Top 10 Most Interesting Facts About Switzerland
Here is the collection of Top 10 Most Amazing Facts About Switzerland :-
1. Switzerland has 7000 lakes
Switzerland is a water-rich country. Lakes and rivers cover around 4% of its surface area. Switzerland is also known as "the water tower of Europe". Because Switzerland has 6% of Europe's freshwater reserves. There are several thousand lakes in Switzerland, with estimations up to 7000. Out of this, only 103 lakes are over 30 hectares in area. Among these, just five are over 100 km² in area. Of these lakes, 37 are natural, 21 are natural, but are used as reservoirs, and 45 are manmade reservoirs. These 103 lakes are shared among 21 cantons, out of the 26. Some of these lakes are also shared with neighboring France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.
2. Most innovative country in the world
Switzerland has been named the most innovative country in Europe 2021 by the European Commission. Swiss culture is founded on creativity, individualism, and equality. Switzerland’s strengths are in attractive research systems, human resources and intellectual assets. Switzerland is in the heart of Europe. This puts the country in the perfect position to attract top talent from anywhere in the world, to contribute to their flourishing technology sector. Swiss universities are well-known for their top-tier research programs. They have vibrant international communities, and graduates of these universities are highly sought after by global organizations. The top 3 indicators include international scientific co-publications, foreign doctorate students, and lifelong learning.
3. Longest tunnel of the world
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest and deepest tunnel. The tunnel is 57 km long and reaches a depth of 2,300 meters. It opened on 1 June 2016 and full service began on 11 December 2016. It runs under the Swiss alps between the towns of Erstfeld in the north and Bodio in the south. The tunnel has helped to decrease the travel time between Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy, by an hour.
4. Sundays are a big deal
Sundays are truly blessed. The day when people have a whole day for themselves to rest. Sundays are complete days of rest and quiet, where everybody gets a day off from everything. In fact, it’s kind of prohibited to work on Sundays in Switzerland as it is to work during the night. As for Sundays, the break period starts on Saturday at 11 p.m. The Swiss are highly respectful towards their neighbors. The law was put in place in order to restrict the noise and disturbance people might experience. You aren’t allowed to mow the grass, you can’t hang laundry, and you cannot recycle your trash. If you will break the rules, you will be fined. If you cannot pay the fine, you can choose the option of a few days in jail. So, the best you could do is relax, stay at home with your family or friends, go out for a walk, and enjoy your Sunday.
5. You cannot name your child however you want
There are lots of rules in Switzerland. They are not just about speed limits and traffic laws. The Swiss laws get personal. The Swiss have rules about what we can name baby. The Swiss authorities must approve your baby name.
6. Owns Lots of Guns, but Has the Lowest Crime Rates
The country has about 2 million privately owned guns in a nation of 8.3 million people. Switzerland hasn't had a mass shooting since 2001, when a man stormed the local parliament in Zug, killing 14 people and then himself. In 2016, the country had 47 attempted homicides with firearms. The country's overall murder rate is near zero.
7. They Have Four National Languages
Multilingualism is an essential part of Switzerland's identity. Switzerland has four language regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Swiss German is the most widely used language in the workplace (over 60%), followed by standard German (over 30%), French (nearly 30%), English (20%) and Italian (nearly 10%). Over 60% of the Swiss population speak German as their main language. They do not speak standard German but rather various Alemmanic dialects collectively called Swiss German. French is the main language in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, known as the Romandie. Italian is the main language in Ticino and in parts of the canton of Graubünden. Romansh is a Rhaeto-Romanic language derived from Latin, which is spoken widely in the canton of Graubünden. The number of German, Italian and Romansh speakers is falling, while French speakers are increasing. Non-national languages are also gaining in importance. The two most widely spoken non-national languages are English and Portuguese.
8. They Make & Eat a Lot of Chocolate
Switzerland consumes the most chocolate and ranks second behind Sweden in laureates per capita. Today, Swiss consumers eat more than 23 pounds of the country’s most famous product per year. Chocolates from this beautifully diverse country are famous across the world. Famous chocolate brands like Nestle, Lindt, Toblerone are all Swiss. The nation has a long history of excellence in chocolate making that goes back 200 years when Francois-Louis Cailler opened the first mechanized chocolate factory in Vevey in 1819. In 1887, after many attempts, the Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter, created the original formula for what was to become the first successful milk chocolate in the entire world.
9. Switzerland Is Prepared for Nuclear War
Switzerland is unique in having enough nuclear fallout shelters to accommodate its entire population, should they ever be needed. The shelters have become an integral part of the Swiss identity, on par with the country's famous chocolate, banks and watches. At the time of the Cold War, Switzerland took the threat of nuclear attack very seriously. in 1963, it undertook to provide bunker places for every citizen to take shelter in the case of an atomic attack. Since the 1960s, every Swiss municipality has had to build nuclear bunkers for their residents - and they’re mandatory in large homes and residential buildings. Switzerland has more than 7,000 sirens for warning the population in a broad range of possible emergency cases, including a nuclear accident.
10. Creux de Van
"Creux du Van", a natural rock arena of immense proportions. It is located at the border of the cantons of Neuenburg and Vaud, on the north side of Le Soliat. It is approximately 1,400 metres wide and 150 metres deep. It is situated in the Val de Travers district. It is located at the heart of a nature reservation area of 15.5 km². Impressive 160 meter high vertical rock faces surround a four kilometer long and over one kilometer wide valley basin. First the glaciers, then the brooks have shaped the breathtaking rock formation from the 200 million year old lime deposits of a prehistoric ocean. This absolutely spectacular site boasts a splendid 360° panorama over the nearby lakes, the Alps, the Jura valleys, and further on to France.
Switzerland is a water-rich country. Lakes and rivers cover around 4% of its surface area. Switzerland is also known as "the water tower of Europe". Because Switzerland has 6% of Europe's freshwater reserves. There are several thousand lakes in Switzerland, with estimations up to 7000. Out of this, only 103 lakes are over 30 hectares in area. Among these, just five are over 100 km² in area. Of these lakes, 37 are natural, 21 are natural, but are used as reservoirs, and 45 are manmade reservoirs. These 103 lakes are shared among 21 cantons, out of the 26. Some of these lakes are also shared with neighboring France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.
2. Most innovative country in the world
Switzerland has been named the most innovative country in Europe 2021 by the European Commission. Swiss culture is founded on creativity, individualism, and equality. Switzerland’s strengths are in attractive research systems, human resources and intellectual assets. Switzerland is in the heart of Europe. This puts the country in the perfect position to attract top talent from anywhere in the world, to contribute to their flourishing technology sector. Swiss universities are well-known for their top-tier research programs. They have vibrant international communities, and graduates of these universities are highly sought after by global organizations. The top 3 indicators include international scientific co-publications, foreign doctorate students, and lifelong learning.
3. Longest tunnel of the world
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest and deepest tunnel. The tunnel is 57 km long and reaches a depth of 2,300 meters. It opened on 1 June 2016 and full service began on 11 December 2016. It runs under the Swiss alps between the towns of Erstfeld in the north and Bodio in the south. The tunnel has helped to decrease the travel time between Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy, by an hour.
4. Sundays are a big deal
Sundays are truly blessed. The day when people have a whole day for themselves to rest. Sundays are complete days of rest and quiet, where everybody gets a day off from everything. In fact, it’s kind of prohibited to work on Sundays in Switzerland as it is to work during the night. As for Sundays, the break period starts on Saturday at 11 p.m. The Swiss are highly respectful towards their neighbors. The law was put in place in order to restrict the noise and disturbance people might experience. You aren’t allowed to mow the grass, you can’t hang laundry, and you cannot recycle your trash. If you will break the rules, you will be fined. If you cannot pay the fine, you can choose the option of a few days in jail. So, the best you could do is relax, stay at home with your family or friends, go out for a walk, and enjoy your Sunday.
5. You cannot name your child however you want
There are lots of rules in Switzerland. They are not just about speed limits and traffic laws. The Swiss laws get personal. The Swiss have rules about what we can name baby. The Swiss authorities must approve your baby name.
6. Owns Lots of Guns, but Has the Lowest Crime Rates
The country has about 2 million privately owned guns in a nation of 8.3 million people. Switzerland hasn't had a mass shooting since 2001, when a man stormed the local parliament in Zug, killing 14 people and then himself. In 2016, the country had 47 attempted homicides with firearms. The country's overall murder rate is near zero.
7. They Have Four National Languages
Multilingualism is an essential part of Switzerland's identity. Switzerland has four language regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Swiss German is the most widely used language in the workplace (over 60%), followed by standard German (over 30%), French (nearly 30%), English (20%) and Italian (nearly 10%). Over 60% of the Swiss population speak German as their main language. They do not speak standard German but rather various Alemmanic dialects collectively called Swiss German. French is the main language in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, known as the Romandie. Italian is the main language in Ticino and in parts of the canton of Graubünden. Romansh is a Rhaeto-Romanic language derived from Latin, which is spoken widely in the canton of Graubünden. The number of German, Italian and Romansh speakers is falling, while French speakers are increasing. Non-national languages are also gaining in importance. The two most widely spoken non-national languages are English and Portuguese.
8. They Make & Eat a Lot of Chocolate
Switzerland consumes the most chocolate and ranks second behind Sweden in laureates per capita. Today, Swiss consumers eat more than 23 pounds of the country’s most famous product per year. Chocolates from this beautifully diverse country are famous across the world. Famous chocolate brands like Nestle, Lindt, Toblerone are all Swiss. The nation has a long history of excellence in chocolate making that goes back 200 years when Francois-Louis Cailler opened the first mechanized chocolate factory in Vevey in 1819. In 1887, after many attempts, the Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter, created the original formula for what was to become the first successful milk chocolate in the entire world.
9. Switzerland Is Prepared for Nuclear War
Switzerland is unique in having enough nuclear fallout shelters to accommodate its entire population, should they ever be needed. The shelters have become an integral part of the Swiss identity, on par with the country's famous chocolate, banks and watches. At the time of the Cold War, Switzerland took the threat of nuclear attack very seriously. in 1963, it undertook to provide bunker places for every citizen to take shelter in the case of an atomic attack. Since the 1960s, every Swiss municipality has had to build nuclear bunkers for their residents - and they’re mandatory in large homes and residential buildings. Switzerland has more than 7,000 sirens for warning the population in a broad range of possible emergency cases, including a nuclear accident.
10. Creux de Van
"Creux du Van", a natural rock arena of immense proportions. It is located at the border of the cantons of Neuenburg and Vaud, on the north side of Le Soliat. It is approximately 1,400 metres wide and 150 metres deep. It is situated in the Val de Travers district. It is located at the heart of a nature reservation area of 15.5 km². Impressive 160 meter high vertical rock faces surround a four kilometer long and over one kilometer wide valley basin. First the glaciers, then the brooks have shaped the breathtaking rock formation from the 200 million year old lime deposits of a prehistoric ocean. This absolutely spectacular site boasts a splendid 360° panorama over the nearby lakes, the Alps, the Jura valleys, and further on to France.
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