Switzerland [antikvár]

Switzerland is one of Europe's smallest countries, but one of the most important for travel. Due to its situation in the Central Alps, and its well-developed traffic communication network, it is the most important transit station from north to south. Quite apart from this, it soon became acknowledged as the classic tourist country, attracting travellers from around the world, because of its wonderful natural beauty. For climbers and skiers, for instance, the Bernese Alps, the Engadine or the Walliser Alps are a veritable paradise. In the world-famous Swiss health resorts, such as Pontresina, Gstaad or St Moritz, it is by no means only the international elite who meet, but -just as in the high altitude air of Arosa or Davos or in the mild climate of Lake Geneva or Ticino -people from all walks of life and from all over the world who come to recuperate. Switzerland is divided into three regions of landscape: in the south the Alps massif with its snow-covered peaks, glaciers, permanent snowfields, narrow ravines and deep valleys takes up about 60 percent of the area. In the north west the central range of the Jura mountains forms the country's frontier. In between lies the lake-rich, hilly, central land. This tract of land between Lake Geneva and Lake Constance is the most fertile part of the country and the economic heart of Switzerland. The climate allows cereals, fruit and vines to be cultivated, and cattle to be raised. It is here that about 75 per cent of the population live and where trade, business and industry have been established.The previously agrarian country of Switzerland has, in the last hundred years, and despite its space limitations, developed into one of the most important financial and industrial powers in the world. Due to its inland position, with consequently long, overland transport routes, and its lack of raw materials, most of the industrial production is vested not in quantity but in the quality of products which require as few raw materials as possible, produced with the highest degree of specialised knowledge and expertise: high-grade machines, precision instruments, watches and jewellery. The textile and clothing industry, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, electricity generating and, of course.The awe-inspiring majesty of the Matterhom (facing page) reflected in the clear waters of the Riffelsee.tourism, are also important economic factors, as are the highly developed banking, stock exchange andinsurance organisations for which the country is so famous.From Switzerland's geographical situation on the one hand, and the meeting of three great culture groups on the other, stems the multiplicity of, and variation in, the cultural and political spheres, the strong emphasis placed on individual freedom, the distinct federalism and the mentality of neutrality. Although they speak four different languages and despite the former sharply-defined religious frontiers, the Swiss have lived together for centuries in an excellently functioning state system.In the largest part of Switzerland Swiss-German is spoken; a universal dialect related to the language in Alsace and in the south western part of Germany. Western Switzerland is a French language region; south of the Gotthard, in Ticino, Italian is spoken, and in the valleys of the eastern Alps, in Graubiinden, Romansch. As a result of the linguistic and geographical segmentation, many closed areas of culture, with a great wealth of folk-lore, developed in the rural-urban confederation. And, since the country was spared the destruction of two world wars, the many beautiful and historic buildings have remained intact despite continuing development and industrialisation in the towns and villages. Switzerland is a republic of districts and cantons. The 26 cantons, six of which are so-called semi-cantons, are members, with equal rights, of the federal government and are largely sovereign. They have their own constitutions and jurisdictions, their own parliaments and governments, but are subordinate to the federal constitution. The form of government is direct demoaacy, therefore specifically political decisions - for instance, a change in the constitution - must be submitted to a referendum. For about 450 years foreign policy in Switzerland has held firmly to the principle of neutrality, indeed, at the Vienna Congress of the European powers in 1815 the buffer state was guaranteed 'perpetual neutrality'. This neutrality has subsequently become a concept accepted by international law and allowed the formation of the Red Cross - its emblem is the Swiss flag with the colours reversed - which is Switzerland's foremost humanitarian contribution to modem civilization. Founded by the Genevan, Henri Dunant, the Red Cross serves as an example of what a small, neutral country, whose people live in peace and freedom, can provide for the good of the whole world.