SWITZERLAND. 



721 



PiedKnont, where it terminates, there are 4 forests of pine, upwards of 30 cascades, several gla- 

 ciers, 22 bridges, and 6 covered galleries, or tunnels, excavated through the solid rock. The 

 road is 24 feet in width, bounded by strong railings of larch, or parapets of granite, with small 

 buildings erected at short distances, for the shelter of travelers. In many other places, roads 

 have been formed along the edges of precipices, bridges thrown over frightful chasms, and tun- 

 nels cut through rocks ; and the mighty obstacles interposed by nature have been removed by 

 the skill and boldness of art. 



POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Divisions. The Swiss confederacy consists of 22 cantons, which are subdivided into 

 various political divisions. The following table contains a list of the cantons, ranged in order 

 of size 



Cantons. Population. Capitals. Population. 



Grisons 88,000 Coire .... . 3,000 



Berne 350,000 Berne .... . 18,000 



Wallis, or Valais .... 70,000 Sion, or Sitten 3,000 



Waadtland, or Vaud . . . 170,000 Lausanne 10,000 



Tessin 102,000 Lugano 4,0U0 



St. Gall 144,000 St. Gall 9,000 



Zurich 218,000 Zurich 11,000 



Lucerne 116,000 Lucerne 6,000 



Aargau 150,000 Aarau 3,000 



Friburg • 84,000 Friburg 7,000 



Uri 13,000 Altorf 2,000 



Schweitz 32,000 Schweitz 5,000 



Claris 28,000 Glaris .... . . 4,000 



Neufchatel, or Neuenburg . . 51,500 Neufchatel 5,000 



Thurgau 81,000 Frauenfeld 2,000 



Underwald 24,000 Sarnen 2,000 



Soleure, or Solothurn . . . 53,000 Soleure 4,000 



Bille 54,000 Bale 16,000 



Appenzell 55,000 Appenzell 3,000 



Schaffhausen . . . " . 30,000 SchafFhausen 6,000 



Geneva 62,500 Geneva 26,000 



Zug 14,500 Zug 3,000 



The largest cantons have an area of from 2,000 to 2,500 square miles ; the smallest, of 

 from 100 to 125. 



2. Canals. There are several canals in Switzerland, but none of great extent. The Ca- 

 nal of Linth, 15 miles in length, connects the Linth, by a navigable channel, with lakes Wal- 

 lenstadt and Zurich. It has been proposed to unite the waters of Lake Neufchatel with those 

 of the Lake of Geneva by a canal. 



3. Toicns. Zurich, Berne, and Lucerne become alternately, each for the space of two 

 years, the capital of the confederation. Zurich has this privilege in 1839 and 1840 ; Berne, 

 in 1841 and 1842 ; and Lucerne, in 1843 and 1844. 



Geneva is the most populous and flourishing city of Switzerland. It stands at the head of 

 the lake of the same name, just where its waters are discharged into the Rhone. Its environs, 

 filled with elegant villas, are remarkable for the beauty and magnificence of their scenery. Ge- 

 neva is enriched by the industry of its inhabitants, who are also favorably distinguished for the 

 interest they take in letters. This spirit pervades the laboring classes, and has acquired for 

 Geneva the title of the Swiss Athens. Watchmaking is the most important branch of industry, 

 occupying 3,000 persons, who make annually 70,000 watches. Other articles of gold and sil- 

 ver, and scientific and mechanical instruments, silks, cotton goods, porcelain, &c., are also pro- 

 duced here. The commerce is likewise extensive, and the learned institutions numerous. 

 Population, 26,000. 



Berne is a handsome city, delightfully situated upon the Aar ; its trade and manufactures are 

 flourishing, and it contains a university, and various seminaries and scientific establishments. Its 

 population is 18,000. In the vicinity is Hofwyl, containing the celebrated farm-school of the 

 philanthropic Fellenberg. Fourteen miles west from Berne, is Moral., where, in 1476, the 

 freemen of Switzerland vindicated their liberty by a decisive victory over the invading hosts of 

 Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy. An obelisk has been erected here to commemorate the 

 event. 



Bale or Basel is the largest city of Switzerland, but its population, amounting only to 16,000, 



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