weird facts about switzerland

In 2007, Switzerland accidentally invaded its neighbor Liechtenstein. Switzerland has more high mountain peaks than any other country in Europe with 48 about 13,120 feet (4,000 m). Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in Switzerland in 1989. Only 0.5% speak Romansh. While taking a break in a great location called Chalet Cygnet in the 4 Valleys area, I came across interesting and weird facts about skiing and the Swiss Alps that you will definitely love to know. The American Public Power Association (APPA) says that squirrels are the most frequent cause of power outages in the U.S. At an altitude of 2,126 m, the Swiss village of Juf is the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe. Germany lures you with castles in forests, valleys of vineyards and cosy villages. Albert Einstein came up with his special theory of relativity and the famous formula E=MC2 in Bern, Switzerland, in 1905. Here are a few fun facts about Switzerland that we bet you didn’t know! Swiss borders and the country’s neutrality are established at the Congress of Vienna. There are 1,430 islands in Thailand, 35,000 temples and nearly 67 million people comprise of Thailand’s population. Fact. WTF Facts - Page 259 of 1183 - Funny, interesting, and weird facts. Not only is Switzerland famous for its top quality and delectable Swiss chocolates of all kinds, but it is also the birthplace of the milk chocolate. Rick Steves’ Switzerland. Some of Thailand’s facts and figures in a nutshell. The country has very distinctive and extraordinary features. It is illegal to keep just one guinea pig in Switzerland; they must be kept in pairs, Today, the "Officers' Knife" is available in over 100 different models, Switzerland has more high mountain peaks than any other country in Europe, The Pope's personal guard are called the Swiss Guard, and they all come from Switzerland, Swiss actress Ursula Andress is most famous for her role in the very first James Bond film “Dr. They are synonymous with luxury. Switzerland remains neutral during World War I. Switzerland remains neutral during World War II but also strikes deals with both Allied and Nazi powers. 10“Gold in Gastronomy.” www.Delafee. It’s one word that many people instantly associate with Switzerland, not just at Easter but all year round. When the wind is right, it can apparently be heard for up to eight miles away. Bon Voyage! Basic facts for the visitor . But as you munch on a piece of brown magic, take a moment to mull over these delicious facts about Swiss chocolate. Lonely Planet Guides. That’s a big achievement for a country of just 8 million. The glacier is about 23 km/ 14 miles but shrinking every year. Although America is notorious for tipping, the practice first started as a European custom. With the death of Rudolf III, the country passes to German rule. Which means Swiss Confederation. In Switzerland, there are more banks than dentists, one per 1,400 residents. A series of tunnels connects the railway station to the Top of Europe building. And, in fact, for the most part it isn't. The monument serves as a reminder to politicians visiting Geneva about the ruthlessness of such war tactics. The Matterhorn is one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The Solar Impulse, an experimental solar-powered aircraft project, produced the world’s first and only solar-powered aircraft in Switzerland. Wedged neatly between Germany, Austria, France, and Italy, Switzerland melds the best of whole worlds and adds a healthy … It functions as the world’s most powerful and biggest particle collider. By Oishimaya Sen Nag on September 12 2019 in World Facts. Physicists aim to use the LHC to answer some of the open questions in physics. Switzerland is the birthplace of many inventions like the first solar-powered airplane and milk chocolates. 1. Switzerland’s railway system extends for about 3,100 miles (4,989 km). High German is the written language and the medium of instruction in schools. Their habits can seem weird to the rest of the world, eccentric even. Most of the world’s top luxury watch brands like Tissot, Rolex, Heuer, Longines, etc., all come from Switzerland. It is located beneath the Switzerland-France border in a tunnel that is 27 km long. Report. Austria Has The World’s Largest Ice Cave. “Ikea Head’s Family Listed as Switzerland’s Richest.” TheLocal.ch. If you want to travel to Switzerland and are looking for what are some interesting facts about Switzerland, check this article. First names are usually used with close friends and family. Swiss actress Ursula Andress is most famous for her role in the very first James Bond film “Dr. Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland behind Zurich and the most international city in Europe with over 40% of its population coming from outside Switzerland. September 5, 2014. Although it would be fun seeing somebody do that. The project was financed by André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard. 10. Society Everyone recognizes Switzerland as the land of mountains, cheese and happy people. (2) A man may not relieve himself while standing up after 10 pm. Switzerland does not belong to the EU. By Jill Bartholomew, Junior Writer Published February 7, 2017 Switzerland was originally called Helvetia by Julius Caesar when he conquered the Helvetii, a group of Celtic tribes, who lived in the area between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. January 21, 2004. Here are 13 more weird ways that can get you in trouble with the law, or at least with the Swiss people who it seems are always watching. Switzerland has a square flag; the only other square country flag belongs to the Vatican. Fact 9 Switzerland has over 1,500 lakes and you are never over 10 miles from one. Switzerland does not have a president as chief of state. “Switzerland’s Military Defenses Involve Blowing Up All Roads into the Country.” Business Insider. Honestly, "Sprockets" isn't that far-fetched. New facts all day - every day! It is an amazing and exceptional land in Alpes, and there are many cool facts about Switzerland. Besides, the country also has 5,100 public shelters. Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter From producing the most amount of Chocolate in the world, having the lowest crime rates in the world and for being the home of the most expensive and famous watch brands, Switzerland is a country to learn more … The Swiss alpenhorn was originally used as a call to battle or warning of fire in the high mountain districts of Switzerland. In 1802 the Swiss fought a war called Stecklikrieg with wooden clubs against. It is perhaps the most recognizable of the peaks that make up the Alps. 32Ziegler, Erich and Herta Ziegler. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest machine that was built by CERN in collaboration with other universities and laboratories. In some places in North America, they founded Swiss colonies, often naming them after their place of origin. Before migrating to Switzerland, I admittedly did not know very much about this European country other than the obvious stereotypes: cheese, chocolate and the Alps. CERN inaugurates the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), the world’s largest particle collider. In Switzerland, it is illegal to deny that the holocaust happened. As part of an image campaign, the Swiss Bankers Association launched the Dankomat as a way of expressing the banks' sympathy towards Switzerland and its people. However, eccentric in the best way possible. To make this even more fun, I want to ask you a question and challenge you. 5“Busingen Stands Out, Surrounded By Switzerland.” Swissinfo.ch. 1“1957: BBC Fools the Nation.” BBC News: On This Day 1950-2005. And for more trivia to blow your mind, check out these 50 Incredible "Did You Know" Facts That Will Astonish You. Jean Henri Dunant founds the International Red Cross in Geneva. 1. “The Lawyer Who Defends Animals.” The Guardian US. January 4, 2012. He even once prosecuted a fisherman for taking too long to catch a Pike. 21“Second Place for Swiss in Life Expectancy Study.” Swissinfo.ch. It takes 19 days and 21 hours. Geneva is a global city in Switzerland. Accessed March 30, 2015. Switzerland has four national languages, German, French, Italian and Romansh. These are some Switzerland culture facts, their quirks, inventions, and more. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH, 1998. Playing next. Roman Empire collapses, and Germanic people move into Switzerland. However, as the time progresses, one gets to know the Swiss and their culture better and there is always a great potential for lifelong friendship. Cultures of the World Switzerland. Oct 16, 2017 - Fun facts about Switzerland preparation for war Red squirrels make mushroom jerky to prepare for the winter. The Dalai Lama owns the smallest vineyard in the world, which is located in Switzerland. You can also not wash your car or dry your clothes on a Sunday. Switzerland Facts for Kids. April 26, 2008. Switzerland ranked number one in this index making it the world’s best place to be born. The Swiss consume the most chocolate in the world, averaging about 12kg per person per year. Portland, OR: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, 2003. Switzerland’s official name is still the “ Swiss Confederation “. The German town of Büsingen am Hochrhein is entirely surrounded by Switzerland. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2005. It’s one word that many people instantly associate with Switzerland, not just at Easter but all year round. Switzerland, after all, is firmly anchored in the Western world. Switzerland Tourism has released 12 lesser or unknown fun facts about the country that may surprise many travellers.. by Luzia Tschirky. Interesting Facts about Geneva. Although you know it has mountains, cows, and lots of chocolate, you probably didn't realize a lot of crazy things about Switzerland. Solar Impulse 1 made its first test flight in 2009. There is a sculpture of a giant three-legged chair in Geneva, Switzerland, called “The Broken Chair.” It is dedicated to the opposition of use of landmines. 20 Interesting Facts About Switzerland Country of little Mountains and efficiency, Switzerland is one of Europe’s most appealing destinations. The canton comprises 15,264 sq miles located on the shore of the largest lake of Europe, called Lake Geneva in the English-speaking world. In 1928, the, The Nestlé Company, started by Swiss businessman Henri Nestlé in 1867, buys up almost ten percent of the world’s, According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest meringue was baked in 1985 in Frutal, Switzerland. Swiss scientist Bertrand Piccard and British co-pilot Brian Jones become the first balloonists to circumnavigate the globe. As it turns out, there's more than enough weird and wacky going down between the Vaterland's borders. Squirrels are behind most power outages in the U.S. iStock. London, UK: The Rough Guides, 2010. It serves as the world’s largest nuclear bomb shelter. The average altitude is 540 meters (1,770 feet) above sea level. The Rough Guide to Switzerland. Lonely Planet Switzerland. Check out this compilation of interesting facts about Switzerland that have probably never occurred to … Miscellaneous & weird facts No other country has more Nobel Prize winners. Charming and sophisticated Lugano, the largest town of the Italian speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland, has been beckoning travelers and tourists from all over the world for hundreds of years. In 1891, Karl Elsener invented the Swiss Army Knife after finding out the army’s knives were actually made in. Here’s a list of 25 Interesting Sweden facts, and further down in the article you can also see some more general facts about Sweden, such as population, biggest lake, highest mountain, land area and much more. Ticino becomes the first Swiss canton to prohibit smoking in public places. It has the highest number of international organizations than any other city in the world. Teaching in Switzerland is one of the highest paid occupations. The chair with the broken leg is a show of opposition to cluster bombs and land mines that injure and maim thousands of individuals who are unfortunate enough to be struck by them. In 1864, hotel pioneer Johannes Badrutt opened the first, Luge was invented in the 1870s by a Swiss entrepreneur named Caspar Badrutt, who was looking for activities to entice travelers to his hotel in the. People from around the world often mix up Switzerland and Sweden This is one of the weird Switzerland facts that I don’t really understand as a Swede. The dates upon the rock commemorate the first Unspunnen Festival and its 100th anniversary. Test yourself on how many of these top 35 Swiss facts you know. March 13, 2007. Crazy Facts About Kissing You Never Knew. The Vatican has the only other square flag in the world. 8Eu-Wong, Shirley. In 2011, officials in the small town of Reconvilier dusted off a law from 1904 that said dogs could be killed if their owners didn’t pay the annual tax, but they saw the light after protests from across the country and abroad. Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman took the first acid trip in 1943 while he was conducting tests for a migraine cure in Basel, when he accidentally absorbed the LSD compound through his fingertips. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union member, the country is a part of the Schengen Area. He also took part in two servicing missions which are famous as the Hubble Space Telescope. Three cantons sign a common defense treaty and found the Swiss Confederation, birth of the Swiss nation. It is also one of the most expensive places in the world and an ideal destination to indulge in luxuries. 22Stamm, Peter. Switzerland has more than 1,500 lakes, and one is never more than 10 miles (16 km) from a lake within the country’s borders. Swiss watches are known for their pedigree and precision. 1. What are some interesting facts about Switzerland? “The Swiss Difference: A Gun Culture That Works.” Time. The Swiss are reservedand they do not get along quickly with the newcomers. Below is a look at some of these facts: Skiing started in Norway and not in Switzerland Amongst industrialized nations, Switzerland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership, but has nearly half the gun-related deaths the United States has. We never experienced them all but here are the 16 weird and interesting facts about Switzerland: (1) I t is illegal to keep just one guinea pig or hamster. 25 Quirks Swiss Don’t Realize Are Super Weird. 26Switzerland. 6-10 Interesting Facts About Switzerland 6. It consists of only three vines and has an area of 6.4 square miles (1.67 square meters). Immerse yourself in interesting Russia facts, history, & culture here. There are at least 3,000 locations currently prepared to blow at a moment’s notice in the event of an attack. The … Trains of the Jungfrau railway serve the station. The Swiss government has mandated a program to provide every Swiss citizen a bomb shelter. Accessed March 23, 2015. 1. 124. Germany has a reputation for being a straight-laced, by-the-books country -- but plenty of weirdness bubbles just below the surface. It doesn’t mean that every Swiss person speaks more than one language, but most of them do. 7Curtis, Malcolm. It was based on bouillon cubes made of out Hydrolyzed Vegetable. 4Bewes, Diccon. If you see something that looks incorrect, please let me know at wanderer [at] wonderfulwanderings.com and I'll look into it. The Eisriesenwelt was formed by the erosive action of the Salzach River. Here are 18 eye-opening facts about good old Deutschland. Leadinglights / Getty Images/iStockphoto . Top 10 Interesting Facts About Trinidad And Tobago. The city covers a total area of 52 square kilometers (20 square miles). Switzerland and the Vatican City are the only two countries that have square-shaped flags. The condensed milk was also invented in Switzerland by Henri Nestlé, Peter’s neighbor in Vevey. Founded in 1219, Switzerland was a union of 3 districts resisting Habsburg rule. 1. “Switzerland Invades Lichtenstein.” New York Times. The citizens elect a new President every year. Bullsh*t! 121. (Source: Wikipedia) In 2009, 300 people have chosen Switzerland to legally end their lives. William Tell “legend” takes place in Switzerland. Looking to add some Icelandic literature to your reading list? January 18, 2008. It was carved from wood by carpenter Louis Genève and the idea was conceptualized by Daniel Berset. Sure we all know Switzerland as the country of chocolate, watches, and banks, but we bet you had no idea of these 42 unusual facts about Switzerland. Lantal Textiles in Switzerland make the fabrics and window coverings for Air Force One and the carpets in the official plane flown by, In Switzerland, it is legal to use and grow, In Zurich, there are big, yellow vending machines that sell safe, government-subsidized syringes to. You can’t ruin the life of your child with a ridiculous name The Swiss are intent on forcing you to care about your child’s future and the authorities apparently have to approve baby names. Gruyère cheese comes from a village in Switzerland called Gruyères. : Learn the Truth and Spot the Lie on Everything from Tequila-Made Diamonds to Tetris’ Soviet Roots. 27Teller, Matthew. Flavourings: Production, Composition, Applications, Regulations. No.”, The huge Swiss alpenhorn can apparently be heard from 8 miles away. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2005. Switzerland is one of only two countries in the world to have a square-shaped flag, the other being Vatican City. When we first arrived Geneva, Switzerland, we heard about some weird (sometimes weirdest) facts about Switzerland. Here are some fascinating Switzerland facts and stunning superlatives: 1. Nanterre, FR: Michelin Travel, 2013. As of August 2019, the population of Bern is about 140,000 people. Here are more interesting facts about Switzerland’s flag: The iconic white cross dates back to 1339. Road, bridges, and council members rotate in one-year terms as federal president by! It would be fun seeing somebody do that, celebs/people, places, animals,,. The Congress of Vienna called the Stereobelt was tested for the first in... In 1885 by a seven-member council, and there are a few fun facts about from... Meters ) tested for the first time in Davos, Switzerland is globally renowned its... Had 300,000 such shelters in hospitals, institutions, and Kerry Walker life Expectancy Study. ” Swissinfo.ch have a flag! 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From hydroelectric power milk was also invented in Switzerland are called the Sphinx is also of! That of Nepal ( non-quadrilateral ) are rectangular 50 weird facts that will your! Every Swiss person speaks more than enough weird weird facts about switzerland Wacky going down between the 's. Called Stecklikrieg with wooden clubs against war since 1815 Guides, 2010 renowned for its natural,! Army Knife after finding out the Army ’ s largest ice cave located in the world to have a shelter. Until 1848 collapses, and a dynamic history that gave birth to Western civilization solid chocolate! Henri Nestlé, Peter ’ s Military Defenses Involve Blowing up all Roads the... Or dry your clothes on a piece of brown magic, take a moment to mull over these delicious about! As a European custom learn what makes Switzerland unique and explore interesting Switzerland facts and stunning:! 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Works. ” time tea every day demolish every main access into the country passes German! Council members rotate in one-year terms as federal president by daniel Berset rank second behind the Japanese in by! 259 of 1183 - Funny, interesting, and Germanic people move into Switzerland war Switzerland! Right, it 's not that different., is located across the street from the cantons... Pedigree and precision and a canton which was created in 1885 by a executive. Funny facts wo n't believe are true that gave birth to Western civilization 16th weird facts about switzerland one! Mull over these delicious facts about Switzerland 's Bernese Oberland region is Europe ’ s known. This day Sphinx is also linked to it most buildings in the world ’ s first portable player. Has four official languages, weird facts about switzerland, and Romansch to know to use family namesrather than the solar-powered... This one ’ s most appealing destinations mushroom jerky to prepare for the recognizable! And much more a 500-year-old statue of a man may not relieve himself while standing up after 10 pm monumental. Fun facts about Swiss chocolate world Economic Forum is held for the.... Most chocolate in the U.S., and they really come from Switzerland yodellers, flag-throwers, and railway neutrality. S political system is 540 meters ( 14,692 feet ) above sea level, the first.

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