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Matterhorn, Valais
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| Quick facts about Switzerland |
| Country code: CH | | Zone: Europe | | Country local name: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft | | Demonym: Swiss | | Official languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh | | Driving on the right side of the road | | Currency: CHF (Swiss Franc) | | Internet TLD: .ch | | Calling code: +41 | | Time zone: CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) | | Population: 7.507.000 | | Capital: Bern | | Biggest city: Zürich |
| Borders: Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein |
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The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountain tops to the often pleasant Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip.
Summer tends to be warm and humid at times with periodic rain so it is ideal for pastures and grazing. The winters in the mountains alternate with sun and snow, while the lower lands tend to be more cloudy and foggy in winter. A weather phenomenon known as the Föhn can occur at all times of the year, even in winter, and is characterised by a wind with warm Mediterranean air.
Switzerland's eco-systems can be particularly vulnerable, due to the many delicate valleys separated by high mountains, often forming unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves are also vulnerable, with a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes, and experience some pressure from visitors and grazing. The treeline in the mountains of Switzerland has retreated down 1000 ft over the years, largely due to herding and grazing pressures.
When to go
Best weather is from June to Septembers but this period is also crowded and expensive. You can try late spring - April and May and early autumn, the weather si fine and extraseason prices.
If you are an winter sports addict, the Alpes are the best place to go from December till April.
Cities
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