The Swiss Confederation or Switzerland is a country in west Europe. It has a total area of 41,290 km2. The climate is temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humidsummers with occasional showers. The terrain is mostly mountains (Alps in the south, Jura in the north-west) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. Natural resources are hydropower potential, timber and salt. The religion is 49% Roman Catholic, 48% Protestant, 0.3% Jewish. The language is distributed amongst the total population-65% German, 18% French, 12% Italian, 1% Romansch, 4% other; Swiss nationals-74% German, 20% French, 4% Italian, 1% Romansch and 1% other.
The Swiss Confederation originated with three territories: Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden joining together in the 'Everlasting League' in 1291 to defend their liberty from the Holy Roman Empire. Other cantons subsequently joined the league and full independence was finally recognised in 1648 under the Treaty of Westphalia. In 1803 the country became a democratic federation and in 1815 the Congress of Vienna guaranteed Swiss neutrality.
Switzerland is a township in Monroe County, Ohio, USA. Research Switzerland
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Switzerland