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Geography Swiss Alps seen from the Swiss Jura in December 2010 The Alps cover 60% of Switzerland's total 41,285 square kilometres (15,940 sq mi) surface area, making it one of the most alpine countries. Going to a lower elevation is the most effective way to treat altitude sickness. Others (with lower altitudes), are located in the Jura Mountains. To those can be added the northerly regions of Ajoie, Basel and Schaffhausen (well beyond the Jura Mountains), which are comparable to the Plateau. Why is CH the Country Code for Switzerland? Some of the main issues are listed below. This is also reflected in the construction statistics: single-family homes arise mainly in rural areas, multi-family homes in the cities. The Swiss Alps are located in the mountainous alpine regions of southern Switzerland. Name: Switzerland topographic map, elevation, terrain. When you begin climbing, hiking, or walking above 10,000 feet, gain no more than 1,000 feet per day. Lake Geneva is the largest lake and is shared with France. [6] In the regions around Lake Geneva, Lake Zurich and other cities, the population density exceeds 1000 people per km2. [13] The country shares five river basins and some of the largest lakes in western Europe with its neighbours. The Alps mountain range stretches from the north of the Mediterranean Sea near Monaco in southern France into Switzerland, then through northern Italy into southern Germany, and towards Vienna in Austria. 2007; Brunetti et al. Switzerland hosts about 20% of the Alps. Wide valleys and lakes receive more sunshine than narrow valleys. They have 48 peaks that are 4,000m or higher, a European record. Climatic conditions strongly affect the landscape of these areas: water seepage, landslides, avalanches, torrents in spate. At lower altitudes, the weather is generally moderate. The reforestation is essentially natural, mainly in the Alps where the forest areas reoccupy those abandoned by farmers. Location: Switzerland (45.81797 5.95591 47.80846 10.49229). Also, you get more time above the tree line in the Alps. Altitude: 2,222m. There are a host of reasons why the Swiss can be proud of their mountains. Switzerland is a landlocked country, the closest coastline being at the Gulf of Genoa, 160km south of Chiasso. PDF Tree line shifts in the Swiss Alps: Climate change or land - WSL [1], The total renewable water resources of Switzerland, as of 2005[update], totals 53.3km3 (1.171013impgal; 1.411013USgal),[4] of which the total freshwater withdrawal is 2.5km3 (5.51011impgal; 6.61011USgal) per year. The Rhne and the Ticino drain about 18% of the water into the Mediterranean Sea. Smaller Alpine lakes such as the Oeschinensee are innumerable, and often constitute popular tourist destination. . Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. This page shows the elevation/altitude information of Alps, Furna, Switzerland, including elevation map, topographic map, narometric pressure, longitude and latitude. It's located in the eastern part of the Pennine Alps on the border with Italy. The Alps cover a total area of about 207,000 km2 and have a maximum width of about 250 km at its widest point that is situated between Verona in Italy and the Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany. The range is being continually built up and decreasing in width by mountain building, accommodating the compression from alpine folding as the main Alpine orogenic front moves roughly northwards. In twelve years, the area devoted to housing increased by 25% while the increase of the population was only 9%. Switzerland has considerable reserves of groundwater and a large number of lakes, large and small, can be found in most areas. 3,000 meters above sea-level and 150 heart-pounding steps awaits you on the Titlis Cliff Walk, the spectacular steel cable suspension bridge high up on the summit with a breathtaking view of the alps. Mixed mountain forests including oak, beech, pine, poplar, chestnut, and birch trees thrive well in the lower mountain slopes, whereas coniferous forests are found in the higher altitudes. The canton of Graubnden has more than 1,200 mountain peaks which are between 2,000 and 3,000m high, but the canton of Uri has the highest density, boasting a 2,0003,000m-high summit every 2.5km2. Because of this enormous human impact on a fragile physical and ecological environment, the Alps are likely the most threatened mountain system in the world. In general, the proximity to the Alpine foothills increases the precipitations (Interlaken 1,196 millimetres (47.1in)), Lucerne: 1,173 millimetres (46.2in)), while places further away from the Alps experience less precipitation (Basel: 842 millimetres (33.1in)). Name: Switzerland topographic map, elevation, terrain. A portion of the southwest border with France is drawn through Lake Geneva. One of the most recognizable symbols of Switzerland, the Matterhorn, is also located in the Alps. Alps, a small segment of a discontinuous mountain chain that stretches from the Atlas Mountains of North Africa across southern Europe and Asia to beyond the Himalayas.The Alps extend north from the subtropical Mediterranean coast near Nice, France, to Lake Geneva before trending east-northeast to Vienna (at the Vienna Woods). Toggle Physiographic divisions subsection, Swiss World Atlas, Physical Map of Europe, 1993 edition, completely destroyed in 1356 by an earthquake, Health in Switzerland Environmental issues related to health, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Culture of Switzerland Cultural World Heritage Sites, "Land and Environment (Raum und Umwelt: Panorama)", "Swiss Federal Statistics Office, in German", "The Swiss Plateau - Switzerland - Information", "Switzerland National Report, Convention on Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. In those regions, the lowest averages temperatures can be found on the Plateau (Bern: 8.8C (47.8F)) or north of the Jura Mountains (Fahy: 8.9C (48.0F)). Warming is amplified in mountain environments because the increase in temperatures leads to a decrease in the size of zones covered with ice and snow which reflect the sun's rays. Swiss Alps - Wikipedia Famous Mountains of the Swiss Alps includes the highest mountain peaks in Switzerland and other prominent mountains with elevation, facts and history. There are over 250 such summits exceeding 3,600 m in Switzerland, [1] all located in the High Alps, in five cantons: [Nb 1] Valais, Bern, Graubnden, Uri, and Glarus. The Alps ( / lps /) [a] are the highest and most extensive mountain range that is entirely in Europe, [b] [2] stretching approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. On the other hand, the highest average temperatures are found south of the Alps (Locarno: 12.4C (54.3F), Lugano: 12.4C (54.3F)), which are partially subtropical. Please select which sections you would like to print: Emeritus Professor of Geography, Portland State University, Oregon. Colours refer to the acquisition date of the elevation information (DHM25 Level 1) dening the beginning of the investigated period (t1). Structurally, the Jura consists of a sequence of folds, the formation of which is facilitated by an evaporitic decollement layer. Farmlands dominates the Plateau, occupying just over half of the area. Switzerland is well known for the Alps in the south and south east. [1] Ticino, on the south side of the Alps, is usually 24C (3.67.2F) warmer, and wetter than the Plateau, with often different weather conditions, which are particularly noticeable when crossing the Gotthard or other major tunnels through the Alps. But neither of these is wholly Swiss, this distinction being claimed by the next in size, that of Neuchtel, Lake Maggiore (partly Swiss only) coming next in the list, and being followed by the wholly Swiss lakes of Lucerne and of Zurich. Your email address will not be published. #tree #dream #landscape # . All rights reserved. North of the Alps, the Swiss Plateau runs along the east-west axis of the country. The population density on the plateau averages about 450 people per km2 (1,166 per square mile). The highest mountain peak (Dufourspitze) is at 4,634 meters. Appenzell Ausserrhoden and St. Gallen border, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Swiss_cantons_by_elevation&oldid=1102889228, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with German-language sources (de), Articles with French-language sources (fr), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 7 August 2022, at 12:25. To investigate the relationship between elevation, local relief and mean slopes, the elevation data of the DEM of the Swiss Alps were divided into height intervals of 200 m. For each height interval, the corresponding slope and local relief data were extracted and average values computed. Twentieth century temperature and snow cover changes in the French Alps The Alps - Europe's Largest Mountain Range | Complete Guide The portion of the Alps lying within Switzerland is sometimes referred to as the Central Alps, but more commonly known as the Swiss Alps. Most of the population of Switzerland lives on the rolling hills and plains of the plateau. Then don't move, you're in exactly the right place! The Tallest Mountains In The Alps - WorldAtlas Conversely, the number of farms in the mountains tend to decrease, many areas are left for the benefit of woodlands to the detriment of landscape diversity. A special feature of the Swiss landscape is its abundant natural ecosystems and their proximity to urban centres. Avoid tobacco and alcohol for two days before your arrival in Switzerland. It is surrounded by 5 countries: Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, France to the west, Italy to the south and Germany to the north. Switzerland is divided in three main geographic regions: the Swiss Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura, each corresponding to very different geological realities. However, the lowlands are part of the temperate zone and do typically neither experience extreme temperatures nor extreme weather conditions. Being sheltered by the mountains, the regions well within the Alps also naturally experience more sunshine hours than the north side of the Alps (Sion: 2,093, Chur: 1,692). The Alps - Eidgenssisches Departement fr auswrtige They are the most prominent of western Europes physiographic regions. The 22.6 km-long Aletsch Glacier located in the Valais canton of Switzerland is the largest glacier in the Alps. . Swiss Alps | European Mountain Range | Alps Travel - Alpenwild This area makes up about 12% of Switzerland's land area. The cantons along the Swiss Plateau tend to be the most populous,[2] industrial and religiously Protestant. Switzerland topographic map, elevation, terrain Though they are not as high and extensive as other mountain systems uplifted during the Paleogene and Neogene periods (i.e., about 65 million to 2.6 million years ago)such as the Himalayas and the Andes and Rocky mountainsthey are responsible for major geographic phenomena. The population of Switzerland is heavily urbanised. It only concerns the high Alps, notably the Bernese Alps and Pennine Alps. Their small country is home to 48 peaks that reach at least 4,000 meters, and the average elevation is 4,429 feet (1,350 meters). (Based on the "Worldwide Governance Indicators" project of the World Bank), , which is currently 6 hours ahead of New York, Detailed climate data for Switzerland and 7 individual greater regions. Heres what you should expect and how you can overcome your altitude sickness. [28], Switzerland is facing a loss of biodiversity. Coauthor of. There is no access to the open sea. Due. Although it is declining, agriculture represents the most important use of the territory in Switzerland. Switzerland,August 2010. Monte Rosa In addition to Mont Blanc, another tall peak in the Alps is Monte Rosa, which is located in Switzerland and Italy. On the Plateau, the average precipitation is 1,000 millimetres (39in) with a range of about 8001,300 millimetres (31.551.2in). Copyright 2005-2023 alpenwild.com. The field of science and research is held in high regard in Switzerland and is promoted accordingly, resulting in highly dynamic research activity. Resting Cow. There are considerable differences between the individual cantons, most particularly in terms of population and geographical area; hence seven larger and more homogeneous regions have been defined.