Introduction!!

The Alpine mountain range is an extensive mountain system in Europe that crosses over 11 countries. It is world-renowned for its magnificent, snowy peaks, and truly elevates life in these Alpine countries even higher. Switzerland is a small, land-locked Alpine country. In Irina Davidovici’s book Icons of Compensation, she writes that “Switzerland’s national and international identity has inextricably…been linked to its mountainous topography” (Davidovici). Indeed, Switzerland is one of the only two countries “considered true Alpine countries”, with how closely linked it is to the mountains (Poulsen). Everything, from the iconic railway tracks, to the foods, to the way the rest of the world sees the country, are all somehow a byproduct of the mountains. So, what are the economic and cultural impacts of the Alps on Switzerland?