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. 1996 Index
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Switzerland Geography 1996
Central Europe, east of France
slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
total 1,852 km, Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein
41 km, Germany 334 km
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool
to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau
of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
hydropower potential, timber, salt
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open air burning; acid rain; water
pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of
biodiversity
avalanches, landslides, flash floods
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with
southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in
Europe
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