Switzerland, formally known as the Swiss Confederation or the State of Switzerland, is a nation located in Western Europe. It is a federal republic comprised of 26 cantons, with its central authorities situated in Bern.
Situated at the crossroads of Western, Central, and Southern Europe, Switzerland is a landlocked country that shares its borders with Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Geographically, Switzerland is divided into three main regions: the Alps, the Swiss plateau, and the Jura, encompassing a total land area of 41,285 square kilometers. While the Alps cover the majority of this area, Switzerland’s population of around 8.5 million inhabitants is predominantly concentrated on the plateau, home to the country’s largest cities, including two globally recognized ones: Zurich and Geneva.
