Switzerland - download topographic map set
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Total in map set163 maps of1,6Gb Updated inMay 2015 (added 3 maps) Selected in map set7 maps of61Mb
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Download topographic maps coverage for Google Earth: switzerland--maps.kmz
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Soviet military 1:50 000 (~1980): 91 maps |
9 € |
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Soviet military 1:500 000 (~1980): 4 maps |
1 € |
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Soviet military 1:1 000 000 (~1980): 1 maps |
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German military 1:25 000 (~1941): 3 maps |
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German military 1:25 000 (~1967): 23 maps |
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Soviet military 1:1 000 000 (~1937): 1 maps |
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Austrian military 1:200 000 (~1897): 1 maps |
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Austrian military 1:200 000 (~1916): 5 maps |
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Austrian military 1:200 000 (~1946): 2 maps |
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German military 1:100 000 (~1895): 6 maps |
2 € |
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German military 1:100 000 (~1901): 3 maps |
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German military 1:100 000 (~1938): 5 maps |
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German military 1:300 000 (~1928): 5 maps |
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German military 1:500 000 (~1943): 3 maps |
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German military 1:1 000 000 (~1943): 2 maps |
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US military 1:250 000 (~1956): 5 maps |
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US military 1:1 000 000 (~1957): 1 maps |
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US military 1:1 000 000 (~1981): 1 maps |
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US military 1:500 000 (~1995): 1 maps |
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Switzerland is a state in the centre of Europe. Switzerland borders with France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy and is landlocked. The total area of Switzerland is 41,300 sq km.
Relief. The major part of Switzerland is located on the territory of the Alps. The Pennine Alps (Dufourspitze – 4,634 m – is the highest peak of Switzerland), the Lepontine Alps, the Rätikon Alps and the Bernina Massif are situated in the south. The deep lateral valleys of the upper Rhône and the front Rhine separate the Pennine and the Lepontine Alps from the Bernese Alps (Finsterraarhorn, 4,274 m) and the Glarus Alps that form a system of ranges stretching from the southwest to the northeast through all of the country. The prevailing type of ranges is jagged, formed by crystalline rocks and eroded; glaciers and glacial relief forms are numerous. The major mountain passes (San Bernardino, Simplon, St. Gotthard, Bernina) are situated at more than 2,000 m above sea level. Glaciers and glacial relief forms typical of the Swiss landscapes have the total area of 1,950 sq km. The number of large valley glaciers in Switzerland is about 140 (Aletsch Glacier and others); some of the glaciers are of corrie and cornice types.
The Jura Mountains that separate Switzerland from France stretch from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. There mountain folds with prevailing limestone alternate with valleys. Sometimes the folds are cut by small rivers which form valleys with steep slopes (hawses).
Almost the whole of the southern part of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. These high, uneven and snow-covered mountains are dissected by deep gorges. The Alps are the major source of income, as the picturesque nature of the highlands attracts numerous tourists and alpinists. The highest peaks are Dufourspitze (4,634 m) in the Monte Rosa Massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4,545 m), Weisshorn (4,505 m), Matterhorn (4,477 m), Grand Combin (4,314 m), Finsterraarhorn (4,274 m), and Jungfrau (4,158 m).
Rivers. The major part of Switzerland is irrigated by the Rhine and its affluent the Aare (the most important tributaries of the latter are the Reuss and the Limmat). The southwestern regions belong to the drainage area of the Rhône, the southern ones – to that of the Ticino, the southeastern regions – to the basin of the Inn (a tributary of the Danube River). Except the Inn originating in the Upper Engadine, the sources of all the major rivers of the country are located in the St. Gotthard Massif.
Lakes. Lakes in Switzerland are numerous. The largest of almost 600 lakes is Lake Geneva (581 sq km). Another well-known lake is Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) with the area of 114 sq km formed by seven reservoirs. Brienz and Thun Lakes are separated by the silty delta of the Lucine River. In the northeast part of the Bodensee belongs to Switzerland. Lakes Lago Maggiore and Lugano are situated in the south of the country. Other large lakes are Neuchâtel, Zurich, Biel, Zug.
Sightseeing. Lausanne is the capital of the Canton of Vaud. The city lying on the northern shore of Lake Geneva is famous for its majestic Gothic-style St. Francis cathedral(145-1275) which rises above the core city with its original houses and old bridges over the Flon and the Luve Rivers.
Veve is a small resort town and one of “Swiss Riviera” centres, situated several km from Lausanne. It is here where Saturdays in autumn the colourful Wine Festival takes place.
Geneva, founded by the Celts in 500 BC on the right bank of the Rhône, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is famous for its elegance and wonderful parks along the lake.
Montreux – “the pearl of Swiss Riviera” – is situated not far away from Geneva, on the shore of Lake Geneva. The city is world famous for its private boarding schools and beauty parlours, night clubs and cabarets, bars and casinos, jazz and classic music festivals.
Zurich is the major trading and financial centre of Switzerland, the most important banking centre of Europe, and the location of commercial and industrial institutions.
Basel is the second largest city in Switzerland and an important industrial, trading and banking centre of the country.
The places of interest of Rorschach are the ancient granary Cornhaus (1748), Benedictine monastery, Antique Car Museum, and the nearby castles Rorschacherberg, Vartegg, etc.
Bern is the capital of Switzerland, founded in 1191 in the sharp bend of the Aar River. The historic centre of the city consists of Spitalgasse, Marktgasse and Kramgasse streets that run into Nieder Brücke bridge. The major places of interest are concentrated in the old centre of the city.
Lucerne is the main city of Central Switzerland that appeared in VII century on the place of the former Benedictine monastery. The city is situated on the northern shore of Lake Lucerne and is deservedly added to the nicest cities of the country.
Lugano is the largest and the major city of the italophone Canton of Ticino. It is located on the shore of the homonymous lake in the southeastern part of the country. The city is surrounded by Monte Brè (923 m) and Monte San Salvatore (912 m) that create the wonderful panorama around it and mild climate.
In the neighbouhood of Lugano one can find charming ancient towns with typical Italian architecture: the rich in cultural monuments Locarno, the famous Ascona, the “city of castles” Bellinzona, the “little Toscana” Mendrisio, etc. One can take a walk in the park “Swiss Miniature” in Melide and see the most interesting and picturesque places of the country.
Tourism. Mountains occupying two thirds of the country, Switzerland became a real paradise for downhill skiers and Alpinists. The Swiss Alps are deservedly considered the birthplace of alpinism and ski mountaineering.
The distinctive feature of Swiss ski resorts is the exclusive service and comfort. Swiss level of skiing tracks preparation is the worldwide standard.
The most well-known ski resorts in Switzerland are:
- Bern (Engelberg, Grindelwald, Les Diablerets, Villars, Gstaad)
- Wallis (Champéry, Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Crans-Montana, Verbier)
- Graubünden (Arosa, St. Moritz, Davos)
Other world-known mountain resorts are Falera, Leysin, “family paradise” Villars, Anzère, comfortable Pontresina, Arosa situated in the wind-protected valley with its own microclimate, and balneologic resorts Schwefelberg-Bad and Yverdon.
One can also visit such mountain and climatic health resorts as Crans-Montana, Leukerbad, Interlaken, Meiringen, Château d'Oex, Flims, Laax, Engelberg and Bürgenstock.
Climate. The climate of Switzerland is moderately continental, Alpine. Massive mountain systems cause differences between the climatic conditions of various regions of Switzerland. The average temperature in the mountains is usually about +16°C - +18°C, that in the lowlands and in the northern part of the country is quite high - from +18°C to +27°C. The average temperature of January in Geneva is about 0°C, that of July is +19°C. The amount of precipitation varies from 800 mm in the flatlands to 2,500 mm on the western slopes of the mountains.