The Swiss Alps are located at the heart of the European continent. Rather than go around them, Europeans have been going through Switzerland for centuries. The land is a study in contrasts. While some of the mountains are swathed in snow and ice, even during the warmest summer, the shores of Lake Maggiore near the Italian border support palm trees. While the Swiss pride themselves on their precise high-tech gadgets, the way of life in lonely Alpine valleys has changed very little over the centuries. And while all male citizens are expected to serve in the Swiss Army, the country has been fiercely neutral, even as two world wars swirled around it. In fact, although the European headquarters of the United Nations has long been located in Geneva, Switzerland did not join the international organization until 2002. Switzerland, formally called the Swiss Confederation, is the original melting pot. The native language of about 65 percent of the population is German, about 20 percent of the people are raised to speak French, and about 10 percent are native speakers of Italian. There is a fourth official language, Romansh, which is spoken by only about 1 percent of the population. Most Swiss speak more than one language, however, and visitors who do not speak any of the official languages rarely have a problem communicating with Swiss citizens. The foods of the country are as varied as the people. Rostli, hashbrowned poatoes interlaced with bacon, cheese, or herbs, is popular in the Greman part of the country. Fondue is especially popular in the French portion of Switzerland. About half of the people in Switzerland live in cities or towns, but the Alpine peaks, Switzerland's main tourist attractions, are rarely more than a short train ride away. Each foreign traveler who enters Switzerland must have a passport, although North Americans who do not plan to stay more than three months are not required to apply for a visa. The country is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons. Currency is the Swiss franc, composed of 100 centimes. The country is famous for its watches and music boxes, chocolates and cheese, as well as dark-glazed pottery. |
