Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal republic in Europe. It consists of 26 cantons, and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in western-Central Europe, and is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km2. While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately eight million people is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities are to be found: among them are the two global cities and economic centres Zürich and Geneva.
Sunset on Lake Lucerne. / Photo: Library of CongressThe Rhone Glacier and Glacier Hotel, Valais. / Photo: Library of CongressThe village of Saas Fee and The Rimpfischhorn. / Photo: Library of CongressThe Winter Gallery of the Simplon Pass, Valais. / Photo: Library of CongressZermatt, Upper Staffelalp, with the Matterhorn, Valais. / Photo: Library of CongressLeysin, Vaud. / Photo: Library of CongressArmor on display in Zurich museum. / Photo: Library of CongressThe Tonhalle, Zurich. / Photo: Library of CongressA view from Beatenberg of the mountains Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger in the Bernese Alps. / Photo: Library of CongressInterlaken and Unterseen, Bernese Oberland. / Photo: Library of CongressThe Titlis Spitze, Unterwald. / Photo: Library of CongressWomen of Champéry, Valais. / Photo: Library of CongressA view of the Grand Aletsch Glacier, with the mountains Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger, Valais. / Photo: Library of CongressStaubbach Falls and the mountain Jungfrau. / Photo: Library of CongressThe Lucerne railway station and Pilatus by moonlight. / Photo: Library of CongressVispach Bridge and the Matterhorn, Valais. / Photo: Library of Congress
