year. This breaks down to a per capita freshwater withdrawal of per year. Of that water (), 24% is used in households, 74% in industry and only 2% is used for agriculture. In Switzerland, there are officially 38,000 polluted sites, 4,000 of which represent a real threat to groundwater. Biodiversity Switzerland is facing a loss of biodiversity. While the country is quite small, the wide range of climates allow a variety of organisms to flourish. There are about 50,000 animal and plant species living in Switzerland. While most species that live on north and south foothills of the Alps are generally doing well, the Swiss Plateau is seeing a decrease in many species. The pressure from city and agricultural growth is reducing or eliminating the habitat of many species that once flourished along the plateau. There are about 60 species that are considered endangered that live in Switzerland. To help offset this, 28.6% of the country is set aside as a protected natural area. In 2001, the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN launched a nationwide programme to systematically monitor biodiversity (Biodiversity Monitoring Switzerland). International agreements Party to: Air Pollution Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Antarctic Treaty Biodiversity Climate Change Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Marine Dumping Marine Life Conservation Nuclear Test Ban Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Tropical Timber 83 Tropical Timber 94 Wetlands Whaling Signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Law of the Sea Area and boundaries The borders of Switzerland were established by the original formation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798, the accession thereto of Valais and Grisons, and the incorporation of various remaining feudal territories such as the County of Neuchâtel, Prince-Bishopric of Basel, Abbey of St. Gall, etc. The cantons largely had their current borders since 1815 (at accession of Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva), except for the notable change when Jura seceded from Berne in 1979. The total length of the border is 1,899 km, enclosing an area of ( land: , water: ). The border of Switzerland has six tripoints, of which two are located in rivers, one undefined location in the Lake of Constance, and the three other in high mountains. Elevation extremes Lowest point: Lake Maggiore: Highest point: Monte Rosa: Deepest point: in Lake Maggiore: Western or Central Europe No subdivision of Europe is