Nature of Switzerland - national parks and reserves for active recreation

Switzerland is one of the most picturesque countries in Europe. About 60 percent of its land is occupied by the Alps; the rest of the territory is covered by the Jura Mountains and the Swiss Plateau. In addition to the majestic mountain peaks, there are several picturesque lakes with crystal clear water in Switzerland. These are Geneva, Boden, Zurich, and Neuchatel. The River Rhine originates in Switzerland. Glassy lakes encircled with massive high mountains, oak and beech forests with untouched nature, an abundance of flowers, and the famous alpine meadows wait for the traveler who comes to Switzerland.

The most famous mountain in this country is the Matterhorn. The mountain is located in the canton of Valais on the border with Italy. The height of the peak is about 4 500 meters above sea level. Matterhorn gained its fame thanks to the tetrahedral pyramidal form. Each slope is directed to one side of the world. There are several routes of ascent; however, even the simplest ones require the maximum concentration. Despite the modern equipment and professional training of climbers, the Matterhorn still is the most deadly alpine peak. The highest point of the Alps is another peak, Dufour, in the canton of Valais. The third highest is the picturesque Jungfrau; it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

There are about 70 lakes on the territory of Switzerland, and all of them are of natural origin. The largest is Lake Geneva. It has a shape of a crescent moon. The southern part of it belongs to France. The region of Lake Geneva is often called the paradise on Earth. That's a very picturesque place combining mountain panoramas, alpine meadows, majestic ancient castles and, of course, a crystal clear water. Lake Constance is located on the border with Austria. There is a large number of different resorts, where sports competitions, festivals and other events take place. Reichenau Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses a monastery built in the 8th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Rhine Falls, which is the largest in Europe, is in the canton of Schaffhausen. Its height is 150 meters, and its width is about 20 meters. The water falls with incredible intensity. On sunny days, a huge rainbow is formed above the waterfall. You can watch the elements from the observation deck. Switzerland is a small country, but there are several national parks on its territory. The Swiss are very responsible for the conservation of nature. The largest national park in the country is the Swiss National Park located in the Alps, on the slopes of the Engadine Valley.  Alpine mountain goat, lynx, brown bear, stone marten, alpine newt, and also about 100 different kinds of birds live on slopes. In the reserve, even emitting loud sounds that can interfere with some animals, is prohibited.

In French Switzerland, there is La Pierrez located on the stony bank of the full-flowing river Sarin. The nature here is surprisingly beautiful. Goats graze and partridges nest on the alpine slopes of the mountain. In the central part of the country, there is the Entlebuch National Park, which occupies the picturesque slopes of the Kleine-Emme valley. There are heath fields, pastures, forests, peat bogs and dense forests on its territory. The Jura National Park is located in one of the most beautiful valleys of Switzerland, the Zhu Valley. The places are characterized by delightful views of the mountain massifs, a rich forest, in which there are more than 300 species of plants, ancient marshes, and mountain pastures.