Editing Liechtenstein (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Liechtenstein}}
[[File:Liechtenstein topographic map-de.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Topgraphic map of Liechtenstein in German]]
[[File:Rhein bei Balzers - Blick auf Gonzen.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Rhine]]: border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland (view towards the [[Swiss Alps]])]]
Liechtenstein is situated in the Upper [[Rhine]] valley of the European [[Alps]] and is bordered to the east by the Austrian state of [[Vorarlberg]], to the south by the [[canton of Grisons]] (Switzerland) and to the west by the [[canton of St. Gallen]] (Switzerland). The Rhine forms the entire western border of Liechtenstein. Measured south to north the country is about {{convert|24|km|0|abbr=on}} long. In 1943, an [[Liechtenstein inland canal|inland canal]] was built in the country connecting to the Rhine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gewässer – Revitalisierungsprojekte in Liechtenstein, Liechtensteiner Binnenkanal (LBK) |url=https://archiv.llv.li/files/au/pdf-llv-au-flyer_lbk_gesamt.pdf |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein |language=de}}</ref>

Its highest point, [[Grauspitz]], is {{convert|2599|m|0|abbr=on}}. Despite its Alpine location, prevailing southerly winds make the climate comparatively mild. In winter, the mountain slopes are well suited to winter sports. New [[surveying|surveys]] using more accurate measurements of the country's borders in 2006 have set its area at {{convert|160|km2|0|abbr=on}}, with borders of {{convert|77.9|km|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16381664 "Tiny Liechtenstein gets a little bigger"], 29 December 2006.</ref> Liechtenstein's borders are {{convert|1.9|km|1|abbr=on}} longer than previously thought.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6215825.stm "Liechtenstein redraws Europe map"]. ''BBC News''. 28 December 2006.</ref>

Liechtenstein is one of the world's two [[doubly landlocked country|doubly landlocked countries]]<ref name="LiechCIA">{{Cite web |title=Liechtenstein |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/liechtenstein/ |access-date=3 August 2017 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> – countries wholly surrounded by other landlocked countries (the other is [[Uzbekistan]]). Liechtenstein is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area|sixth-smallest]] sovereign state in the world by area.

The principality of Liechtenstein is [[Municipalities of Liechtenstein|divided into 11 communes]] called {{lang|de|Gemeinden}} (singular {{lang|de|Gemeinde}}). The {{lang|de|Gemeinden}} mostly consist of only a single town or village. Five of them ([[Eschen]], [[Gamprin]], [[Mauren]], [[Ruggell]], and [[Schellenberg]]) fall within the electoral district ''[[Unterland (electoral district)|Unterland]]'' (the lower county), and the remainder ([[Balzers]], [[Planken]], [[Schaan]], [[Triesen]], [[Triesenberg]], and [[Vaduz]]) within ''[[Oberland (electoral district)|Oberland]]'' (the upper county).

The World Bank did not include Liechtenstein on its list of 50 "[[small states]]" by its inclusion criteria.<ref>[https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/922761504726183951-0290022020/original/CountrylinksofSmallStates.pdf World Bank - Small States List]</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Schweize Gebirge im Hintergrund - panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Panorama of [[Vaduz]], capital of Liechtenstein]]

Despite its [[Alpine climate|alpine]] location, the prevailing southerly winds temper Liechtenstein's climate. Its climate is continental, with cloudy and cold winters, with frequent rain and snowfall. Summers are cool to slightly warm, cloudy, and humid.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The country's climate is relatively mild despite its mountainous location. It is strongly influenced by the action of [[foehn]] (warm and dry autumn wind), so the vegetation period is prolonged in spring and autumn and temperatures around {{convert|15|°C}} due to the strong foehn are not uncommon even in winter. The mountain ranges of [[Switzerland]] and the Vorarlberg upstream protect from the cold polar and Atlantic air, creating a typical alpine inland protective layer. The principality has orchards with leafy meadows and a long tradition of [[viticulture]]. Liechtenstein's small land area hardly plays a role in climatic differences, but the vertical division into different altitudes is of great importance, so that significant climatic differences arise.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In [[winter]] the temperature rarely drops below {{convert|-15|°C}}, while in summer the average temperatures range between {{convert|20|and|28|°C}}. Annual precipitation measurements amount to an average of about {{convert|900|to|1200|mm}}, in the direct alpine region, however, [[precipitation]] is often up to {{cvt|1900|mm}}. The average duration of sunshine is about 1600 hours per year.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|collapsed = Yes
|location = Vaduz (1991–2020)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
| Jan high C = 5.0
| Feb high C = 6.8
| Mar high C = 11.8
| Apr high C = 16.0
| May high C = 20.1
| Jun high C = 23.2
| Jul high C = 24.9
| Aug high C = 24.3
| Sep high C = 20.0
| Oct high C = 15.7
| Nov high C = 9.5
| Dec high C = 5.5
| year high C = 15.2
| Jan mean C = 1.4
| Feb mean C = 2.7
| Mar mean C = 6.8
| Apr mean C = 10.7
| May mean C = 14.7
| Jun mean C = 17.9
| Jul mean C = 19.4
| Aug mean C = 19.1
| Sep mean C = 15.0
| Oct mean C = 11.1
| Nov mean C = 5.7
| Dec mean C = 2.2
| year mean C = 10.6
| Jan low C = -2.0
| Feb low C = -1.1
| Mar low C = 2.3
| Apr low C = 5.6
| May low C = 9.7
| Jun low C = 13.0
| Jul low C = 14.6
| Aug low C = 14.6
| Sep low C = 10.8
| Oct low C = 6.9
| Nov low C = 2.2
| Dec low C = -1.1
| year low C = 6.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 41
| Feb precipitation mm = 34
| Mar precipitation mm = 54
| Apr precipitation mm = 57
| May precipitation mm = 90
| Jun precipitation mm = 116
| Jul precipitation mm = 130
| Aug precipitation mm = 144
| Sep precipitation mm = 96
| Oct precipitation mm = 68
| Nov precipitation mm = 56
| Dec precipitation mm = 54
| year precipitation mm = 940
| Jan snow cm = 14.2
| Feb snow cm = 14.4
| Mar snow cm = 6.4
| Apr snow cm = 0.4
| May snow cm = 0.0
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 0.0
| Nov snow cm = 4.7
| Dec snow cm = 11.9
| year snow cm = 52.0
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.4
| Feb precipitation days = 6.6
| Mar precipitation days = 9.0
| Apr precipitation days = 8.9
| May precipitation days = 11.8
| Jun precipitation days = 12.9
| Jul precipitation days = 13.2
| Aug precipitation days = 13.3
| Sep precipitation days = 10.1
| Oct precipitation days = 8.7
| Nov precipitation days = 8.7
| Dec precipitation days = 8.7
| year precipitation days = 119.3
| unit snow days = 1.0 cm
| Jan snow days = 3.9
| Feb snow days = 3.9
| Mar snow days = 2.1
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.4
| Dec snow days = 3.3
| year snow days = 14.8
| Jan humidity = 75
| Feb humidity = 69
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 63
| May humidity = 67
| Jun humidity = 70
| Jul humidity = 71
| Aug humidity = 74
| Sep humidity = 76
| Oct humidity = 76
| Nov humidity = 77
| Dec humidity = 77
| year humidity = 72
| Jan sun = 72
| Feb sun = 92
| Mar sun = 131
| Apr sun = 156
| May sun = 168
| Jun sun = 181
| Jul sun = 197
| Aug sun = 183
| Sep sun = 147
| Oct sun = 114
| Nov sun = 67
| Dec sun = 53
| year sun = 1563
| Jan percentsun = 40
| Feb percentsun = 44
| Mar percentsun = 47
| Apr percentsun = 49
| May percentsun = 46
| Jun percentsun = 48
| Jul percentsun = 52
| Aug percentsun = 54
| Sep percentsun = 52
| Oct percentsun = 48
| Nov percentsun = 36
| Dec percentsun = 34
| year percentsun = 47
|source 1 = [[MeteoSwiss]] (snow 1981–2010)<ref name=MeteoSwiss>{{cite web 
| url = https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/VAD/climsheet_VAD_np9120_e.pdf 
| title = Climate Normals Vaduz (Reference period 1991−2020) 
| publisher = Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss 
| date = 13 January 2022 
| access-date = 13 January 2022 
| archive-date = 18 August 2022 
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220818231342/https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/VAD/climsheet_VAD_np9120_e.pdf 
| url-status = dead 
}}</ref><ref name=MeteoSwiss1981>{{cite web 
| url = https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/VAD/climsheet_VAD_np8110_e.pdf 
| title = Climate Normals Vaduz (Reference period 1981−2010) 
| publisher = Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss 
| date = 13 January 2022 
| access-date = 13 January 2022 
| archive-date = 25 July 2022 
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220725001826/https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/VAD/climsheet_VAD_np8110_e.pdf 
| url-status = dead 
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

=== Rivers and lakes ===
The [[Rhine]] is the longest and largest [[body of water]] in Liechtenstein. With a length of approximately {{convert|27|km}}, it represents the [[natural border]] with [[Switzerland]] and is of great importance for Liechtenstein's water supply. Furthermore, the Rhine is an important recreational area for the population. 

At {{convert|10|km|0}}, the [[Samina (river)|Samina]] is the second-longest river in the Principality. This [[whitewater]] river begins at [[Triesenberg]] and flows into the [[Ill (Vorarlberg)|Ill]] in Austria (near [[Feldkirch, Vorarlberg|Feldkirch]]).

The only naturally-formed lake in Liechtenstein is the [[Gampriner Seele]]in, which was not formed until 1927 by a [[flooding]] of the Rhine with enormous erosion. In addition, there are other artificially-created [[lakes]], which are mainly used to generate [[electricity]]. One of them is the Steg Reservoir, the largest lake in Liechtenstein.

=== Mountains ===
About half of Liechtenstein's territory is mountainous.<ref name="Geologie Gebirge">{{Cite web |title=Geologie, Gebirge, Berge, Gipfel, Alpen – Fürstentum Liechtenstein |url=http://www.liechtenstein.li/land-und-leute/geografie/geologie-und-gebirge/ |access-date=18 February 2021 |website=www.liechtenstein.li |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125002447/https://www.liechtenstein.li/land-und-leute/geografie/geologie-und-gebirge/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Liechtenstein lies entirely in the [[Rätikon|Rhaetikon]] and is thus – depending on the classification of the Alps – assigned either to the [[Eastern Alps]] (two-part division of the Alps) or to the Central Alps (three-part division of the Alps).

The highest point of Liechtenstein is the Vordere Grauspitz (Vordergrauspitz) with an altitude of {{cvt|2599|m}} above sea level, while the lowest point is the [[Ruggeller Riet]] with an altitude of {{convert|430|m}} above sea level.

In total, there are 32 mountains in Liechtenstein with an altitude of at least {{convert|2000|m}}. The Falknishorn, at {{convert|2452|m}} above sea level, is the fifth highest mountain in Liechtenstein and represents the southernmost point of the country. The Liechtenstein-Graubünden-Vorarlberg border triangle is the [[Naafkopf]] ({{cvt|2570|m}} above sea level).<ref name="Geologie Gebirge" />

In addition to the peaks of the Alpine chain,<ref>Der westliche Rätikon wird nur aus orographisch-systematischen Gründen zu den zentralen Ostalpen gerechnet, weil er südlich der Ill–Arlberg-Furche liegt.</ref> which belong to the Limestone Alps, two [[inselberg]]s, Fläscherberg ({{cvt|1135|m|disp=or}} [[above sea level]]) in the south and [[Eschnerberg]] ({{cvt|698|m|disp=or}}) in the north, rise from the Rhine Valley and belong to the Helvetic cover or [[flysch]] zone of the Alps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://giftbot.toolforge.org/deref.fcgi?url=http://alpen-info.at/html/liechtenstein.html|title=Stabsstelle für Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit: Fürstentum Liechtenstein → Geologie}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Eschnerberg represents an important settlement area in the Liechtenstein [[Unterland (electoral district)|Unterland]].