ABSTRACT
The spatial organization of Switzerland is characterized by two major features: its relatively small area for potential economic use and its regional disparities. Both of these issues are major preoccupations of the authorities. Various physical, demographic and economic factors limit the availability of land for economic use. Switzerland’s accidented relief considerably reduces the proportion of the national land surface (41,300 km2) that may be used for farming, industry, transport and settlement. Over a quarter of the country is either unusable or no longer usable for day-to-day activities by the Swiss population. This includes 20 per cent occupied by glaciers, rock outcrops and lakes plus a further 9 per cent covered by buildings. Tourism and H.E.P. production are virtually the only activities that make profitable use of Switzerland’s mountains. Further use of existing built-up areas presupposes raising the densities in residential zones.
