Some interesting tidbits about Switzerland...

The Swiss franc remains one of the world's strongest currencies with the lowest inflation rate.

Switzerland is responsible for half of the world's production of watches.

They have a direct democracy system, meaning the federal constitutional initiative allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote, if they can get 100,000 voters to sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.  Parliament can supplement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, with voters having to indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a double majority of both the national popular vote and a majority of the cantonal popular votes.

Switzerland has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and did not join the UN until 2002.

Around 3.8 million people work in Switzerland. Switzerland has a more flexible job market than neighboring countries and the unemployment rate is very low. Unemployment rate increased from a low of 1.7% in June 2000 to a peak of 4.4%, as of December 2009.

 Many Nobel prizes were awarded to Swiss scientists, for example to the world-famous physicist Albert Einstein in the field of physics who developed his theory of relativity while working in Bern. (Where I'll be.)

Electricity generated in Switzerland is 56% from hydroelectricity and 39% from nuclear power, with 5% of the electricity generated from conventional power sources resulting in a nearly CO₂-free electricity-generating network.

Switzerland has four official languages: German in the north, east and center of the country; French to the west; Italian in the south, and Romansh, a Romance language spoken locally by a small minority in the southeastern canton of Graubünden.

The most popular alcoholic drink in Switzerland is wine, with the two most common grape varieties being the red Pinot Noir at around 30% and the white Chasselas at around 27%.


Just some things I found interesting on Wikipedia.  Also, Roger Federer is a Swiss native.  Handsome guy...maybe I'll meet him?