Switzerland

Source: NDTV

Context: Swiss glaciers lost 3% of their total ice mass in 2024–25, marking the fourth-largest reduction on record, according to GLAMOS.

About Switzerland:

• Location:

• A landlocked country in Central Europe. Lies at the hydrographic center of Europe, forming sources of major rivers.

• A landlocked country in Central Europe.

• Lies at the hydrographic center of Europe, forming sources of major rivers.

• Capital: Bern (administrative) and Lausanne (judicial).

• Bordering Nations: France, Germany, Italy, Austria & Liechtenstein.

• Physical Features:

• Glaciers – About 1,400 glaciers in the Alps, but one-quarter of volume lost since 2015; The largest glacier in Switzerland is the Aletsch Glacier (also known as the Great Aletsch Glacier or Grosser Aletschgletscher). Rivers – Source of Rhône (to Mediterranean) and Rhine (to North Sea), also Ticino (to Po) and Reuss (to Aare). Mountains – Alps dominate; major peaks include Dufourspitze (4,634 m), Matterhorn (4,478 m), Weisshorn, and Dom. Jura Mountains lie in northwest; Mittelland plateau in between. Uniqueness: Multilingual nation (German, French, Italian, Romansh). Tradition of neutrality and home to UN bodies in Geneva. Famous for precision industries (watches, pharmaceuticals, banking) and direct democracy with referenda. Hosts Gotthard Base Tunnel, world’s longest rail tunnel.

• Glaciers – About 1,400 glaciers in the Alps, but one-quarter of volume lost since 2015; The largest glacier in Switzerland is the Aletsch Glacier (also known as the Great Aletsch Glacier or Grosser Aletschgletscher).

• The largest glacier in Switzerland is the Aletsch Glacier (also known as the Great Aletsch Glacier or Grosser Aletschgletscher).

• Rivers – Source of Rhône (to Mediterranean) and Rhine (to North Sea), also Ticino (to Po) and Reuss (to Aare).

• Mountains – Alps dominate; major peaks include Dufourspitze (4,634 m), Matterhorn (4,478 m), Weisshorn, and Dom. Jura Mountains lie in northwest; Mittelland plateau in between.

• Uniqueness: Multilingual nation (German, French, Italian, Romansh). Tradition of neutrality and home to UN bodies in Geneva. Famous for precision industries (watches, pharmaceuticals, banking) and direct democracy with referenda. Hosts Gotthard Base Tunnel, world’s longest rail tunnel.

• Multilingual nation (German, French, Italian, Romansh).

• Tradition of neutrality and home to UN bodies in Geneva.

• Famous for precision industries (watches, pharmaceuticals, banking) and direct democracy with referenda.

• Hosts Gotthard Base Tunnel, world’s longest rail tunnel.