Location:
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
41,277 sq km
country comparison to the world: 136
land:
39,997 sq km
water:
1,280 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
total:
1,852 km
border countries:
Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
More Climate Details
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
lowest point:
Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point:
Dufourspitze 4,634 m
hydropower potential, timber, salt
arable land:
9.8%
permanent crops:
0.57%
other:
89.63% (2011)
550 sq km (2007)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
53.5 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
2.61 cu km/yr (39%/58%/3%)
per capita:
360.3 cu m/yr (2010)
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps