The Alps are a famous mountain range in Western Europe, stretching approximately 500 miles long and 100 miles wide. They offer winter sports and vacation spots, and have a rich history dating back to the Oligocene and Miocene. The highest peak is Mont Blanc, and the Alps are home to unique plant and animal species.
The Alps are a system of mountains that wrap around the top of Italy and descend into the Baltic peninsula. These mountains are famous in the West, as they lend their name to a number of English terms including ‘alpine’. Visitors to the Alps enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and other winter sports on these famous slopes, and the Alps have been used as the backdrop in countless films, photographs and paintings, placing them among the most famous mountain ranges in the world.
These mountains stretch in a range approximately 500 miles (805 kilometers) long by 100 miles (161 kilometers) wide. The highest peak in the Alps is near the French-Italian border at the summit of Mont Blanc, which is 15,771 feet (4,810 meters) high. Some Alpine peaks are high enough to be covered in snow and glaciers year-round, although global warming in the late 20th century has led to significant shrinkage of Alpine glaciers.
Moving from west to east, the Alps begin in France, passing through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Baltic peninsula. Many people divide the Alps into Eastern and Western Alps and each region is further divided into smaller groups of mountains. Many places along the Alps are popular vacation spots, with an assortment of cabins, chalets, hotels and other accommodations available to visitors.
The history of the Alps dates back to the Oligocene and Miocene, in which these mountains were formed through a series of violent cataclysms that essentially folded the European continent, creating the wrinkle that is the Alps. Humans observe the Alps and struggle with the their presence for centuries, with these mountains having contributed significantly to European history. As Hannibal learned, crossing the Alps was historically no small feat, and these mountains often formed a natural barrier to prevent invasion and colonization in the early history of Europe. The Alps proved to be a formidable military challenge already during the Second World War.
Many unique plant and animal species are found in the Alps. In the summer, the Alps are routinely used for grazing livestock, with some of Europe’s most famous cheeses coming from the cows, goats and sheep that graze in the Alps. Hikers and hikers also enjoy the Alps during the summer months, and have for thousands of years, if the occasional well-preserved remains of early humans found in Alpine glaciers are any indication.
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