Country’s population (million): 7.6 Currency: 1 Franc = 100
centimes
Territory (sq kms): 41 285 Administrative division:26 cantons (Kantone / cantons / cantoni / chantuns)
Region Seat Region Seat
Aargau / Argovie / Argovia Aarau Nidwalden / Nidwald Stans Appenzell / Appenzello Herisau Obwalden / Obwald /Obwaldo Sarnen Appenzell Innerhoden /
Basel Stadt / Bâle-Ville / Basilea-Citta Basel / Bâle / Basilea Schwyz / Schwytz / Svitto same Bern / Berne / Berna same Solothurn / Soleure / Soletta same
Freiburg / Fribourg / Friburgo same Thurgau / Thurgovie / Thurgovia Frauenfeld Genf / Genève / Ginevra same Tessin / Ticino Bellinzona / Bellinzone
Glarus / Glaris / Glarona same Uri Altdorf
Graubünden / Grisons / Grigioni Chur / Coire / Coira Wallis / Valais / Vallese Sitten / Sion
Jura / Giura Delémont Waadt /Vaud Lausanne, Losanna
Luzern / Lucerne / Lucerna same Zug / Zoug / Zugo same
Neuenburg / Neuchâtel same Zürich / Zurich / Zurigo same
Geography
The country lies exclusively in the territory of the high mountains of the Alps and the Jura Mountains in the north. The third largest river of Europe (the Rhine) originates in Switzerland. Also, the River Rhône flows from Switzerland towards France. The terrain of the country is Europe’s highest lying land, with an average elevation of 1300 metres above sea level.
Economy
The cantons of Switzerland reached political independence both from the German and French empires at a very early stage of history, in the Middle Ages. This independence was reinforced in 1815 when the country was guaranted a politically neutral non-aligned status by all the countries of the world. This position led to the development of the banking industry and Switzerland became the world’s safest international financial centre.
Traditional branches of industry include the manufacture of watches and clocks and pharmaceuticals. The centre of the watch industry is Geneva (0.1 M), and that of the pharmaceutical industry is Basel (0.2 M).
Agriculture traditionally is confined to cattle breeding and consequently dairy industry is very important – it produces high quality of different cheeses and chocolates. Swiss chocolate like a Swiss watch is a trademark in itself.
Energy production is based on water: hydroenergy stands for 60 % of energy production and the rest is produced by nuclear power plants. Thus Switzerland is free of environmental pollution. Tourism is another important branch of economy in summer and especially in winter in the mountains.
Infrastructure (transportation, communication) is very well develioped and living standard is very high. The busiest and relatively largest city is Zurich (0.3 M), the financial centre.
Agriculture Industry Services
Swiss economic structure in the division of the labour
Society
Swiss society is by far the closest one in Europe. Foreigners are not at all welcome to immigrate in the local communities. Though there are numerous foreign workers from south-east Europe (Turkey and the Balkan countries) they will never be accepted as Swiss members of the community. Application for Swiss citizenship is a very long lasting and bureaucratic process.
In the western third of the country the Swiss native population speaks French (21 %); in the central part: German (72 %), in the south eastern part: Italian (6 %), and in the easternmost part: the so called Retoromansh (1 %). However, English is spoken and understood all over the country.
Some 60 % of Swiss population lives in urban area (towns). The proportion of the followers of the Roman Catholic Church is 46 % and the Protestants number 40 % of the citizens.
Administration
The country is a federal republic with strong microregions of historic origin. The names of the small regions are kantons. Kantons have an elaborated structure of legislation and financial independence.
There are 20 kantons and 6 semi kantons.
Landmarks
Swiss watch and Swiss chocolate = the name of the nation in itself can stand for a quality trademark of thsese products.
The Alps = High mountainous region, especially favourable for winter sports.
Rhine waterfall = Famous touristic destination.
Matterhorn = Famous, steep, horn shaped peak of the Alps.
Alphorn = Traditional, very long horn of low voice used by the shepherds of the Alps.
Milka = the best known Swiss chocolate trade mark in Europe, first produced by Suchard in 1825. A purple cow symbolises it.
William Tell = A legendary national hero of the Swiss, who according to the tale, was forced to shoot off an apple off the head of his own son with his cross-bow.
Benedictine convent of Saint John (Claustra Son Jon) = is an ancient monastery in Müstair village, and, by reason of its exceptionally well-preserved monument of Carolingian art, has been a World Heritage Site.
Abeby of St. Gall (Fürstabtei Sankt Gallen) =is a religious complex in the city of St. Gallen.
World Heritage Site.
Old City of Bern = the medieval city center, a World Heritage site.
Tre Castelli = the 3 Castles of Bellinzona are a group of fortification located around the town of Bellinzona in Canton Ticino.
Jungfrau – Aletsch Pprotected Area = Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch is located between the cantons of Berne and Valais. It is a mountainous region, containing the northern wall of Jungfrau and Eiger peaks, and the largest glaciated area in Western Europe, comprising the Aletsch Glacier. This protected area was the first World Natural Heritage site in the Alps, when was inscribed in 2001.[
Monte San Giorgio = is a wooded mountain in Canton Ticino. It is a World Heritage site of geological importance, because it is the best known record of marine life in the Triassic period.
The Italian side of the mountain was added to the World Heritage Site in 2010.
Wine-growing area of Lavaux = it consist of 830 hectares of terraced wineyards that stretch for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva. It is a cultural landcape World Herigage site.
Sardona Tectonic Area (Glarner Überschiebung) = The Glarus thrust is a majorthrust fault in theAlps of Eastern Switzerland. The area is of geologic importance showing the traces of high mountain evolution. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rhaetian Railway = a famous mountain railway network and service. In 2008 the network of the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (the part from Thusis to Tirano in Italy, including St. Moritz) was added to the list of World Heritage.
La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle = architectural heritage of a watchmaking area, part of the Word Cultural Landscape Heritage.
Transnistria (Trans-Dniestr / Transdniestria) non/partially recognized
National Flag Official name Coat of arms
Pridnestrovian Moldavian
Country’s population (thousand): 505 Currency: Transnistrian Ruble = 100kopeks
Territory (sq kms):
4163 Administrative division: 5 raions (districts)
Geography
Transnistria is landlocked and borders Moldova to the West, and Ukraine to the East. It is a narrow valley stretching in the North-South direction along the bank of the Dniester river, which forms a natural boundary along most of the border with (the rest of) Moldova. The name means in Russian: the land ‘by the Dnester’. All UN member states consider Transnistria a legal part of the Republic of Moldova, only the partially recognised states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia recognize it as a sovereign entity. It declared independence from Moldova the former Soviet republic, in 1990. A Russian military contingent is present in Transnistria the status of which is disputed.
Economy
Transnistria's economy is frequently described as dependent on contraband15 and gunrunning16 These allegations are denied by the government of course. The leading industry is the Russian holding steel, which accounts for about 60% of the budget revenue. The textile industry (the Tirotex) claims to be the second largest textile company in Europe. The energy sector is dominated by Russian companies.
The gas transmission and distribution company probably controlled by Gazprom. The banking sector of Transnistria consists of 8 commercial banks, including Gazprombank. The oldest alcohol producer is located in Tiraspol, produces and exports brandy, wines and vodka.
Society
Transnistrians have dual or triple citizenship, including: Moldavian (300 000), Russian (100 000), Ukrainian (100 000). As for nationality, 30 % are Moldovans, 30 % Russians ad 30 % Ukrainians (the rest are Bulgarians, Poles and Gypsies /Roma/). 90 % of the population belong to the Eastern
15 The word contraband, denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold.