SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Presented By: Snehashree patraPresented By: Snehashree patraclass: V-Dclass: V-D
Where is it?Where is it?
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Landlocked alpine Landlocked alpine country in Western country in Western EuropeEurope
Roughly over 7 million Roughly over 7 million peoplepeople
4 national languages4 national languages– Swish German, Swish German,
French, Italian, French, Italian, RomanshRomansh
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Everything printed in three different Everything printed in three different languageslanguages– German, French, and ItalianGerman, French, and Italian
ReligionReligion– Roman Catholic 47.6% Roman Catholic 47.6% – Protestant 44.3% Protestant 44.3% – other 8.1% other 8.1%
CurrenCyCurrenCy
10 francs10 francs 1 franc1 franc 1 franc (reverse) 1 franc (reverse)
Swiss Franc (CHF)Swiss Franc (CHF)– 1 U.S. Dollar = 1.2268 Francs1 U.S. Dollar = 1.2268 Francs
eConomyeConomy
Strong economy in banking and financeStrong economy in banking and finance– Ranked as most competitive in the world by the World Ranked as most competitive in the world by the World
Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness ReportEconomic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report– Banking, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are very Banking, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are very
important industries, however tourism is biggestimportant industries, however tourism is biggest Tradition of political and military neutralityTradition of political and military neutrality
– Several international institutionsSeveral international institutions United Nations has second largest center in GenevaUnited Nations has second largest center in Geneva Red Cross founded there in 1863, still has its institutional Red Cross founded there in 1863, still has its institutional
center in the countrycenter in the country
WeatherWeather
SpringtimeSpringtime– Daytime temperature Daytime temperature
range 8 to 15° Crange 8 to 15° C (46-59° F)(46-59° F) Bring along a Bring along a
sweater and your sweater and your hiking shoes!hiking shoes!
The AlpsThe Alps
The AlpsThe Alps Greatest mountain range system of Greatest mountain range system of
EuropeEurope Stretching from Austria in the East to Stretching from Austria in the East to
France in the WestFrance in the West– Swiss Alps are the central portion of the Swiss Alps are the central portion of the
mountain rangemountain range
InterlakenInterlaken
InterlakenInterlaken Located between Lake Located between Lake
Brienz and Lake ThunBrienz and Lake Thun– Named after its Named after its
geographical posit iongeographical posit ion Jungfrau MountainJungfrau Mountain (4158 M)(4158 M)
is main attraction for is main attraction for backpackersbackpackers
Interlaken lays at the flat Interlaken lays at the flat area at the end of the area at the end of the Lauterbrunnen ValleyLauterbrunnen Valley
InterlakenInterlaken Very popular in winter for Very popular in winter for
skiing and snowboardingskiing and snowboarding Jungfrau Top Ski RegionJungfrau Top Ski Region
– 3 ski resorts 3 ski resorts interconnectedinterconnected
Also offers breathtaking Also offers breathtaking views, hiking, mountain views, hiking, mountain biking, and a point of biking, and a point of relaxationrelaxation
Hiking in the AlpsHiking in the Alps More than 22,000 miles More than 22,000 miles
of well-kept trailsof well-kept trails Criss-cross through Criss-cross through
meadows, forests, meadows, forests, glaciers, and magnificent glaciers, and magnificent views of towering peaksviews of towering peaks
At bottom in Interlaken, At bottom in Interlaken, offers chance for rest and offers chance for rest and snackssnacks
MürrenMürren
Mürren Mürren Mountain village in Mountain village in
middle of Alps, free of middle of Alps, free of public cars, home of public cars, home of highest altitude ski highest altitude ski resortresort
Population 450Population 450 Home of famous Home of famous
revolving Piz Gloria revolving Piz Gloria Restaurant, made Restaurant, made famous by James famous by James Bond movieBond movie
LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen Small town that lies in the Small town that lies in the
Lauterbrunnen Valley Lauterbrunnen Valley The Lauterbrunnen valley The Lauterbrunnen valley
also provided the pictorial also provided the pictorial model for J.R.R. Tolkien’s model for J.R.R. Tolkien’s sketches and sketches and watercolors of the watercolors of the fictitious valley of fictitious valley of RivendellRivendell
300 meter high 300 meter high Staubbach waterfallStaubbach waterfall
Staubbach WaterfallStaubbach Waterfall 300 M high (900 ft)300 M high (900 ft) Has inspired painters, Has inspired painters,
poets, and writers poets, and writers over the centuriesover the centuries
Goethe wrote a poem Goethe wrote a poem based on his 1779 based on his 1779 visit, making the lake visit, making the lake famous in the late 18famous in the late 18 thth centurycentury
Swiss FoodSwiss Food
Most commonly Most commonly known forknown for– Swiss cheeseSwiss cheese– Swiss chocolateSwiss chocolate
Also include basic Also include basic bread, dairy, meat, bread, dairy, meat, fruitfruit
Swiss ChocolateSwiss Chocolate Non-tropical climate, with no colonies in cocoa-bean Non-tropical climate, with no colonies in cocoa-bean
growing countries (South America, Africa)growing countries (South America, Africa) Heinrich Escher, mayor of Zurich, was introduced Heinrich Escher, mayor of Zurich, was introduced
to chocolate in Brussels in 1697 and brought it to chocolate in Brussels in 1697 and brought it back home, where it was discreetly consumed at back home, where it was discreetly consumed at the feasts of the various guilds which ruled the the feasts of the various guilds which ruled the city, until the Zurich Council banned it in 1722 as city, until the Zurich Council banned it in 1722 as unfit for virtuous citizens. (It had a reputation as unfit for virtuous citizens. (It had a reputation as an aphrodisiac.)an aphrodisiac.)
The first chocolate shop in Switzerland opened in The first chocolate shop in Switzerland opened in Bern in 1792 (several decades later)Bern in 1792 (several decades later)
Swiss Chocolate – Fun FactsSwiss Chocolate – Fun Facts Swiss eat more chocolate than Swiss eat more chocolate than
anyone in worldanyone in world-2001- averaged 12.3 kg per -2001- averaged 12.3 kg per
personperson 80% milk chocolate80% milk chocolate 10-12% plain chocolate10-12% plain chocolate 3-4% white chocolate3-4% white chocolate Dark chocolate is on the riseDark chocolate is on the rise All production must be in All production must be in
Switzerland to be “Swiss Switzerland to be “Swiss chocolate” (cocoa beans, chocolate” (cocoa beans, paste, butter, sugar, milk)paste, butter, sugar, milk)– Otherwise declared on Otherwise declared on
packagepackage
FoodFood BreakfastBreakfast
– Bread (zopf), butter, Bread (zopf), butter, marmalade or honey, marmalade or honey, cheese, cereal, milk, teacheese, cereal, milk, tea
LunchLunch– Sandwich or birchermüesli Sandwich or birchermüesli
(oat flakes, water, cream, (oat flakes, water, cream, honey, sugar, lemon juice, honey, sugar, lemon juice, apples)apples)
DinnerDinner– Bread, cheese, dried meatBread, cheese, dried meat
FoodFood
Swiss Army Swiss Army Every male citizen must do military Every male citizen must do military
serviceservice– Starts at age 20 and ends at 42Starts at age 20 and ends at 42– Soldiers keep their arms at homeSoldiers keep their arms at home
Automatic rifle for simple Automatic rifle for simple soldierssoldiers
Pistol for officers plus couple Pistol for officers plus couple of bullets in a sealed boxof bullets in a sealed box
Must return everything at age Must return everything at age 4242
Many cave-like buildings have been Many cave-like buildings have been built in mountains to serve military built in mountains to serve military purposespurposes– They hold arms, supplies for They hold arms, supplies for
crisis, and even fighter planescrisis, and even fighter planes
SourcesSources www.swissworld.org/chocolatewww.swissworld.org/chocolate WikipediaWikipedia World Economic Forum’s Global World Economic Forum’s Global
Competitiveness ReportCompetitiveness Report Yahoo FinanceYahoo Finance
– http://finance.yahoo.com/currencyhttp://finance.yahoo.com/currency
THE END!!!THE END!!!Any Questions?Any Questions?
Thank You!Thank You!