Little Switzerland is a term applicable in case of the country of Switzerland only in terms of its geographical map size. It covers merely a size of 41,293 square kilometers. But if the economy or the range of activities is taken into account Switzerland is no means little. Literacy rate of 99% proves its supremacy in social conditioning.
The Little Switzerland , a Confederation in Central Europe is a mountainous country, with the Alps covering 60% of the land area. The country is famous for its lakes. Mountains and glaciers cover about one-fourth of the area. This mountainous country has always been an attracting spot for tourists from all over the world. Film industries have made full utilization of exotic locations in little Switzerland as a backdrop. Expenditure by foreign visitors in Switzerland adds a bulk of the revenue in Swiss economy.
Little Switzerland has produced watches and clocks of quality for ages. Swiss made watches and clocks are famous all the world over. Precision tools and machines cast another specialized industry. Fabrics and lace together form part of Switzerland's sunny image.
Steel,textiles,foodstuff(cheese,chocolate),chemicals,drugs,banking are the other major industries working at its best in the little Germany . The electrical, engineering and metal industry bills 45% of total exports.
Switzerland is a leading world banking center and the head quarters of many UN and other international agencies. The little Switzerland's strict bank-secrecy rules have been eased since 1990.Geneva was the headquarters of the League of Nations.
The only problem little Switzerland cannot overcome is due to its terrain. It offers very little scope for farming. Nearly half the food needs to be imported. Mountain slopes provide pasture for beef and dairy cattle. Crops include sugar beets, vegetables, grains, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, fruits and wine. Forests though provide plenty of wood.
From the earliest times, little Switzerland has been famous for its cottage industries-high quality products though of no large-scale production. The availability of electric power in every cottage has fostered growth of all kinds of small industries throughout Switzerland.
Little Switzerland though it sounds small has always held as a hub of many activities like adventure sports, banking, and quarters of international agencies.
