:''This article is about the Alps in Europe. For other mountain ranges see
Alps (disambiguation).''
The
Alps is the collective name for one of the great
mountain range systems of
Europe, stretching from
Austria and
Slovenia in the east, through
Italy,
Switzerland,
Liechtenstein and
Germany to
France in the west. The word Alps means mountains. The highest mountain in the Alps is
Mont Blanc at 4810 meters on the French-Italian border.
The West face of the Petit Dru above the [[Chamonix valley near the
Mer de Glace]]
Ranges, Peaks and Passes of the Alps
The European Alps from space in May 2002.
Click on the picture for a large annotated version
The Alps are generally divided into Western Alps and Eastern Alps. The division is along the line between
Lake Constance along the
Rhine to
Lake Como. The Western Alps are located in
Italy,
France and
Switzerland, the Eastern Alps in
Austria,
Germany,
Italy,
Liechtenstein,
Slovenia and
Switzerland. The highest peak of the Western Alps is Mont Blanc, 4810 m. The highest peak in the Eastern Alps is
Piz Bernina, 4052 m.
The Eastern Alps are commonly subdivided according to the different geological composition of the more central parts of the Alps and the groups at its northern and southern fringes:
Northern Limestone Alps,
Central Eastern Alps and
Southern Limestone Alps. The border between the Central Eastern Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps is the so-called Periadriatic Seam. The Northern Limestone Alps are separated from the Central Eastern Alps by the Grauwacken Zone.
A further subdivision can be made:
Series of lower mountain ranges run parallel to the main chains of the Alps, including the
French Prealps.
The main peaks of the Alps can be found at
List of mountains of the Alps. See the articles of the alpine subdivisions for detailed lists of peaks and passes.
Flora
Many writers take the growth of
grain as the characteristic of the mountain region; but so many varieties of all the common species are in cultivation, and these have such different climatal requirements, that they do not afford a factory criterion.
A more natural limit is afforded by the presence of the chief
deciduous trees --
oak,
beech,
ash and
sycamore maple. These do not reach exactly to the same elevation, nor are they often found growing together; but their upper limit corresponds accurately enough to the change from a temperate to a colder climate that is further proved by a change in the wild
herbaceous vegetation. This limit usually lies about 1200 m above the sea on the north side of the
Alps, but on the southern slopes it often rises to 1500 m, sometimes even to 1700 m.
It must not be supposed that this region is always marked by the presence of the characteristic trees. The interference of man has in many districts almost extirpated them, and, excepting the beech forests of the
Austrian Alps, a considerable wood of deciduous trees is scarcely anywhere to be found. In many districts where such woods once existed, their place has been occupied by the
Scots pine and
Norway spruce, which suffer less from the ravages of goats, the worst enemies of tree vegetation. The mean annual temperature of this region differs little from that of the
British Islands; but the climatal conditions are widely different. Here snow usually lies for several months, till it gives place to a spring and summer considerably warmer than the average of British seasons.
See also
External links
- 3914.ch Live view from the swiss alps
Category:Alps
Category:European mountains
Category:Geography of Switzerland
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