BP4 QTR4: Research and Interpretation-Geography

Location: 
Switzerland is in the middle of Europe, surrounded by France, Liechtenstein, Italy, Austria, and Germany at47° 00' North and 8° 00' East.

Area: Switzerland has an area of 41,277 sq km

Area-Comparative: 
The U.S. is  3.719 million mi squared and is the 3rd largest country in the world. Switzerland has and area of
15937 mi squared and is the 135th largest country in the world.
 

Land Boundaries: Switzerland's land boundries is 1,852 km Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Climate: The temperature in Switzerland is about 8.6 °C (47 °F) The highest monthly average of high temperature is 23 °C (73 °F) in July & August.The lowest monthly average of low temperature is -4 °C (25 °F) in January. Switzerland's climate gets about 986 mm (38.8 in) of rainfall per year, or 82 mm (3.2 in) per month.

Terrain:

 Switzerland has a hilly, mountainous  terrain, and with glacial, and lush, green growth. So Switzerland consists mostly of hills, lakes, mountain, and plain.

Natural Resources: Switzerland's natural resources are hydro-power potential, timber, salt

Land Use: 
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
permanent pastures:
forests and woodland:
other: 89.51%

Environment-Current Issues:Switzerlands currant enviorment issues include air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Environment-International Agreements: Switzerland is involved with Biodiversity, Marine Life Conservation, Air Pollution, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Wetlands, Whaling, Tropical Timber, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur, 
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants  Nuclear Test Ban, Law of the Sea, and Desertification.

Natural Hazards:  Switzerland could have many natural hazards like avalanches, landslides; and flash floods.


Cites- 
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/natural_resources.html
http://www.climatetemp.info/switzerland/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/lat_long/switzerland-lat-long.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_terrain_of_Switzerland
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/environment_current_issues.html
http://www.interopp.org/htm/env_agreements.htm