contemplation of beauty. In almost any area of \u200b\u200bthe Alps, tourists are offered bike tours and hiking routes of varying complexity, and, in some of the most beautiful places Switzerland can only be reached on foot, and beginners and experienced climbers will also try their hand at the Alps. Anyway, everyone tourist routes lie among the uniquely beautiful peaks and valleys with picturesque villages, and in each, even the smallest, they will definitely offer accommodation with maximum comfort. By the way, all night halts take place only in special mountain shelters, here you will not be able to sit by the fire - it is allowed to start a fire only in emergency cases to attract the attention of rescue services, and you can set up a tent city only far from shelters and only for the night from 8 pm to 8 a.m. Summer Alps will also meet with their amazingly beautiful and clean lakes, some of which are adapted for diving, windsurfing or fishing.

Mount Matterhorn

The most famous of the mountain peaks of the Alps is the Matterhorn, located in the Pennine Alps on the very border of Switzerland and Italy. The peak, which has an almost regular pyramidal shape, rises far from other peaks, among the plains and low hills, so nothing prevents you from admiring it from all sides and, perhaps, it is this isolation that gives the Matterhorn mountain so much charm. The Matterhorn is much more often than other sights that get into the lenses of travelers' cameras. On this occasion, the locals even had a joke that for tourists on a trip to Switzerland, the main thing is that the Matterhorn is in the background in the photo. However, the Swiss themselves could not fail to appreciate the beauty of this mountain, it is not for nothing that the manufacturers of the world famous Swiss chocolate "Tobleron" put its image on the packaging of their products, and in 2004 the Matterhorn took pride of place on a commemorative 50 franc gold coin. So this mountain can be safely considered a symbol of Switzerland!

The Matterhorn rises 4478 meters above sea level, if you look closely, you can see that the mountain has two peaks, located at a distance of about a hundred meters from each other. One of them, located in the east of the ridge, is called the Swiss peak, and the western one, which is only one meter lower than its “neighbor”, is called Italian, but they are called so not at all because of their country - both are located on the very border, just to the east the first ascent was made from Switzerland, to the west - from Italy. By the way, the Matterhon with its steep cliffs is one of the most extreme destinations for climbers, so the mountain remained impregnable for a long time, and only in 1865 a group of professional climbers managed to conquer the summit. But no matter how severe and dangerous the Matterhorn is, it invariably attracts climbers in any season.

Often, in order to admire the Matterhorn in its full glory, they climb the nearby Gornergrat Mountain - a path over three thousand meters in height can be overcome on foot or on a panoramic train capable of overcoming steep inclines. It will take you to the very top, and on the way you will have amazing views of the forests and picturesque waterfalls.

At the foot of the Matterhorn there are famous resorts: on the Italian side - Breuil-Cervinia, and on the Swiss side - Zermatt, which is one of the ten best resorts in the Alps in terms of snow quality and ski slopes... In the summer, Zermatt invites fans of hiking, climbers and simply lovers of quiet rest and landscapes of Switzerland. You can get to Zermatt by train from major cities Switzerland, Milan, Stuttgart and Munich. By car, you can get to the Tash resort, and from there you can take an electric taxi to Zermatt or take an electric bus.

Mount Pilatus in Switzerland

In central Switzerland, southeast of the city of Lucerne, rises Mount Pilatus - no less famous than the Matterhorn, but if the latter became famous thanks to the image on chocolate, then Pilatus gained fame because of the legends associated with it. According to one version, the name of the mountain translates as "wearing a hat" - its top is densely shrouded in clouds, it seems as if she is really wearing a snow-white headdress. But a more widespread version explains the name of the peak by the name of Pontius Pilate - the procurator who condemned Jesus Christ to death. Tradition says that Pilate, tormented by remorse, committed suicide, and then his body was thrown into the Tiber, but the river did not accept the sinner and carried the remains to the shore. The same thing happened when trying to drown the body of a suicide in the Rhone and Lake Geneva, after which he was taken to a remote corner of the Alps and thrown into a deep body of water at the foot of a high mountain. After that, the summit began to be called Pilatus, and the locals believed that the restless soul of the procurator was wandering along the mountain paths, and woe to those who met him. And so Pontius Pilate constantly brought trouble - the villages in the vicinity of the mountain suffered from rockfalls, mudflows, floods and hurricanes. This continued for a long time, until one theological student, who was fond of black magic, achieved that the soul of the procurator began to appear only once a year, but for several centuries more power, believing the legend, forbade anyone to climb the mountain. And in the Middle Ages, it was believed that winged dragons lived here, guarding palaces with untold riches and kidnapping beautiful girls.

Fortunately, the times when people were afraid to visit Pilatus have long since sunk into oblivion, because this mountain is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland, and tourists with great pleasure climb to its top to enjoy the majesty of mountain landscapes, wonderful clean air and entertainment that will take your breath away.

The height of Pilatus is 2128 meters above sea level. There are three ways to get to the top: on foot (it will take about four hours to climb), using cable car from the town of Kriens or by train from the town of Alpnachstadt. This train, by the way, is the steepest in the whole world - the angle of inclination railroad in some places it reaches 48 °, and only special gear wheels and rails allow it to overcome such a rise.

At the top of Pilatus, in addition to breathtaking views, a wide variety of leisure options await tourists. The winter Pilatus and the Snow & Fun park will give you the most impressions - on four slopes of different lengths you can slide on sleds, snow-scooters, "bagels" and other snow-entertaining modes of transport. From a height of just under 1,500 meters, you can ride a toboggan - a useless sleigh of North American Indians or test your own courage using the PowerFan attraction, where you will have to “fall” from a height of about 20 meters and a thin rope will catch the daredevil only at the very ground. You should definitely follow the Dragon Pass route - the road will go through caves and grottoes, where the walls are painted with illustrations of dragon legends - they were painted by local artist Hans Ernie at the beginning of the 20th century. And, of course, restaurants with traditional Swiss cuisine and souvenir shops with cute little things will complement the impression of staying on Mount Pilatus - one of the best and most mysterious places in Switzerland.

Lake Geneva

Switzerland is often called "the country of mountains and lakes", mountains here really occupy a significant territory, and Switzerland's lakes, which number more than one and a half thousand, are distinguished by their extraordinary beauty and crystal clear water. The most big lake in Swiss Alpsah and the second largest freshwater body of water in Central Europe is Lake Geneva, which lies in the floodplain of the Rhone River; locals often call it Leman.

Lake Geneva, even in the photo, amazes with its magnificence, what to say about when you see it with your own eyes! It simply fascinates with its pristine beauty and unusually deep and clear color of the water, it is often compared to a mirror - the Alps shelter it so reliably from the wind that the water surface is almost always unshakable, and in it, as if in a mirror, the peaks of mountains, vineyards, tall firs, houses and medieval castles on the slopes.

Stretched out in the shape of a crescent swiss lake is located on the border with France, more precisely, the border runs right in the middle of the reservoir. Along the northern coast, which belongs to Switzerland, there are numerous resort towns, which are called the Swiss Riviera for their luxury and respectability. From cold northern winds Lake Geneva is protected by the mountain ranges of the Alps, so a pleasant mild climate reigns here, and the coast is buried in the greenery of subtropical plants. Beach vacation in Switzerland is truly unique - only here you can sunbathe on the beach, admiring the snow-capped mountains. However, the swimming season is quite short here - the water warms up very slowly and only in July-August it becomes warm. However, all kinds of water sports and cruises are available for tourists, as well as horse riding, cycling and hiking, golf, mountain climbing, paragliding and hot air ballooning.

One of the most impressive natural attractions in Switzerland is the Rhine Falls, located in the canton of Schaffhausen near the small town of Neuhausen am Rheinfall. Despite the fact that the height of the Rhine Falls is only 23 meters (about a seven-story house), it is considered the largest in Europe, because in terms of the volume of water falling from the rocks, it has no equal - in winter 250 cubic meters falls down every second in winter, while in summer, during the period of rapid melting of mountain glaciers, up to 700 cubic meters are torn off the cliff.

According to scientists' research, this waterfall is very ancient, it began to form about 500 thousand years ago during the Ice Age, when huge masses of ice easily changed the relief and steeply turned river beds. Finally, the Rhine Falls acquired its appearance about 15 thousand years ago - this is how we can see it today.

The spectacle of the Rhine Falls is not only impressive, it shakes to the core - the width of the threshold reaches 150 meters, huge streams of water, with noise and roar, fall down, and, swirling with snow-white foam, disintegrate into millions of splashes, iridescent in the sun.

It is best to enjoy an unusually beautiful and formidable sight with observation platforms... One of them moves away from the shore and is put forward above the river, very close to the place where the waterfall falls, it seems that the water colossus is moving right at you and the wildly roaring stream is about to pick up and carry away in an unknown direction. Another site is located on a high cliff, towering as an island in the middle of the river, and a small ship plying from both banks will deliver here. From this site, the Rhine Falls can be seen from above, from here it will not seem so formidable, but will fascinate with its stunning view for a long time.

It is easy to get to the Rhine Falls from Zurich through the cities of Winterthur, Schaffhausen, Newhausen or Bülach, you can do this either by car or by public transport - by train or bus, depending on the chosen route.

Swiss National Park

For those who want to see all the truly alpine landscapes at once, the Swiss national parklocated in the canton of Graubünden in the Engadine Valley. The area of \u200b\u200b172 square kilometers encompasses rugged bare rocks overgrown with dense pine forest slopes and alpine and subalpine meadows dotted with fragrant flowers, where chamois, mountain goats, deer, elks, wolves, brown bears, foxes, lynxes, golden eagles and many other representatives of the animal world live.

The Swiss National Park is the oldest national park in Europe and the only one in Switzerland. The history of its creation is very interesting. By the beginning of the twentieth century, this territory was fully developed by man, and, as usual, in a very barbaric way - the forests were mercilessly cut down, thoughtlessly poor natural resources... In 1914, it was decided to completely stop any economic activity here and to see how nature is capable of self-healing. And the result was not long in coming - nature, freed from human intervention, came into its own - dense forests rustled again on the slopes, meadows were covered with flowers, and animals and birds found shelter.

Today, the Swiss National Park continues to develop naturally and live a quiet, calm life, broken only by tourists, while the visiting rules are very strict. Here, only walking is allowed, it is forbidden to go off the paved paths, kindle fires, set up camp sites, leave any traces of your stay, fishing and hunting are prohibited, picking herbs and flowers, even for loud sounds they can write a fine. If you want to spend more time in the national park (you still won't be able to walk around it in one day - the total length of the trails is 80 kilometers), then you can stay overnight at the Il Fuorn hotel or the Chamana Kluozza hut, where guests will be provided with comfortable rooms and will spoil you with delicious national cuisine.

The entrance to the park is free, and there are also free parking lots nearby. The best time to visit the park is considered the warm season, in winter it is also open, but only short walks along some snow-free trails are provided. But on the other hand, just in winter in the nearby village of Zernez, where the information office of the national park is located, winter sports competitions, festivals and marathons, farmers' markets are held, or you can go on an entertaining tour to the unusual 17th century village of Guarda.

The easiest way to get to the Swiss National Park is from Zurich by train to Zernez, and then change to a bus to the park, or by car, the journey will take about 2.5-3 hours.

Verzasca river

Probably, the definition of "the most" fits many places in Switzerland: the best ski resorts in Switzerland, the most picturesque lakes, the most beautiful mountains and the cleanest rivers are also in Switzerland, and of them the most transparent in the world is Verzasca. It originates from the glaciers of a mountain 2864 meters high and carries its waters to Lake Maggiore, located between Italy and Switzerland. The Verzasca path lies through the picturesque valleys of the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, the length of the river is very small - only 30 kilometers, but all this distance is simply replete with amazing landscapes - Verzasca runs between the mountain slopes, dressed in the lush greenery of chestnut forests and vineyards, and along the banks there are old stone buildings Swiss villages, which only adds to the charm of the delightful views. The depth of Verzasca reaches 15 meters in places, the water in it changes color from bright blue to emerald green and is so transparent that the bottom is covered with colorful stones to the smallest detail.

Many people, seeing the purest Verzasca, feel a desire to plunge, however, the water in it is icy even in the hottest weather, its temperature does not exceed 10 degrees, and because of strong underwater currents it is quite dangerous, as warned by the signs on its banks. Still, there are extreme people who do not care about the cold, and even more thermophilic tourists have the opportunity to swim - along the channel there are natural depressions where the water has time to warm up to an acceptable temperature. Verzasca is especially popular with divers who are certainly not stopped by the icy water, because from the bottom they take stunning pictures, the most spectacular are photographs from the depths, where, through the crystal clear water column, the shores and the sky with running clouds are visible. The only thing that divers will not be able to see and capture is the underwater world of Verzaska, since there, despite the purest water, flora and fauna are completely absent. For a long time it was believed that the reason for this is the increased acidity of the water, but studies carried out in 2009 showed that the PH-composition of the water is the most common, but why the flora and fauna in the river are absent remains a mystery.

Among the landmarks of Verzasca, the charming Swiss villages are noted, where the age of houses built of layered gneiss stone reaches several hundred years; a stone arched bridge built in the 17th century and called Roman either for the authorship of the Italians, or because of the similarity of architecture, and a gigantic stone dam 220 meters high. She gained worldwide fame thanks to the filming of one of the parts of the "Bond" "Golden Eye" - it is from her that Pete Brosnan effectively jumps into the water from a great height. By the way, anyone can repeat Bond's mind-blowing trick - there is a bungee jumping platform on the dam - if you have the courage, unforgettable experience guaranteed!

The most beautiful place of the Verzaski River is called the vicinity of Locarno; you can get to it by train from Zurich, Basel or Lucerne. By car, the path will lie along the A2 highway to Magadino airport, and then you need to turn onto the A13 highway.

Lauterbrunnen Valley

Experienced travelers call the Lauterbrunenn Valley one of the most beautiful and amazing in the whole earth - in fact, this is a deep crevice located between sheer kilometer-long rocks, the valley stretches for eight kilometers in length, and it takes no more than a kilometer in width. From here, three majestic peaks open to the eye - Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger (translated as the Virgin, Monk and Cannibal), landscapes mountain valley, but the main thing here is the numerous waterfalls. The name Lauterbrunnen itself translates as "many springs", there are 72 waterfalls in the valley, stunning in their beauty.

The journey to the waterfalls begins from a picturesque village bearing the same name as the valley - Lauterbrunnen, it is here that you can order excursion tours or walk with a guide.

The most famous and impressive waterfalls are Staubbach and Trummelbach. Staubbach amazes with its power and natural strength - streams of melt water rush down from 300-meter rocks, because of the high height, the water, reaching the ground, breaks on stones and turns into the smallest mist, reminiscent of fog or cloud. Trummelbach Falls are the only ones in Europe located deep in the cliffs and accessible to the public. For thousands of years, melt water descending from the peaks washed spiral depressions in the stone, along which rumbling streams, overcoming a dozen cascades, descend into the valley. You can get to the waterfall by an underground funicular, and then tourists, following galleries and bridges, descend to the foot of the mountain, admiring the incredibly beautiful spectacle of running water.

The most beautiful places in Switzerland can be seen from the top of the Schilthorn, which can be reached using a lift. Up there, in addition to the observation deck, from where you can see the panorama of eternal glaciers and mountain peaks, there is a revolving restaurant "Piz Gloria", where the movie about the famous 007 agent "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was filmed.

Another attraction of Lauterbrunnen is the Jungfraubahn railway - its terminal station is located at an altitude of 3545 meters above sea level and is the highest railway station all over the world and is called the "Top of Europe".

You can get to Lauterbrunnen by car or train from Zurich to Interlaken, from where an electric train runs to the valley.

The last ten kilometers of the Jungfraubahn railway go in a tunnel, from where the train emerges into the dazzling whiteness of another natural attraction in Switzerland - the largest glacier in the Alps called Aletsch. It is approximately 25 kilometers long and about 120 square kilometers in area. Glatchers are formed from compacted layers of snow, which, under their own weight, turn into ice. The Aletsch consists of three glaciers with an average thickness of about one hundred meters, the glatcher arms, converging in Concordia, reach a maximum thickness of about 1,000 meters, here the glacier turns into a frozen river one and a half kilometers wide. The seeming silence and silence of Aletsch are deceiving - he lives and moves, sliding at a speed of 200 meters per year to the southeast, and at an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level, Aletsch turns into the Massa River, which flows into the Rhone.

Locals always treated Aletsch with respect and even fear, if he was mentioned in legends, he was certainly called a "white giant", and this is not surprising - at night from the side of the glacier sounds can be clearly heard, similar to groans and clanging of steel swords. Even skeptics find it difficult to believe that a huge mass of ice creates them by its movement, and therefore there are many tales of ghosts and human souls languishing under the ice.

Despite the external coldness and inaccessibility of Aletsch, tourists with great pleasure go to look at the unique glacier frozen in a bizarrely curved canyon-gorge overgrown with relic forest, the Bolshoi Aletsch branch is especially interesting, resembling an ice-bound river or a man-made winter road. Aletsch looks very unusual in summer, when the slopes of the canyon are covered with green grass and flowers, and a snowy river lies beneath your feet in icy silence.

Since 2001, Aletsch has been under the protection of UNESCO, and is also included in the list of contenders for the title of "Seven Wonders of Nature".

Caves of Saint Beatus

In the canton of Bern, near the town of Interlaken on the northeastern shore of Lake Thun, tourists are waiting an amusing trip into the bowels of the rocks - into the caves of St. Beatus. As the legend says, long ago wealthy parents sent their son Suetonius to study in Rome, but the apostle Peter, who met him, led him astray from the path of science, and the young man plunged headlong into religion, replacing hot Italy with the mountains of Switzerland. Suetonius took a new name for himself - Beatus and settled in a cave on Lake Tun, only to begin with he had to fight the terrible fire-breathing monsters that lived in the mountain grottoes. For numerous good deeds, the locals began to venerate him as a saint, and over time, the caves acquired the name of St. Beatus.

Since legends are associated with dragons, everything here reminds of mythical creatures - right at the entrance and in the cave there are figurines of fire-breathing monsters, you can swim in the underground lakes on a boat in the form of a dragon, and nature itself seems to support the legend - stone blocks are piled in places like this in a bizarre way that, in fact, resemble the terrible toothy jaws of a monster.

Caves and passages, located at a depth of 500 meters, merge into mysterious labyrinths, overgrown with stalactites and stalagmites over 40 thousand years old, underground rivers flow here and even small waterfalls rustle. In one of the grottoes you can meet the "owner" - Saint Beatus himself, and those who are interested in science can look into the Museum of Minerals.

Not far from the caves, there is a restaurant serving delicious dishes prepared according to old recipes, and on its roof with viewing platforms you can admire the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland.

Switzerland is a state in Central Europe. Tradition says: when God distributed the wealth of the bowels of the Earth, He did not have enough of them for tiny country in the heart of Europe. To correct such injustice, He clothed this small country with wondrous beauty: He presented mountains like heavenly castles, glaciers sparkling with whiteness, singing waterfalls, lakes of crystal clear, bright fragrant valleys. The country shares borders with Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and France. The upper reaches of the major rivers of Europe begin on the territory of Switzerland: the Rhine, Rhone, Ticino, Are, etc. Approximately 60% of the territory is occupied by mountains with mountain lakes and alpine meadows. There are 1484 lakes in the country. 24% of the territory is covered with forests

Swiss Confederation. In terms of state structure, it is a federal republic. The area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 41.3 thousand square meters. km. In the north, it borders on Germany, in the west - with France, in the south - with Italy, in the east - with Austria and Liechtenstein. The northern border runs partly along Lake Constance and the Rhine, which begins in the center of the Swiss Alps and forms part of the eastern border. The western border runs along the Jura mountains, the southern border runs along the Italian Alps and Lake Geneva. The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Switzerland. The capital is Bern. Population - 7450 thousand people (2004). Population density: 172 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population 61%, rural 39% (1996). Area - 41.3 thousand sq. km. The most high point - Dufour peak (4634 m above sea level). The lowest point is 192 m above sea level. National languages \u200b\u200b- German, French, Italian, Romansh. The main religions are Catholicism, Protestantism. Administrative division - 20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons. Monetary unit: Swiss franc \u003d 100 rappen (centimes). National holiday: Day of the founding of the Confederation ("oath on Rutli") - August 1. National Anthem: "Swiss Psalm".

NATURE

Terrain relief. In Switzerland, three natural area: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast.

The Jura Mountains, separating Switzerland and France, stretch from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. They alternate mountain folds with a predominance of limestone and valleys; folds in places cut through small rivers, forming valleys with steep slopes (haws). Farming is possible only in the valleys; the gentle slopes of the mountains are covered with forests or used as pastures.

The Swiss plateau was formed at the site of a trough between the Jura and the Alps, which was filled with loose glacial deposits in the Pleistocene and is currently cut by numerous rivers. The surface of the plateau is hilly, agriculture is developed in wide valleys, the interfluves are covered with forests. Most of the country's population is concentrated here, large cities and industrial centers are located. The most fertile agricultural lands and pastures are concentrated in the same area.

Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. These high, uneven, snow-covered mountains are dissected by deep gorges. In the ridge zone there are firn fields and glaciers (10% of the country's territory). The wide bottom of the main valleys is used for fields and arable land. The area is sparsely populated. The Alps are the main source of income as the picturesque nature of the highlands attracts many tourists and climbers. Most high peaks - Dufour peak (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Water resources.Most of Switzerland is irrigated by the Rhine and its tributary Are (the most important of its tributaries are the Rouss and Limmat). The southwestern regions belong to the Rhone drainage basin, the southern ones to the Ticino basin, and the southeastern regions to the Ticino basin. Inn (a tributary of the Danube). The rivers of Switzerland are not navigable. On the Rhine, navigation is only supported up to Basel.

Switzerland is famous for its lakes, the most picturesque of them are located at the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva, Thun in the south, Ferwaldstät, Zurich in the east, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north. Most of these lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed in an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains to the Swiss plateau. South of the axis of the Alps in the canton of Ticino are the Lugano and Lago Maggiore lakes.

Climate. Switzerland is characterized by climatic differences due to altitude and exposure to sun and wind. The climate is humid, on the plateaus it is moderately warm, in the mountains it is cold. Daily temperatures in the lowlands on average fluctuate during the year from 10 to 16 ° C, in summer they rise to 27 ° C and more. The hottest month is July, the coldest is January.

The highest peaks of the Alps are covered with eternal snow. The snow line rises up to 2700 m on the western slopes and up to 3200 m on the eastern. In winter, the temperature drops below 0 ° С throughout the country, with the exception of the northern coast Lake Geneva and the shores of lakes Lugano and Lake Maggiore, part of which belongs to Italy. The climate there is as mild as in Northern Italyas the mountains protect from the invasion of cold northerly winds (bizet). In January-February, when high pressure prevails over the Alps, clear cold weather is set, favorable for winter sports. The southern slopes receive a lot of solar heat at this time.

In Switzerland, strong winds are frequent, accompanied by rain and snowfall. In spring, summer and autumn, prevail hair dryers - warm dry winds blowing from the east and southeast. As the currents of moist air from the Mediterranean Sea rise up the slopes of the Alps and then descend to the Swiss Plateau, precipitation falls on the southern slopes almost twice as much as on the northern ones. Average annual rainfall in Basel (277 m above sea level) is 810 mm, in Lausanne (375 m) on the northern shore of Lake Geneva - 1040 mm, and in Davos (1580 m) in the southeast of the country - 970 mm.

Flora and fauna. The Swiss plateau is located in the European deciduous forest zone. The predominant species are oak and beech, in some places pine is mixed with them. On the southern slope of the Alps, chestnut is typical. Higher on the slopes of the mountains, coniferous forests grow, forming a transition zone between deciduous forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). There are many bright colors in the mountains. Crocuses and daffodils bloom in spring, and rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentian and edelweiss in summer.

Animal world experienced a strong influence of human economic activity. While the ptarmigan and white hare are still quite common, the characteristic upper-mountain animals such as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common. Great efforts are being made to protect wild fauna. The Swiss National Park, located on the border with Austria, is inhabited by roe deer and chamois, less often Alpine ibex and fox; there are also ptarmigan and several species of birds of prey.

Switzerland is a country where amazing natural wonders are concentrated in a small area. On its just over 41 thousand square meters. km, you can see such a variety of landscapes and landscapes that you cannot find in any other country with the same small area.

General information about the country

Switzerland is the country of the most reliable banks in the world. This is the land of army knives, chocolate, watches and cheese. But the main thing is that Switzerland is a country with an amazing nature.

We invite you to get acquainted with the nature of Switzerland, its most beautiful corners and peculiarities of flora and fauna.

Location

The state is located in the very heart of Europe. It also borders with Austria in the east, with Germany in the north, with France in the west and with Italy in the south. More than half of the territory is mountainous. It is mostly Alpine mountain system (central part) with the main four passes: Oberalp, St. Gotthard, Fourka and Grimsel. Here are the sources of the Rhine and Rhone.

The nature of Switzerland (photos are presented in the article) is magnificent, mainly due to the mountains. The central and southern parts of the territory are occupied by the Alps, in the north-west is the Jura, and in the south - the Apennines. The Alps and Jura are separated by a hilly plateau with many tectonic lakes. The area of \u200b\u200bthe glaciers is 2,000 sq. km. The height of the mountains is on average 1,700 meters. Mount Monte Rosa, the highest peak of the Apennines (southern peak of Dufour), has a height of 4,634 meters.

Legend of the nature of Switzerland

According to one old legend, when the Lord God distributed the wealth of the bowels of the Earth, they were not enough for a country located in the very center of Europe. In order to correct such injustice, the Lord gave Switzerland high mountains with shining glaciers, stormy waterfalls, picturesque valleys, beautiful rivers and azure lakes. And so it turned out extraordinary beautiful Switzerland... Her landscapes are magnificent in any season and in any weather.

So, the wilderness of Switzerland. What is she like?

Mount Matterhorn

It is the most famous mountain peak in the Alps, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The peak has the shape of an almost regular pyramid. It rises among low hills and plains, and it is this isolation that gives this mountain such a charm.

The Matterhorn is 4,478 meters high.

Switzerland's nature is magnificent due to the variety of landscapes. Travelers call this valley almost the most beautiful and amazing in the whole earth. In fact, it is a deep crevice between high sheer cliffs... Its length is 8,000 meters, and its width is no more than a kilometer. From this place, three beautiful mountain peaks - Iger, Mönch and Jungfrau (translated as Ogre, Monk and Virgin).

The peculiarity of the valley lies in the numerous waterfalls. And the name Lauterbrunnen in translation means “many springs”. There are 72 waterfalls in total, and all of them are stunning in their beauty.

The nature of Switzerland cannot be imagined without this lake. No wonder this country is often called "the land of mountains and lakes". And indeed it is. In addition to the mountains that occupy most of its territory, there are more than 1,500 lakes of extraordinary beauty. The largest in the Swiss Alps and the second largest freshwater reservoir in Central Europe is Lake Geneva. The locals often call him Lehman. It lies in the floodplain of the river. Rhone.

The lake fascinates with its amazing pristine beauty and unusually clear water. The Alps reliably shelter the reservoir from the wind, thanks to which the water surface is almost unshakable, and the peaks of the mountains and all the surrounding nature are clearly reflected in it, along with houses and medieval castles nestled on the mountain slopes. The crescent-shaped lake is located on the border with France (or rather, the border runs along its center).

Vegetable world

The nature of Switzerland is also rich in vegetation. The Swiss plateau lies in the broad-leaved forest zone. Oaks and beeches predominate here, sometimes pines are added to them. The chestnut is typical for the southern slopes of the Alps. Further in height, coniferous forests grow, representing a transition zone between the alpine meadows located above and deciduous forests.

There are many different bright colors in the mountains. Daffodils and crocuses bloom in spring, edelweiss, rhododendrons, gentian and saxifrage in summer.

Animal world

Fauna, in contrast to flora, is strongly depleted due to human economic activities. The most common inhabitants are the white hare and the snow partridge. And animals characteristic of the upper tier of the mountains, such as the marmot, roe deer and chamois, are much less common.

There is a Swiss national park near the border with Austria, in which chamois and roe deer live, foxes and alpine ibex are a little less common. Here you can also find the ptarmigan and several species of birds of prey.

Finally

One should be noted interesting fact... Scientists claim that the Swiss Alps are still in the process of formation. According to research, the height of the mountains increases by one millimeter every year.

It is impossible to describe all the natural attractions of this small European state. The Rhine Falls and the Aletsch Glacier are not all of Switzerland's natural wonders.

The Swiss Confederation is a state in Central Europe. In terms of state structure, it is a federal republic. The area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 41.3 thousand square meters. km. In the north, it borders on Germany, in the west - with France, in the south - with Italy, in the east - with Austria and Liechtenstein. The northern border runs partly along Lake Constance and the Rhine, which begins in the center of the Swiss Alps and forms part of the eastern border. The western border runs along the Jura mountains, the southern border runs along the Italian Alps and Lake Geneva. The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Three natural regions are distinguishable in Switzerland: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast.

Switzerland and France, stretching from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. The Swiss plateau was formed on the site of a trough between the Jura and the Alps, which was filled with loose glacial deposits in the Pleistocene and is now cut by numerous rivers. Here the majority of the country's population is concentrated, large cities and industrial centers are located. The most fertile agricultural lands and pastures are concentrated in the same area.

Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. Switzerland mountains high, uneven, snow-covered mountains are dissected by deep gorges. In the ridge zone there are firn fields and glaciers (10% of the country's territory). The highest peaks are the Dufour peak (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Switzerland climate

Switzerland belongs to the temperate continental climatic region. But speaking about the climate of this country, it should be borne in mind that about 60% of its territory is occupied by mountains, so here you can get from winter to summer in two hours. The Alps are a kind of barrier that prevents the flow of cold arctic masses to the south, and warm subtropical masses to the north. In the northern cantons, winters are mild and last for about 3 months: from December to February. At this time, the minimum temperature is -1 ...- 4, the maximum is +2 ... + 5 degrees. In summer (from June to August) at night it is usually +11 ... + 13 degrees, in the daytime the air warms up to +22 ... + 25 degrees. There is a lot of precipitation throughout the year. Their maximum occurs in the summer period (up to 140 mm per month), at least for the period from January to March (slightly more than 60 mm per month).

In the south, winter temperatures are almost the same, while summer temperatures are higher. The average minimum temperature is +13 ... + 16, the average maximum temperature is +26 ... + 28. There is even more rainfall in this area. From March to November, more than 100 mm of precipitation falls here per month, and from June to August this amount approaches 200 mm. The least precipitation is in January and February (about 60 mm).

Switzerland statistics
(as of 2012)

The weather in the mountains depends on the height of the terrain. It is snowy in the highlands in winter. Temperatures for most of the year (from October to May) are negative both at night and during the day. In the coldest months (January and February) at night the temperature drops to -10 ...- 15, in the afternoon - to -5 ...- 10. It is warmest in July and August (2 ... 7 at night, 5 ... 10 degrees in the daytime). The maximum snow depth is usually observed in early April. It stays at an altitude of 700 meters for 3 months, 1000 meters for 4.5 months, 2500 meters for 10.5 months.

Swiss water system

The Rhine and its tributary Aare flow through most of Switzerland. The southwestern regions belong to the Rhone catchment area, the southern ones to the Ticino basin and the southeastern regions to the Ticino basin. Inn (a tributary of the Danube). The rivers of Switzerland are not navigable. On the Rhine, navigation is only supported up to Basel.

There are many lakes, the most picturesque of them are located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva, Thun in the south, Ferwaldstaet, Zurich in the east, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north. Most of these lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed in an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains to the Swiss plateau. South of the axis of the Alps in the canton of Ticino are the Lugano and Lago Maggiore lakes.

The flora of Switzerland

About 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with forests. The composition of forests depends on the height above sea level. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe Swiss plateau, up to a height of 800 m, deciduous forests of oak, beech, ash, elm, maple, and linden prevail. Above 1000 m, mainly beech remains of broad-leaved species; spruce, pine, and fir appear. And starting from an altitude of 1800 m, the main place is occupied by coniferous forests of spruce, fir, pine and larch. At the highest altitudes (up to 2800 m) there are subalpine and alpine meadows, thickets of rhododendron, azalea, and juniper.

The Swiss plateau is located in the European deciduous forest zone. The predominant species are oak and beech, in some places pine is mixed with them. On the southern slope of the Alps, chestnut is typical. Higher on the slopes of the mountains, coniferous forests grow, forming a transition zone between deciduous forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). Crocuses and daffodils are typical for alpine flowers in spring, rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentian and edelweiss in summer.

Fauna of Switzerland

The fauna is very poor. While the ptarmigan and white hare are still quite common, the characteristic upper-mountain animals such as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common. Great efforts are being made to protect wild fauna. The Swiss National Park, located on the border with Austria, is inhabited by roe deer and chamois, less often Alpine ibex and fox; there are also ptarmigan and several species of birds of prey. There are numerous reserves and reserves.

In the mountains there are fox, hare, chamois, marten, alpine marmot, and birds - wood grouse, thrush, swift, snow finch. On the shores of the lakes you can meet gulls, and in the lakes - trout, char, whitefish, grayling.

Three natural regions are distinguishable in Switzerland: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast.

The Jura Mountains divide Switzerland and France, stretching from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen.

The Swiss plateau was formed at the place of the trough between the Jura and the Alps. The surface of the plateau is hilly, agriculture is developed in wide valleys, the interfluves are covered with forests. Most of the country's population lives here, there are large cities and industrial centers.

Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. The picturesque nature of the highlands of the Alps attracts many tourists and climbers. The highest peaks are Dufour peak (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m) ) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Most of Switzerland is irrigated by the Rhine and its tributary Are. The rivers of Switzerland are not navigable. On the Rhine, navigation is only supported up to Basel.

Large and small lakes in Switzerland are very picturesque. The largest and most famous is Lake Geneva. No less famous is Lake Luerwaldstät, formed from seven bodies of water. Brienz and Thun lakes are separated by the muddy delta of the Lyuchine river.

Part of Lake Constance belongs to the north-east of Switzerland. Most of the lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed in an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains to the Swiss plateau.

Switzerland is characterized by climatic differences due to altitude and exposure to sun and wind. The climate is humid, on the plateaus it is moderately warm, in the mountains it is cold. Daily temperatures in the lowlands on average fluctuate during the year from +10 to + 16 ° C, in summer they rise to + 27 ° C and more. The hottest month is July, the coldest is January.

The highest peaks of the Alps are covered with eternal snow. In winter, temperatures drop below 0 ° C throughout the country, with the exception of the northern shore of Lake Geneva and the shores of Lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore, some of which belong to Italy. The climate there is as mild as in Northern Italy, as the mountains protect against the invasion of cold northerly winds.

In Switzerland, strong winds are frequent, accompanied by rain and snowfall. In spring, summer and autumn, hair dryers prevail - warm dry winds blowing from the east and southeast. As the currents of moist air from the Mediterranean Sea rise up the slopes of the Alps and then descend to the Swiss Plateau, precipitation falls on the southern slopes almost twice as much as on the northern ones.

The Swiss plateau is located in the European deciduous forest zone. The predominant species are oak and beech, in some places pine is mixed with them. On the southern slope of the Alps, chestnut is typical. Higher on the slopes of the mountains, coniferous forests grow, forming a transition zone between deciduous forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). There are many bright colors in the mountains. Crocuses and daffodils bloom in spring, and rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentian and edelweiss in summer.

The fauna has been strongly influenced by human economic activity. While the ptarmigan and white hare are still quite common, the characteristic upper-mountain animals such as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common.

The Swiss National Park, located on the border with Austria, is inhabited by roe deer and chamois, less often Alpine ibex and fox; there are also ptarmigan and several species of birds of prey.