FAQ

Where comes the name Switzerland from?

It is derived from the name of one of the founding cantons, Schwyz.
Another name of Switzerland “Confoederatio Helvetica”, therefore the abbreviation “CH”.

What are the largest cities in Switzerland?

• Zurich, ZH (population 343’000)
• Basel, BS (population 176’000)
• Geneva, GE (population 172’000)
• Bern, BE (population 129’000)
• Lausanne, VD (population 117’000)

What is the climate like in Switzerland?

The Alps divide Switzerland in two different zones: North of the Alps, the climate is almost continental, but the area still receives a lot of precipitation from the Atlantic Ocean; south of the alps, the climate is more Mediterranean. Also the elevation has a great impact on the climate, especially on the temperature. Springtime is usually wet and cool, towards April, the weather conditions change very frequently. It may be rainy, then sunny and then some snowfall, all within one hour. July and August are usually dry and hot (30?C and more, which corresponds to the higher eighties in Fahrenheit). Fall is dry but much cooler than summer, its the best time to go to the mountains, at least as long as there is no snow yet. At higher elevations (above 1000 m or 3000 feet), they get the first snow usually in October, the roads in the mountains have to be closed in November or December the latest. Winter is supposed to be cold and dry with the lowest temperatures in January or February.

How many unemployed people are there in Switzerland?

The rate of unemployed people in Switzerland used to be real low before 1990 (below 1%). Then, it started to grow to almost 4% in 1998. It is now on the decline again (2.7% in 1999, 1.7% in September 2000)

What is the literacy rate for Switzerland?

The literacy rate for Switzerland is close to 100%. However, there is a phenomena called “secondary illiteracy” which means, people can read a text (they know the letters), but they do not understand what they read (not because of the language, but because of their limited intellectual capabilities).

What kind of clothing do people wear in Switzerland?

We wear the same clothing like most people in the western countries do. It mainly depends on the job and on the occasion: Business men usually wear dark suits and ties, other workers wear jeans (same brands as in the USA) and t-shirts or sweat shirts.

What are the most popular sports in Switzerland?

Popular sports include football (also known as soccer), handball, biking, hiking, tennis, swimming, orienteering, street hockey, ice hockey, skiing, snow board riding and many more.