87 Neutral Facts About the Land of Chocolates – Switzerland

In Switzerland, plants have rights.

77. An Australian family owns 45000 square kilometers of land, more than Switzerland.

78. The voice of Gollum from the animated Lord of the Rings films paid his way out of Dachau, was deported from Switzerland for chess hustling, escaped to the U.S. with the help of Albert Einstein and was Stanford's version of Will Hunting before deciding to become an actor.

79. Only the Swiss Army Knife corkscrew tool is not made in Switzerland but in Japan. All other parts are pure Swiss made.

80. In Switzerland, underground hangars or "aircraft caverns" are carved out of the Alps mountains to store military aircraft.

Reformer John Calvin was a strong believer in austerity and sacrifice. He imposed laws that limit the consumption of luxuries in Switzerland. Geneva's jewelers are forced to learn another craft: watchmaking. The ban has brought much wealth to Switzerland the ironic result of Calvinist austerity.

82. Sweden and Switzerland are the third and fifth biggest arms suppliers per capita in the world.

83. Switzerland has a Santa helper called Schmutzli who beats children with a broom.

84. In 1971, NASA took 500 seeds on a mission that orbited the moon. These "moon trees" were germinated and later planted in Brazil, Switzerland, the White House and presented to Emperor Hirohito, among others.

85. There was a war in Switzerland fought out with wooden clubs because Napoleon took away their weapons.

Once a year, thousands of residents in Appenzell, Switzerland assemble in the open air to vote on new laws by raising their hands. Until 1991, only men could vote using their family swords.

87. Switzerland did not join the UN until 2002.