The Swiss Alps with some of the highest mountains in Europe, who's tops are on occasion covered in local glaciers and with lakes in many of there valleys. The Alps spread in to neighboring Liechtenstein, France's Savoy Region, the far south of Germany, the Austrian Tirol and the upper reaches of northern Italy. A Chinook Wind like weather phenomenon known as the föhn can occur at any time of the year and is characterised by an unexpectedly warm wind, with rain falling in in the south of the country and dry winds in the mountain and central plateau.