Geneva is a city situated in the westernmost corner of Switzerland, spread over an area of approximately 109 sq miles (282 sq km). It sprawls on the banks of Lake Geneva and forms an enclosed land, surrounded by France. The city lies to the south of the Department of the Ain and to the north of the Department of the Haute-Savoie. Geneva stands bordered by the Jura Mountains in the west and the French Alps in the east. It serves as the European headquarters of many international organizations and is also the place where the Geneva Conventions were signed. The natural beauty of the country, combined with its architectural and historical legacy, attracts large number of tourists every year. Read on to explore more about Geneva.
Fun & Interesting Facts about Geneva
- Geneva is located in the westernmost corner of Switzerland, on the banks of Lake Geneva.
- Geneva is the capital of the ‘Republic and Canton of Geneva’. At the same time, it is a neutral territory.
- Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland, next to Zurich.
- Geneva is the most international city in Europe, with over 40 percent of its residents coming from outside Switzerland.
- Geneva is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland).
- Lake Geneva claims the distinction of being the largest lake in Europe.
- Geneva has the shortest commuting time of any major city in the world.
- Dog droppings are listed as the top complaint of citizens in Geneva, annually.
- The World Wide Web was invented and developed in Geneva, at the CERN laboratories.
- Geneva applied to join the Swiss Confederation and becomes a Swiss canton, in the year 1814.
- Geneva became home European Headquarters of the United Nations, in 1946.
- The European Headquarters of The International Red Cross and the World Health Organization are in Geneva.
- School education is compulsory in Geneva, right from six to fifteen years of age.
