Editing Geography of Switzerland (section)

===Alps===
{{Main|Swiss Alps}}
{{See also|Geography of the Alps}}
[[File:Finsteraarhorn and surrounding mounts.jpg|thumb|Culminating at the [[Finsteraarhorn]], the great northern range constitutes an important climatic barrier]]

The Swiss Alps form part of a chain of mountains that stretch across southern Europe and isolate Northern Europe from the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Several important passes through the Alps are located in Switzerland, and control of the passes has been important throughout Switzerland's history. The Alps have an average altitude of {{convert|1700|m|ft}}<ref name="Swiss World Geography">{{Cite web |url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/the_three_regions/the_alps/ |title=The Alps - Switzerland - Information |access-date=2007-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016001204/http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/the_three_regions/the_alps/ |archive-date=2008-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and cover nearly two thirds of the total surface area. Within the Alps there are 48 mountains that are {{convert|4000|m|ft}} or higher.

The Alps are the watershed of Western Europe. The Rhine, together with its tributaries the Aare and the Thur drain about two thirds of the water into the [[North Sea]]. The [[Rhône]] and the [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]] drain about 18% of the water into the Mediterranean Sea. The [[Inn (river)|Inn]] which flows into the [[Danube]] outside of Switzerland drains about 4.4% of the water into the [[Black Sea]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.about.ch/geography/index.html#CH_Geo_Rivers| title = Geography of Switzerland}}</ref> The Swiss Alps also contain many of Central Europe's [[glacier]]s. There are about 1,800 glaciers<ref name="Swiss World Geography"/> which cover {{convert|1200|km2|sqmi}} of the total glaciated area of the Alps.<!--This Reference states over 3000km2--> <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.about.ch/geography/index.html#CH_Geo_Glaciers| title = Geography of Switzerland}}</ref>

[[File:Grindelwald.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bernese Alps]] in [[Grindelwald]]]]
The Alps are a popular tourist destination and are one of the most recognizable symbols of Switzerland. The tallest point in Switzerland, [[Monte Rosa]] ({{convert|4634|m|ft}}) in [[canton of Valais]], is located in the Alps as is tallest mountain wholly in Switzerland, the [[Dom (Mischabel)|Dom]] ({{convert|4545|m|ft}}). One of the most recognizable symbols of Switzerland, the [[Matterhorn]], is also located in the Alps. The Matterhorn ({{convert|4478|m|ft}}) is the seventh highest peak in the Swiss Alps and is the most photographed mountain in Switzerland. The tallest mountain in the northern outlier<ref name="EB"/> or [[Bernese Alps]] is the [[Finsteraarhorn]] ({{convert|4274|m|ft}}).

Switzerland encompasses a significant portion of the south side of the Alps. Most of it is constituted by the canton of Ticino, almost reaching the plains of the Po and including Switzerland's lowest point on Lake Maggiore ({{convert|193|m|ft}}).<ref name="EB"/> The [[canton of Graubünden]] is also partially located on the south side of the Alps with the four valleys of [[Misox]], [[Val Bregaglia|Bregaglia]], [[Val Poschiavo|Poschiavo]] and [[Val Müstair|Müstair]]. Finally, the [[canton of Valais]] comprises the upper [[Diveria]] valley, located south of the [[Simplon Pass]].