Geography of Switzerland - Land Use

Land Use

Land use
Main areas Surface
(in %)
Land use Surface
(in ha)
Surfaces of housing and infrastructure
6.8
Building areas 137,564
Industrial areas 20,233
Special infrastructure areas 16,111
Green spaces and recreation areas 15,860
Transportation areas 89,329
Agricultural land
36.9
Orchards, vineyards, horticulture 60,956
Arable land, local pastures 926,378
Alpine pastures 537,802
Forests
30.8
Forest 1,102,160
Scrub forests 60,514
Other woodlands 108,978
Unproductive areas
25.5
Lakes 142,234
Rivers 31,724
Unproductive vegetation 263,051
Unvegetated surfaces 615,597

The Swiss territory is divided into four major types of land use. As of 2001, 36.9% of the land in Switzerland was used for farming. 30.8% of the country is covered with forests and woodlands, with an additional 6.8% covered with houses or buildings. About one-fourth (25.5%) of the country is either mountains, lakes or rivers and is categorised as unproductive.

Read more about this topic:  Geography Of Switzerland

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