Alpok

Alpok, known in English as the Alps, is a major mountain range system in Europe. It extends in a crescent about 1,200 kilometers from France and Monaco in the west to Slovenia in the east and crosses eight countries: France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. The range contains many peaks above 4,000 meters and encompasses numerous valleys, lakes, and glaciers.

Geology and geography: The Alps were formed by the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates during the Alpine orogeny, beginning in the late Mesozoic era and continuing into the Cenozoic. The range comprises a variety of rock types, including limestone, dolomite, and metamorphic rocks. The highest summit is Mont Blanc at 4,807 meters, followed by Dufourspitze (4,634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif and the Matterhorn (4,478 m). The Alps host extensive glaciation and diverse ecosystems, though glaciers have retreated in recent decades.

Human activity and culture: The Alps are a major destination for tourism, winter sports, and outdoor recreation. They are crossed by important transport routes and tunnels, such as the Mont Blanc Tunnel and Gotthard and Brenner routes. Surrounding regions feature communities with languages and traditions from French, Italian, German, and Slavic-speaking areas. The Alps also support hydroelectric power generation and alpine agriculture.

Conservation and heritage: Climate change and natural hazards pose challenges to the region. Protected areas include national parks in several countries. Parts of the Alps are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Dolomites and multiple components of the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.