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Country Guide > Europe > Switzerland | |
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General Information Area 41,284 sq km (15,940 sq miles).
Population 7,261,210 (official estimate 2001). Population Density 175.9 per sq km. Capital Bern. Population: 122,500 (2001). Geography Switzerland is bordered by France to the west, Germany to the north, Austria to the east and Italy to the south. It has the highest mountains in Europe, with waterfalls and lakes set amid green pastures. The highest peaks are Dufour Peak, 4634m (15,217ft), on the Italian border; the Dom, 4545m (14,912ft); the Matterhorn, 4478m (14,692ft); and the Jungfrau, 4166m (13,669ft). Government Federal Republic since 1848. Head of State and Government: President Samuel Schmid since 2005. Language 65 to 70 per cent German in central and eastern areas, 19 per cent French in the west and 8 per cent Italian in the south. Raeto-Romansch is spoken in the southeast by 1 per cent. English is spoken by many. Overlapping cultural influences characterise the country. Religion Roman Catholic (43 per cent) and Protestant (47 per cent). Time GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone Full IDD is available. Country code: 41. Outgoing international code: 00. Phonecards are available for use in payphones. Mobile telephone GSM 900/1800 networks cover the whole country. Single band networks also in Basle, Geneva and Zurich. Operators include Orange (website: www.orange.ch), Sunrise (website: www.sunrise.ch) and Swiss GSM (website: www.swisscom.com). Fax Facilities are available in all telegraph offices, most major hotels and post offices. Internet Internet access is available in phone booths operated by Swisscom. Charges are payable by phonecard or credit card. ISPs include SwissOnline (website: www.swissonline.ch). Telegram These can be sent from post offices and most hotels or arranged by dialling 110 on the telephone. Post Airmail within Europe takes three days. Poste Restante is available at all post offices. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1345-1830. Saturday closing is at 1100 except in major cities. Press The high level of interest in local politics throughout Switzerland has led to a large number of regional newspapers. However, the most popular dailies are Blick, Neue Zürcher Zeitung and Tages-Anzeiger Zürich. European and international newspapers in English, including The Herald Tribune and USA Today, are also widely available. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
