FACTS

Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Area (only Total) total: 41,290 sq km

Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Population: 7,581,520

Main Language (only first): German

Government type: formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic

Capital (Name): Bern

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 1 August 1291

National holiday: Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August