Prealpine

The prealpine is a geographical term describing the foothill region immediately before the main range of the Alps, used especially in Central European contexts. It denotes low mountain terrain that lies in the transition between the Alpine crest and the surrounding plains.

The Prealps lie to the north and south of the main Alpine chain, forming an irregular belt that includes rolling hills, gentle to moderate peaks, valleys, and numerous passes. Elevations are typically lower than the high Alps, commonly in the range of about 1,000 to 2,000 meters. Geologically, the Prealps are part of the broader Alpine orogeny and consist of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks that were uplifted and eroded as the Alps formed.

The climate is transitional, with more continental influences than the high Alps. Forest cover tends to be mixed beech, fir, and spruce in lower elevations, giving way to alpine meadows at higher zones. The landscape supports agriculture, forestry, tourism, and small settlements.

The Prealps are important for hydrology, providing headwaters for rivers that flow into the plains, and for biodiversity as transitional habitats. In cultural terms, they host historical routes, passes, and communities shaped by proximity to the Alps. The term is primarily used in European geography and may appear in regional planning, geology, and tourism literature.