Review article
https://doi.org/10.21861/HGG.2013.75.01.01
The Swiss Jura. Reflections on Marginality
Walter Leimgruber
; University of Fribourg, Department of Geosciences, Geography
Abstract
The Swiss Jura is part of a larger region, the Jura, which stretches from Geneva to Germany, partly as a series of folds, partly as tablelands. The mountains were formed during the late phase of the Alpine folding during the Tertiary and are composed of Mesozoic rocks, mainly limestone and clay. The changing strata give way to a particular landscape, and the presence of limestone makes it a vast karst area with subsequent problems of livelihood. The Swiss Jura, lying close to the Alps, was strongly marked by the folding, and it rises abruptly from the low-lying plateau to its southeast. The longitudinal folds are interrupted by transversal valleys that allow for transportation routes to penetrate and cross them, but access remains difficult and costly, hence the region has suffered from a certain degree of isolation. However, the economy has found ways out of this thanks to the watch industry since the 17th century, and more recently high-precision machine tools and micro technology. While the watch industry was subject to ups and downs in the past, the other sectors were more resistant, although the remoteness of the region does not invite investors and rather promotes outmigration. The paper describes the particular situation of the Swiss Jura and seeks to understand its particular situation. It dwells on the role and potential of the three economic sectors, differentiating between the various natural regions and their position within the Swiss settlement system.
Keywords
Jura; karst; watch industry; tourism; Switzerland
Hrčak ID:
105885
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2013.
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