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25 interesting facts to know about Switzerland

On 12 December, Switzerland celebrates the Flag Day, which was established in 1889. And we have decided to recall some interesting facts about this country.

Yes, you probably know that Switzerland is famous for the Alps, reliable banks and lots of chocolate. Bet you probably did not know the other sometimes strange and even crazy facts about this country. For example, Switzerland is the only country with direct democracy in the world, that adopted the most liberal laws on weapon possession and even palm trees grow here. So, let’s get down to business and talk about the most incredible and amazing facts about one of the richest countries in the world.

1. You probably would never have thought that in Switzerland there are some of the most liberal laws on weapon possession (between 2,3-4,5 million barrels on a population of 8 million people).

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2. The lowest level of crime in the whole world belongs to Switzerland.

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3. Foreigners make up 23% of the 8 million population of Switzerland.

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4. In Switzerland, there are not only mountains! In the south of the country, there are palm trees growing. You can find them in the area of ​​Lake Lugano.

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5. In Switzerland, there are 4 national languages ​​- German, French, Italian and Romansh.

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6. According to the quality of life index, developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Switzerland is the best place to be born. This index includes the employment rate of the population, the level of crime, the quality of life, the health care system, the rate of life satisfaction of the population, etc.

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7. The country has 208 mountains over 3000 meters high and 24 mountains higher than 4000 meters.

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8. Stereotypes are justified – Swiss chocolate is really the largest export good.

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9. In a case of nuclear war, the Swiss built bunkers can accommodate the entire population of the country.

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10. Also, in a case of war, the Swiss can easily turn their roads into runways for planes, by removing interchanges and intersections.

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11. Let’s come back to the chocolate … The Swiss have come up with an edible gold chocolate.

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12. The Swiss Fines for speeding depend on the income of a citizen. Recently, one Swiss, who exceeded the speed on his Ferrari, was fined nearly a quarter of a million dollars, because he earns one million dollars per year.

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13. The Swiss live in the world’s only country with direct democracy. This means that any citizen has a right to call into question any law of the country and propose changes to the constitution.

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14. Have you ever wondered why the Swiss domain is denoted by the letters CH? Well, we are going to reveal a secret. It’s due to the fact that the name of the country in the Latin alphabet (which, incidentally, is often used in other areas as well) sounds like Confoederatio Helvetica.

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15. And again, regarding chocolate … 7 million Toblerone chocolate bars are being produced yearly in Berne. 

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16. In 2010, the average annual salary of a Swiss teacher was 120 000 dollars, while the US teachers earn an average salary of 35 000 per year.

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17. Military service is obligatory for men starting from 18 years of age. Due to the fact that most of the adult male population is in the army reserve, all Swiss men should have a weapon and all necessary ammunition at home so that to be ready for action any time. We bet you have thought of the Swiss being pacifists, right?

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18. In Bern there is a 500-year-old statue of a man eating the babies that he takes out of his bag. No one knows why this eerie monument was installed here and what it means.

 

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19. The Swiss army has prepared all potential mountain passes and tunnels in the possibility of undermining. What for, you might ask? In case of war, Switzerland will close all the ways that the enemy might use to attack.

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20. In Switzerland, there is no head of the state. Instead, there is a council consisting of 7 members, who do all the work and rule the country.

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21. There is also no capital in Switzerland, because the capital city wasn’t listed to the constitution (Bern is the capital de facto).

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22. In Geneva, there is a statue of a huge three-legged stool which symbolizes the condemnation of the use of anti-personnel mines.

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23. In 1802, the Swiss started the war under the name Shteklikrig. Here is one crazy thing about this war: The Swiss were armed only with sticks, because Napoleon took their weapons away from them.

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24. The only part of the well-known Swiss knife, which is not made in Switzerland, is a corkscrew. It is made in Japan.

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25. We are here again to destroy your opinion about Switzerland as a country of pacifists … The Swiss army is provided with all the necessary bunkers disguised as cottage houses, which are located in the most populated cities.

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So, Switzerland is a very enterprising and rich nation with which it is better not to quarrel!

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