For such a small country it is quite remarkable that Switzerland has 4 names and languages. In German it is die Schweiz, in French it is la Suisse, in Italian it is la Svizzera and in Romansh it is la Svizra.

Surprisingly its country code is CH, this is from Switzerland Latin name "Confederation Helvetica". It is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as its federal centre. It is a country of referendums and each Canton has to approve new laws. The country is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.

Switzerland is a landlocked country and the Italian speaking area of the south is separated from the rest of the country by the Alps. The Swiss population of approximately 7.8 million people who live mostly on the Jura Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found.

Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world famous worldwide for its high quality watch brands.

Surprisingly from Kleine Scheidegg a railway tunnel runs inside the North Face Eiger and two internal stations provide easy access to viewing-windows in the mountainside. The railway terminates in the Jungfraujoch, between the Mönch and the Jungfrau, at the highest railway station in Europe. Our Swiss photo gallery has pictures and images of the Jungfrau train and also of The Top Of Europe, the buildings above the Jungfraujoch railway station at 3,471 meters (11,388 ft.). These pictures also show the Sphinx Observatory

Our Alps in winter gallery show the ski slopes around Grindelwald with pictures of Swiss Chalets in the snow. There are also pictures of the Bernese Alps in the snow. The Alps in Summer photos galleries show pictures of paragliders above Grindelwald and with the Eiger behind. There are also pictures and images of spring Alpine flowers.

The Matterhorn was the last great Alpine peak to be conquered and its first ascent marked the end of the Golden age of alpinism. It was made in 1865 by an expedition led by Edward Whymper and ended tragically when most of its members fell to their deaths on the descent. The north face was not climbed until 1931, and is amongst the three Great north faces of the Alps.

The Matterhorn is one of the deadliest peaks in the Alps: from 1865 – when it was first climbed – to 1995, 500 alpinists died on it. The Matterhorn became an iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps and the Alps in general. Since the end of the nineteenth century, when railways were built, it attracted more and more visitors and climbers. Each summer a large number of skilled mountaineers try to climb the Matterhorn via the north-east Hörnli ridge, the most frequented route to the summit. Our photo collections of the Matterhorn shows photos of Zermatt with images of paragliding over the Matterhorn glaciers.

The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc in the French Alps and not Switzerland but and our photos collections also has pictures of the French Alps. And of course what would a Swiss picture collection be without photographs of the famous Swiss chalet.

In spring after the snows have melted the high Alpine pastures bloom with colour from the Alpine flowers. The pastures are cut and a fragrant hay is made that helps gives Swiss cheese its distinctive taste. Cattle are still taken up the high pastures still for the summer and the mountains tinkle with the sound of cow bells

To the south of the Alps is the Italian speaking canton of Ticino. The towns of Locano and Logano are well known but the valleys that run from them are largely unknown. Val Verzasca is a few miles from Locano but it feels like a remote valley time has forgotten. Its stone houses and villages like Lavertezza and hill top villages like Corippo remain unspoiled. Hidden houses high above the valley lakes are only really accessible by helicopters that run taxis up the mountain or carry building materials for building works. Next to Val Verzasca is Val Maggiore. It is also unspoiled. Here you will find the modern church of St. John The Baptist at Mogno

Switzerland is also famous for its lakes. Left behind after the Glacier retreated these deep lakes are surrounded by high mountains and many have old castles in them.

Switzerland & The Alps Picture, Photos & Images Collections

• Photos, pictures & images of the Alps in Summer
• Photos, Pictures & Images of The Alps In Winter
• Pictures, Images and Photos of Ticino
• Pictures, images & photos of Alpine Flowers

• Pictures, Images & Photos of Britain
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Italy
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Sicily
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Switzerland
• Pictures, Images & Photos of France
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Hungary
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Montenegro
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Slovenia
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Croatia
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Transylvania
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Austria
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Prague
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Germany
• Pictures, Images & Photos of Africa

office@funkystock.com

All pictures & photos can be bought as

1. Rights Managed stock pictures or Royalty Free stock photos on line

2. Magazines & Companies can E-mail us a requirements list of pictures & photos and we will Invoice on usage.

3. Photo art prints & cards can be bought on line.