alpes

The Alps are Europe's most prominent mountain range, spanning roughly 1,200 kilometers across central Europe and forming a natural barrier between northern and southern Europe. They cross or border France, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and in some definitions Monaco. The highest peak is Mont Blanc, at 4,809 meters, on the France–Italy border.

The range was formed during the Alpine orogeny, as the African plate collided with Eurasia in the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic era, with ongoing uplift and erosion shaping its peaks and valleys. The Alps are conventionally divided into Western, Central, and Eastern sections, containing numerous subranges such as the Dauphiné, Bernese, Pennine, and Tyrolean Alps. The lithology includes sedimentary, metamorphic, and granitic rocks, and extensive glaciation has carved many valleys and cirques.

The Alps experience an alpine climate at higher elevations, with permanent snowfields and glaciers in many areas. They are a major source of Europe’s freshwater, feeding rivers such as the Rhine, Rhône, Po, Adige, and Danube.

Ecologically, the altitude gradient supports diverse flora and fauna, including edelweiss, pines, ibex, chamois, and marmots. Several areas are protected as national parks and reserves; UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Jungfrau-Aletsch region in Switzerland and the Dolomites in Italy.

Humans have inhabited the Alps for millennia, and the region is important for tourism, winter sports, agriculture, and hydroelectric power. Transportation features historic passes and modern tunnels and rail links, such as the Gotthard, Brenner, and Mont Blanc tunnels, reflecting the Alps’ role as a crossroads of Europe.