Sophisticated Traveller

Country name (long):	Swiss Confederation / Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German) / Confederation Suisse (French) / Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)		Country name (short):	Switzerland / Schweiz (German) / Suisse (French) / Svizzera

Population:	7,489,370		Population growth rate:	0.33%

Data code:	CH		Birth rate:	10.4 births / 1,000 population

Nationality:	Swiss (singular and plural)		Death rate:	8.75 deaths / 1,000 population

Location:	Central Europe, east of France		Life expectancy at birth:	79.60 years

National capital:	Bern		Net migration rate:	1.38 migrant (s) / 1,000 population

Coordinates:	47 00 N, 8 00 E		Sex ratio:	0.97 male (s) / female

Area:	41,290 sq km		Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal

Land boundaries:	Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km		Ethnic groups:	German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Climate:	temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers		Religions:	Roman Catholic 46.7%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, no religion 8.3%

Terrain:	mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes		Languages:	German 63.7%, French 19.2%, Italian 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%

Elevation extremes:			Age structure:
Lowest point:	Lake Maggiore	195 m	0-14 years:	17% male 637,782 female 605,626
Highest point:	Dufourspitze	4,634 m	15-64 years:	68% male 2,498,540 female 2,421,802
			65 years and over:	15% male 444,627 female 653,995

Government type:	federal republic		Infant mortality rate:	4.53 deaths / 1,000 live births

Independence:	1 August 1291		Literacy:	99%

National holiday:	Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)		Unemployment rate:	3.80%

Constitution:	29 May 1874		Inflation rate:	1.20%

GDP - real growth rate:	1.80%		Industries:	machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

GDP - per capita (PPP):	USD$ 35,300		Currency (code):	Swiss franc (CHF)

Legal system:	civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations		Trans-national Issues:	money-laundering centre; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

Perhaps Orson Welles was being a little cruel when he stated:

“In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”

Whilst vastly important, tourism is but one aspect of the modern Swiss landscape. Nestled amongst the lush valleys lie vineyards producing top-quality wines, family firms whose products set the standard worldwide and engineering marvels from high-altitude dams to transalpine tunnels.

Through two world wars Switzerland has succeeded in maintaining political neutrality and today plays a safe but central role in European affairs.

Neutrality and centrality enabling the existence of the coveted Swiss bank account, whose anonymity, compiled with complex tax relief, has made Switzerland one of Europe's major financial hubs.

For the gastronomic inclined, Switzerland can proudly lay claim to being the spiritual home of fine chocolate and with such diverse international influences, exceptional dining can be enjoyed aplenty, albeit at a considerable price. Distance yourself from repressed memories of fondue parties in the 70's, do your research and you will be surprisingly rewarded.

Observations of the Swiss people make for interesting analysis. Indeed, the fusion of German, French, Italian and unique minority cultures makes for a complex social diversity characterized predominantly through a sense of personal confidence and security.

As to be expected in a financially and politically sound society, the Swiss are typically polite, well mannered, elegantly presented and somewhat conservative.

In 1899 Oscar Wilde expressed his unhappiness at the "lack of physical beauty" in the Swiss, writing:

"At Nice I knew three lads like bronzes, quite perfect in form. English lads are chryselephantine. Swiss people are carved out of wood with a rough knife, most of them; the others are carved out of turnips"

Whilst I cannot comment towards the sexual orientation of Mr. Wilde and the validity of such comments, I feel it fair to say that with the liberalization of attitudes over time and the influx of international style, there is a multitude of beauty for which to indulge. Should you doubt my conviction I invite you on any given Sunday from June through August to stroll amongst the Arboretum Gardens on Lake Zurich and bask in the innocence of youth at play.

Although joined by a common language, Swiss German (it is advisable to speak English due to the incomprehensible variations in dialect), the three distinguishable parts of the country, French, German and Italian speaking, maintain each a highly distinct atmosphere that can make exploring a rewarding adventure.

Often described as nature's playground, Switzerland offers an immense array of outdoor activities, should you feel the need deploy a kilo or two . The Alps and the Jura slopes provide exceptional skiing, hiking and mountaineering, whilst paragliding, hang-gliding, water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, rafting, and canoeing are amongst other popular outdoor activities available, if you have active hospital cover in place.