Switzerland

Switzerland’s long history of democratic rule and commitment to peace began with the country’s formation in 1291. Known as a neutral country since 1648, Switzerland is home today to many international diplomatic and human rights organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, founded by Swiss Nobel Peace Prize winner Henry Dunant in 1863. To learn more about Switzerland’s history and contributions to the world, explore the direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint

Level 1

Switzerland for Kids: Switzerland produces not only cheese, chocolate, knives and watches but also has major chemical and textile industries. Learn other interesting facts about this country and discover what a typical day is like in the lives of two Swiss students.

https://www.swissemb.org/kids/

COCO Switzerland!: Switzerland has developed a strong economy despite having only one major natural resource: water, which it has in abundance with more than 1,500 lakes and 42,000 streams and rivers. Discover unique features about this small country by reading about its government, social structure, culture and physical geography.

https://www.switzerlandinfo.ch/

World Sites Atlas: Whether you’re interested in the Matterhorn or Chillon Castle, view photos and read interesting facts about 45 locations in Switzerland.

https://www.sitesatlas.com/Europe/Switzerland/swimain.htm

Level 2

General Info: Switzerland is known not only for yodeling--a unique type of wordless singing characterized by abrupt shifts in pitch--but also for such artists as architect Le Corbusier and painter Paul Klee. This site provides a quick overview of Switzerland’s history, geography and culture.

https://expedia.msn.com/wg/Europe/Switzerland/P2692.asp

Information About Switzerland: The country is divided into 26 states called kantone (sometimes spelled canton). Get acquainted with the history, geography, government and culture of this country.

https://www.about.ch/

The Alphorn in Switzerland: The alphorn is a traditional Swiss musical instrument consisting of a very long wooden tube; it was originally used for signaling across long distances. Hear what an alphorn sounds like, learn about its history and construction, and find out what it takes to produce music from a 10-foot-long instrument.

https://www.dataway.ch/~csch/

Level 3

SwissInfo: Keep up to date on current events in Switzerland through this online newsmagazine. Hear audio clips on topics ranging from Swiss tales of World War II to reports of cultural festivals.

https://www.swissinfo.org/eng/

Encarta: Switzerland: The Alps and the Jura mountain ranges account for more than 70% of Switzerland, with the remaining area made up of hilly plateaus. Learn how Switzerland’s geography has affected its industries and read about its people, history and government.

https://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg;=2&ti;=04F77000

Swiss Culture: Gain insights into Switzerland’s diversity by learning how its languages and cultures have coexisted for centuries. Read about key figures in Swiss arts: literature, music, theater, architecture, cinema and photography.

https://www.swissemb.org/culture/html/culture.html

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

What are the four official languages of Switzerland?

CLUE: See COCO Switzerland!

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point now covers more than 100 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: In one second, light can travel around the Earth seven times.

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Susan Shu, Julissa Colantoni, Macy Luk and Anna Manring.