SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Presented By: Rachel ThysellPresented By: Rachel Thysell

Where is it?Where is it?

SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Landlocked alpine Landlocked alpine country in Western country in Western EuropeEurope

Roughly over 7 Roughly over 7 million peoplemillion people

4 national 4 national languageslanguages– Swish German, Swish German,

French, Italian, French, Italian, RomanshRomansh

SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Everything printed in three different Everything printed in three different languageslanguages– German, French, and ItalianGerman, French, and Italian

ReligionReligion– Roman Catholic 47.6% Roman Catholic 47.6% – Protestant 44.3% Protestant 44.3% – other 8.1% other 8.1%

CurrencyCurrency

10 francs10 francs 1 franc1 franc 1 franc (reverse) 1 franc (reverse)

Swiss Franc (CHF)Swiss Franc (CHF)– 1 U.S. Dollar = 1.2268 Francs1 U.S. Dollar = 1.2268 Francs

EconomyEconomy

Strong economy in banking and financeStrong economy in banking and finance– Ranked as most competitive in the world by the Ranked as most competitive in the world by the

World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness ReportReport

– Banking, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are Banking, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are very important industries, however tourism is very important industries, however tourism is biggestbiggest

Tradition of political and military neutralityTradition of political and military neutrality– Several international institutionsSeveral international institutions

United Nations has second largest center in GenevaUnited Nations has second largest center in Geneva Red Cross founded there in 1863, still has its Red Cross founded there in 1863, still has its

institutional center in the countryinstitutional center in the country

WeatherWeather

SpringtimeSpringtime– Daytime Daytime

temperature range temperature range 8 to 15° C8 to 15° C (46-59° F)(46-59° F) Bring along a Bring along a

sweater and your sweater and your hiking shoes!hiking shoes!

The AlpsThe Alps

The AlpsThe Alps

Greatest mountain range system of Greatest mountain range system of EuropeEurope

Stretching from Austria in the East to Stretching from Austria in the East to France in the WestFrance in the West– Swiss Alps are the central portion of the Swiss Alps are the central portion of the

mountain rangemountain range

InterlakenInterlaken

InterlakenInterlaken Located between Lake Located between Lake

Brienz and Lake ThunBrienz and Lake Thun– Named after its Named after its

geographical positiongeographical position Jungfrau MountainJungfrau Mountain

(4158 M)(4158 M)

is main attraction for is main attraction for backpackersbackpackers

Interlaken lays at the Interlaken lays at the flat area at the end of flat area at the end of the Lauterbrunnen the Lauterbrunnen ValleyValley

InterlakenInterlaken

Very popular in winter Very popular in winter for skiing and for skiing and snowboardingsnowboarding

Jungfrau Top Ski Jungfrau Top Ski RegionRegion– 3 ski resorts 3 ski resorts

interconnectedinterconnected Also offers Also offers

breathtaking views, breathtaking views, hiking, mountain hiking, mountain biking, and a point of biking, and a point of relaxationrelaxation

Hiking in the AlpsHiking in the Alps

More than 22,000 More than 22,000 miles of well-kept miles of well-kept trailstrails

Criss-cross through Criss-cross through meadows, forests, meadows, forests, glaciers, and glaciers, and magnificent views of magnificent views of towering peakstowering peaks

At bottom in At bottom in Interlaken, offers Interlaken, offers chance for rest and chance for rest and snackssnacks

                                                                           

MürrenMürren

Mürren Mürren

Mountain village in Mountain village in middle of Alps, free middle of Alps, free of public cars, of public cars, home of highest home of highest altitude ski resortaltitude ski resort

Population 450Population 450 Home of famous Home of famous

revolving Piz Gloria revolving Piz Gloria Restaurant, made Restaurant, made famous by James famous by James Bond movieBond movie

LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen Small town that lies in Small town that lies in

the Lauterbrunnen the Lauterbrunnen Valley Valley

The Lauterbrunnen The Lauterbrunnen valley also provided the valley also provided the pictorial model for J.R.R. pictorial model for J.R.R. Tolkien’s sketches and Tolkien’s sketches and watercolors of the watercolors of the fictitious valley of fictitious valley of RivendellRivendell

300 meter high 300 meter high Staubbach waterfallStaubbach waterfall

Staubbach WaterfallStaubbach Waterfall

300 M high (900 ft)300 M high (900 ft) Has inspired Has inspired

painters, poets, and painters, poets, and writers over the writers over the centuriescenturies

Goethe wrote a Goethe wrote a poem based on his poem based on his 1779 visit, making 1779 visit, making the lake famous in the lake famous in the late 18the late 18thth century century

Swiss FoodSwiss Food

Most commonly Most commonly known forknown for– Swiss cheeseSwiss cheese– Swiss chocolateSwiss chocolate

Also include basic Also include basic bread, dairy, meat, bread, dairy, meat, fruitfruit

Swiss ChocolateSwiss Chocolate

Non-tropical climate, with no colonies in cocoa-Non-tropical climate, with no colonies in cocoa-bean growing countries (South America, Africa)bean growing countries (South America, Africa)

Heinrich Escher, mayor of Zurich, was introduced Heinrich Escher, mayor of Zurich, was introduced to chocolate in Brussels in 1697 and brought it to chocolate in Brussels in 1697 and brought it back home, where it was discreetly consumed at back home, where it was discreetly consumed at the feasts of the various guilds which ruled the the feasts of the various guilds which ruled the city, until the Zurich Council banned it in 1722 as city, until the Zurich Council banned it in 1722 as unfit for virtuous citizens. (It had a reputation as unfit for virtuous citizens. (It had a reputation as an aphrodisiac.)an aphrodisiac.)

The first chocolate shop in Switzerland opened in The first chocolate shop in Switzerland opened in Bern in 1792 (several decades later)Bern in 1792 (several decades later)

Swiss Chocolate – Fun FactsSwiss Chocolate – Fun Facts Swiss eat more chocolate Swiss eat more chocolate

than anyone in worldthan anyone in world-2001- averaged 12.3 kg -2001- averaged 12.3 kg

per personper person 80% milk chocolate80% milk chocolate 10-12% plain chocolate10-12% plain chocolate 3-4% white chocolate3-4% white chocolate Dark chocolate is on the Dark chocolate is on the

riserise All production must be in All production must be in

Switzerland to be “Swiss Switzerland to be “Swiss chocolate” (cocoa beans, chocolate” (cocoa beans, paste, butter, sugar, milk)paste, butter, sugar, milk)– Otherwise declared on Otherwise declared on

packagepackage

                   

                           

FoodFood

BreakfastBreakfast– Bread (zopf), butter, Bread (zopf), butter,

marmalade or honey, marmalade or honey, cheese, cereal, milk, teacheese, cereal, milk, tea

LunchLunch– Sandwich or birchermüesli Sandwich or birchermüesli

(oat flakes, water, cream, (oat flakes, water, cream, honey, sugar, lemon juice, honey, sugar, lemon juice, apples)apples)

DinnerDinner– Bread, cheese, dried meatBread, cheese, dried meat

FoodFood

Swiss Army Swiss Army Every male citizen must do military Every male citizen must do military

serviceservice– Starts at age 20 and ends at 42Starts at age 20 and ends at 42– Soldiers keep their arms at Soldiers keep their arms at

homehome Automatic rifle for simple Automatic rifle for simple

soldierssoldiers Pistol for officers plus Pistol for officers plus

couple of bullets in a couple of bullets in a sealed boxsealed box

Must return everything at Must return everything at age 42age 42

Many cave-like buildings have Many cave-like buildings have been built in mountains to serve been built in mountains to serve military purposesmilitary purposes– They hold arms, supplies for They hold arms, supplies for

crisis, and even fighter planescrisis, and even fighter planes

SourcesSources

www.swissworld.org/chocolatewww.swissworld.org/chocolate WikipediaWikipedia World Economic Forum’s Global World Economic Forum’s Global

Competitiveness ReportCompetitiveness Report Yahoo FinanceYahoo Finance

– http://finance.yahoo.com/currencyhttp://finance.yahoo.com/currency

THE END!!!THE END!!!

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Thank You!Thank You!