Switzerland is a mountainous country in Central Europe. The lowest point is Lake Maggiore which is 195 metres above sea level. Highest point is Dufourspitze 4,634 m in the Alps. The terrain mostly mountains with the Alps in south, Jura in northwest, with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lake basins. These physical regions are distributed as follows:

a) The Alps (60%)

b) The Jura (10%)

c) The Swiss plateau (30%)

Switzerland's position in the Central Alps is at the crossroads of several mountain passes, for Gotthard, Furka and Oberalp, as well as being the source of Europe's rivers: Rhine, Danube, via Inn, Po via Ticino. Geologically, Switzerland forms part of the South Alpine Range to which the Jura the intermediate Central plateau also belong.

 Map of Switzerland showing Physical regions

 

 The Swiss Alps

This region accounts for 60% of the total area of Switzerland. It is the Central part of the European Alpine ranges. The mountains are inclined in different directions.

These are Fold Mountains which were formally much higher but they have been reduced by erosion.

 

French Alps

The Alps make up the largest mountain system in Europe. They extend, in south central Europe, from the Gulf of Genoa to the Danube River in Vienna. The craggy peaks of the French Alps, pictured here, provide some of the world's best skiing near Mont Blanc, France.

The average altitude of the region is about 1700 metres above sea level. The highest point is the mountain peak of Mt. Monte Rosa-which is 4,634 metres.

The core of these mountains is formed by old massifs of granites and crystalline slates, covered later by sediments of various chalks, marls and other rocks.

 

The Swiss Alps is divided into six Alp sub groups namely:

1.   Bernese-Oberland

2.   Penine Alps ,

3.   Lepontine Alps

4.   Glarus Alps ,                  

5.   Rhaetian Alps

6.   Adula Alps,

 

Matterhorn, Switzerland

The Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in the Alps at 4,478 m (14,692 ft), towers above Valais Canton, a state in southwestern Switzerland. The first group of climbers to scale its peak was led by the British alpinist Edward Whymper in July 1865.

This region experiences glaciation which resulted into formation of variety of glaciated scenery. This region is a source of rivers: Rhine, Rhone and Ticino. In the Swiss Alps, some parts are permanently under snow.

 

The Alps is fold mountain ranges that was formed through the process known as the geosyncline. The geosyncline is a depression that is believed to exist between the area around the present Mediterranean Sea. Its formation was through the process of folding caused by the earth movements. This was because the young rocks were forced to fold or crumple instead of breaking.

The formation is therefore explained as follows;

 Formation of Fold mountains by Geosyncline

 

THE SWISS JURA

This region consists of 10% of the total area of Switzerland. It is a region of simple Fold Mountains with an average of about 750 metres. The south and central part are made up of parallel chains of mountains and valley with transverse gorges. A gorge is a narrow river valley. This region of Northwest has variety of roiling plateaus.

The mountains of the Jura region are inclined the north -south direction. This parallel nature of ridges and valleys hinders East- West Communication. The rocks of the region are permeable, thus the region is poor as far as agriculture is concerned.

The region is characterized with numerous sinkholes and water finds its way to the base of the mountain resulting into sources of some rivers.

Economic Activities in the Jura

The Jura is poor and generally infertile. Only a small area is fit for crop cultivation and pastoral activities are the most dominant.

The cool moist summers provide suitable conditions for dairying and there is a small production of cheese and butter.

The poorer pastures of the limestone slopes are suited for sheep and goat grazing. Another economic activity is lumbering. Since a high amount of rainfall is received, the lower slopes are covered with forests, notably of fir, beech, and elm.

A number of industries have grown up in the region basing on the local supplies of timber-The well known and most influential industry which started 200 years ago as a domestic industry is Watch and clock making industry.

The two cities in the Jura are Basle, the third largest centre in Switzerland, situated where the Rhine bends Northwards. Its development has been due to two factors: being located at the gateway to France, the Rift Valley and eastern Switzerland. Secondly, its position along the river Rhine,

Other chief towns are Otten, Soluthurn, and Biel (Bienne) in the Aar Valley, Neuchatel on the of that name, Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, St. Imier and Gremchen. All these centres are well known for watch and clock making as well as precision and scientific instruments of various types.

The Swiss Central Plateau

This accounts for 30% of the total area of Switzerland. It is 290 km long and 48 km wide. The region extends in the south-west to north -east direction from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance. The plateau was once an arm of the sea and later an inland lake and it has since dried to form a corridor between the Jura and Alps.

It is made up of sediments, which have pilled up from the Alps, the Jura and the Black forest. Nearer to the Alps, the collection becomes a conglomerate of large stones, sandstone and marl. This explains why it is a landscape of low hills and numerous lakes.

The average altitude of this region is considerably lower than that of Alps and Jura. This has led to a milder climate suitable for settlement and agriculture.

Activities in the Swiss plateau: This is the most fertile and productive region in Switzerland. About half of the farmland is devoted to the growing of cereals, sugar-beet, potatoes and fodder crops such as lucerne, clover, and colza. Dairy farming is the most important branch of agriculture. The region is well known for industrialization.