Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps and the Jura; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, whereas most of the country's population of 9 million are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts its largest cities and economic centres, including Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.
Some of the key events about Switzerland
- 1291The Swiss Confederation was founded with the signing of the Federal Charter
- 1515Swiss forces suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Marignano, ending Swiss expansionism
- 1798French forces invaded and occupied Switzerland, establishing the Helvetic Republic
- 1815Switzerland's neutrality was formally recognized at the Congress of Vienna
- 1847The Sonderbund War, a civil war between Catholic and Protestant cantons, resulted in numerous casualties
- 1848The Swiss Federal Constitution was adopted, establishing Switzerland as a federal state
- 1863The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded in Geneva
- 1902The Simplon Tunnel, then the world's longest railway tunnel, was completed
- 1920Geneva became the headquarters of the League of Nations
- 1934Switzerland experienced a severe economic crisis during the Great Depression
- 1938Switzerland closed its borders to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution
- 1945Switzerland faced international criticism for its financial dealings with Nazi Germany during World War II
- 1948The World Health Organization (WHO) was established with headquarters in Geneva
- 1960Switzerland became a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- 1970A Swissair flight crashed near Würenlingen, killing all 47 people on board
- 1982A major fire in the Gotthard Road Tunnel killed 11 people and caused extensive damage
- 2001A disgruntled former employee carried out a mass shooting in the Zug cantonal parliament, killing 14 people
- 2002Switzerland joined the United Nations as a full member
- 2008Switzerland's largest bank, UBS, required a government bailout during the global financial crisis
- 2016The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest and deepest railway tunnel, was opened
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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