Alpenregion

The Alpenregion, or Alpine region, designates the area around the Alps. It spans parts of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The Alps stretch about 1,200 km from the Mediterranean to the eastern Alpine forelands, comprising major peaks, valleys, and passes.

Geography and environment: Highest peaks include Mont Blanc (4,808 m) and the Dufourspitze (4,634 m). Terrain includes glaciers, conifer forests, and alpine meadows. The climate is alpine; subject to climate change with glacial retreat. Protected areas and biodiversity efforts help preserve habitats.

People and economy: The region hosts multilingual communities, with German-, French-, Italian-, Slovene-, and Romansh-speaking populations. Tourism dominates the economy (skiing, hiking), complemented by alpine agriculture (dairy, cheese), forestry, and hydropower. Major transport routes include the Brenner Pass, Gotthard, Mont Blanc, and Simplon.

Governance and culture: There is no single political authority for the entire Alpenregion; cross-border cooperation exists, notably through the Alpine Convention (1991) involving Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the EU. The region preserves a rich cultural heritage across its towns and mountain communities.