Geography
Switzerland has an area of 41,285 square kilometres (15,940 square miles). The productive area - that is, the area without the lakes, rivers, unproductive vegetation and no vegetation at all - covers 30,753 square km (11,870 square miles).
The Jura, the Plateau and the Alps form the three main geographic regions of the country.
Switzerland has a population of 8,9 million. Population density is high, with 215 people per square km. However, the population distribution across the country varies greatly: The Alps, which cover a large part of the country in terms of area, are home to just 10% of the total population.
Switzerland at a glance
Capital: Bern
Cantons: 26
Area: 41,285 km2
Boundaries: total: 1852 km/Austria 164 km/France 573 km/Germany 334 km/Italy 740 km/Liechtenstein 41 km
Distance North to Souths: 220 km (137 miles)
Distance East to West: 346 km (216 miles)
Highes point: Dufour Peak, in the Monte Rosa mountain range, 4,634 m (15,203 feet)
Lowest point: Lake Maggiore (Ticino) 193 m (633 feet)
Lakes: 1'484
Glaciers: 1'400
