Switzerland

This territory extends across three distinct geographical zones: the Alpine chain in the south, the central plateau between Lake Geneva and Lake Constance, plus the Jura chain along the northwestern border, with elevations ranging from roughly 650 feet (200 meters) to over 15,000 feet (4,600 meters).

The Federal Charter of 1291 founded the Confederation when the cantons Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden formed an alliance against Habsburg rule. Additional cantons joined over the following centuries, until the current federal structure emerged through the constitution of 1848.

This federal state uses four official languages in daily life: German is spoken by roughly 63 percent of residents, French by 23 percent, Italian by 8 percent, while Romansh maintains its status in Graubünden canton and holds regional importance.

The transportation network includes roughly 3,300 miles (5,300 kilometers) of railways connecting major cities through mountain tunnels, with regular services between key terminals every 30 minutes. Public transit reaches even remote mountain valleys, while the national pass system offers discounted fares for travelers.

The Large Hadron Collider at the CERN laboratory near Geneva runs 17 miles (27 kilometers) in circumference through both countries and stands as the world's largest particle accelerator, where scientists conduct fundamental physics research.

Inception: August 1, 1291

Capital city: Bern

Part of: Central Europe

Shares border with: Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Italy, European Union

Address: Switzerland

Website: https://admin.ch

GPS coordinates: 46.79856,8.23197

Latest update: November 30, 2025 15:23