Motorhome Swap Travel Destination - Switzerland - Geography and Climate
Switzerland - Motorhome / RV Swap International Travel Destination.
Extending across the north and south side of the Alps, Switzerland has a great diversity of landscapes and climates on a limited area of 41,285 square kilometers.
The population is about 7.6 million, giving an average population density of around 240 people per sq km. However, the more mountainous southern half of the country is far more sparsely populated than this average, while the northern half and extreme south have a somewhat greater density, as they comprise more hospitable hilly terrain, as well as several large lakes.
Switzerland comprises three basic topographical areas: the Swiss Alps on the south, the Central Plateau and the Jura mountains on the north. The Alps are a high mountain range running across the central-south of the country, comprising about 60% of the country's total area. Among the high peaks of the Swiss Alps (the highest of which is the Dufourspitze at 4,634 m, many valleys are found with waterfalls and glaciers. From these the headwaters of several major European rivers such as the Rhine, Rhône, Inn, Aare, and Ticino flow finally into the largest Swiss lakes such as Lake Geneva, Lake Zürich, Lake Neuchâtel, and Lake Constance.
The best known mountain is the Matterhorn (4,478 m) in Valais and the Pennine Alps bordering Italy. Even higher mountains are located in the area: the Dufourspitze (4,634 m), the Dom (4,545 m) and also the Weisshorn (4,506 m). The section of the Bernese Alps above the deep glacial Lauterbrunnen valley, containing 72 waterfalls, is also well known for the Jungfrau(4,158 m) and Eiger, and the many picturesque valleys in the region. In the southeast the long Engadin Valley, encompassing the St. Moritz area in canton Graubünden, is also well known; the highest peak in the neighbouring Bernina Alps is Piz Bernina (4,049 m).
The more populous northern part of the country, comprising about 30% of the country's total area, is sometimes called the Middle Land. It has greater open and hilly landscapes, partly forested, partly open pastures, usually with grazing herds, or vegetables and fruit fields, but it is still hilly. There are some large lakes found here and the biggest Swiss cities are in this area of the country. The largest lake is Lake Geneva in western Switzerland. The Rhone River is both the main input and output of Lake Geneva.
The Swiss climate is mainly temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the often pleasant near Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip. Summers are warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall so they are ideal for pastures and grazing. The winters in the mountains alternate with sun and snow, while the lower lands are more cloudy and foggy in winter. A weather phenomenon known as the föhn can occur at all times of the year, even in winter, and is characterized by a wind with warm Mediterranean air crossing the Alps from Italy. The driest conditions persist in the southern valleys of the Valais above which valuable saffron is harvested and many wine grapes are grown. Graubünden also tends to be drier in climate and slightly colder, yet with plentiful snow in winter. The wettest conditions persist in the high Alps and in the Ticino canton which has much sun yet heavy rain from time to time. The eastern part tends to be colder than western Switzerland, yet anywhere up high in the mountains can experience a cold spell at any time. Precipitation tends to be spread moderately throughout the year, with minor variations across the seasons depending on locale. Autumn frequently tends to be the driest season, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland can be highly variable from year to year, and difficult to predict.
Switzerland's eco-systems can be particularly vulnerable, because of the many delicate valleys are separated by high mountains, often forming unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves also are vulnerable, with a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes, and experience some pressure from visitors and grazing. The tree line in the mountains of Switzerland has advanced down 300 m over the years, largely because of the increasing absence of herding and grazing pressures.
Switzerland - Motorhome / RV / Campervan exchange international travel destination.
