All about mountain alps. The highest mountains in Western Europe - the Alps

The Alpine mountains are one of the main European resorts. Not only fans flock here every year skiing, but also those who want to enjoy clean air and healing water from local thermal springs. 8 European countries, on the territory of which alpine ridges and massifs are located, have been competing for decades in creating attractive conditions for tourists. How to make a program for visiting the Alpine mountains in order to short vacation see all the fun?

Ithoria mountains

Covered in snow and surrounded by mist peaks of the Alps gave the mountain range its name. It is believed that it comes from the Latin word "albus" ("white").

Age of the Alps impossible to determine unambiguously. Between 34 and 23 million years ago there was a collision tectonic plates, resulting in the longest European mountain range. The length of the Alps is 1,200 kilometers.

For a significant part of its history, the Alps were an insurmountable natural barrier. They hindered the movement of trade and military expeditions. locals avoided climbing great height, because there you could meet with an avalanche, a storm and cold.

The study of the Alpine mountains began only in the second half of the 18th century. Enthusiast scientists explored the flora, fauna, glaciers and geology of the mountain range. At the same time, the concept of "mountaineering" was born, which at that time meant walking along the slopes without special equipment. In 1786 it was first conquered highest mountain in the Alps- Mont Blanc.

History of the Alps tourist center originates in the 19th century. Then wealthy people came to mountain hotels to enjoy the extraordinary views and take baths from the waters of thermal springs. At the end of the 19th century, popularity began to gain winter views sports. IN Alpine mountains championships in figure skating and skiing were held.

The Alpine mountains were the site of the first Winter Olympic Games and still remain the most popular. Developed infrastructure suitable weather and the presence of modern sports facilities have already secured the right to host the Winter Olympics a dozen times for resorts located in the Alps.

Today the mountain range is one of the world's major centers of tourism. Every year more than one hundred million people visit local resorts. Nature of the Alps attracts not only lovers extreme species sports. Fresh air, medicinal properties sources and the unique local culture ensure a continuous flow of tourists at any time of the year.

Attractions of the Alps

Most tourists go to the Alpine mountains to admire the unique views, try their hand at mountain slopes and swim in local sources. But the Alpine region is a place where several European cultures meet at once. Here are located interesting objects having architectural, historical and religious value.

Air travel and ticket prices

In the immediate vicinity of the Alpine mountains there is no major airports. Air carriers sometimes organize flights to Bolzano (Italy) and Innsbruck (Austria), but these connections are seasonal. Most tourists prefer to book a ticket to one of the nearest major airports, and travel the rest of the way by bus or train.

The easiest way to get to the Alps is from international airports located in the following cities:

1. Munich;
2. Milan;
3. Verona;
4. Innsbruck;
5. Salzburg;
6. Venice;
7. Vein;
8. Bolzano;
9. Bologna;
10. Klagenfurt;
11. Friedrichshafen;
12. Bergamo;
13. Brescia.

The most convenient for Russian tourists routes run through the airports of Munich and Milan. They are connected regular flights With major cities Russia. Depending on the distance of the chosen Alpine resort, the way to it from the airport can take from 1 to 2 hours.

The way from Munich to popular ski regions can be overcome by car: the city is connected to the Alps by three modern autobahns. Easy access to the mountains from Munich Airport commuter train S-Banh lines. In this case, you will be there in 40 minutes.

If you decide to visit western part Alpine mountains, then your route will run through the airports of Milan or Verona. Milan is well connected to Russian cities, but you still have to get to the Alps through Verona. If you couldn't find a direct flight to Romeo and Juliet, don't be discouraged: the journey from Milan will be comfortable. From both international airports the Italian capital mods run direct buses to central station Milan, where you can buy a ticket to Verona.

The road from Verona to the Alpine resorts can be overcome by car, spending about two hours on the trip, or by train. Trains run from 5 am to 10 pm, leaving the platform every half hour. Tickets cost from 10 euros, and you will have to spend another 1.5-2 hours on the road.

Mountains have always fascinated us. A cold realm created from ice and rock and then shaped and carved by time. In the shadow of the mountain peaks, a life that seems unnatural to us is firmly established. Over the years, living organisms have adapted to harsh conditions. And everyone who lives in these mountains, be it a plant, a mammal or a bird, has all adapted to the flow and change of local natural phenomena. However, these natural processes go unnoticed by the mountains, whose age is measured in tens or hundreds of millions of years. And the most famous among all the peaks of the world are the Alps, where highest peaks bustling life and breathtaking views. Since ancient times, various peoples have lived here, considering the Alps their support and protection from the whole world. Where are the Alps located? Many will answer that in Europe. But on Earth, as many as 4 mountain ranges are called the Alps, and they are all different from each other.

European Alps

Mountains have a certain lifespan. The European Alps were formed about 35 million years ago when the continental plates of Africa and Europe collided. The European Alps are still growing, driven by the internal forces of the planet. For most of their history, mountains have been wilderness, too extreme for human habitation. And yet it was the people who gave the name to these mountains when they examined It does not matter where the mountains are: in the north or in the south, in the east or in the west - they owe their formation to the same geological processes. In the locations of the mountains, the lines of the most active geological faults of the rock are marked. The Alps, where just such areas are located, often present bad "gifts" in the form of snow avalanches or small earthquakes. At the foot of the Alps live animals that can hardly be called alpine: European otters, lynxes, marmots, red deer and others. Several thousand years ago, in the Alps, where there are crystal clear rivers, vast meadows and vast forests, came new power, which has learned to withstand any seasonal weather events. These are people who have lived for centuries at the foot of the mountains, moved up with their groups, founding cities and towns.

australian alps

On the other side of the world, in Australia, there is also mountain system The Alps, however, the Australian Alps are significantly different from the European ones: there are no huge jagged peaks, these mountains appeared 600 million years ago. But their original relief has undergone global changes, because for millions of years it has been influenced by winds and rains, as well as spring meltwater flows. The glaciers of the mountain peaks barely reach the ground - these are the most ancient of the 4 Alps of the world. And after tens of millions of years, they have remained isolated from the whole world. Thanks to this isolation, Australia has unique world plants and animals. The Australian echidna, like its relative the platypus, can only be found in Australia. Some inhabitants of the Australian Alps are quite surprising with their presence, because among the snows parrots look ridiculous, right? It is more common to see them in the tropics than in the winter Australian Alps, but you can see this here too. The most common tree in Australia is the eucalyptus, which stays green no matter where it is, even in the snow. Yes, the Alps of this region are truly amazing place on the ground!

The Alps in New Zealand are the youngest of all the Alps. They have been formed over the past 7 million years. 2.5 million years ago, a glacial shift marked the beginning ice age. This influenced what made the ancient species of the animal kingdom, such as the Kia parrots, adapt to the new conditions. This is an amazing bird with the mind of a monkey, and the only one of the whole species that lives beyond the snow line. Mountains live their lives here. New Zealand's landscape was shaped by glaciers - a reminder of a world that has all but disappeared.

The last of the Alps combine several mountain ranges on the island of Honshu in Japan. Most of the peaks are over 3 km high. The mountains are amazingly picturesque, and the snow-covered peaks amaze tourists visiting this country with their magnificence. An interesting fact is that of the representatives of the fauna in these mountains lives the northernmost primate (of course, in addition to humans) - mountain monkeys living among severe snows. They have had to adjust to winters that can last up to 6 months and temperatures that can stay below freezing for weeks on end.

Tourism

Where are the Alps of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan located on the map? The European Alps are the largest and the system Western Europe, covering France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Slovenia. About the location of the rest of the Alps, we think, it will be easy to guess from their name. The European Alps are extremely attractive for tourists, who annually number over 50 million people. First of all, these mountains attract climbers and skiers. For the latter, the season runs from December to April. Vacationers from all over the world come to the best ski resorts: Les Deux Alpes, Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens and many others. In addition, the Alps, where there are many winding trails and paths, attract professional cyclists, and the landscape beauties that open from the sky attract paragliders. The Australian Alps also boast ski resorts Mount Hotham, and a bewitching picture national parks invites hikers to make an unforgettable hike through the virgin lands of this mountain kingdom. The New Zealand Alps provide a lot of extreme slopes, the season here lasts from June to September. Interesting fact that the legendary film trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed in these parts, and not in the United States, as many believe. And finally, the mountains of Japan. They are not particularly popular with tourists and act as pilgrimage sites for Buddhists and hiking destinations for travelers looking for an unforgettable experience.

Mountain system in the West. Europe; France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovenia. According to a widely accepted hypothesis, the name is derived from Celt, alp high mountain. There is also an assumption about its pre-Indo-European ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Alps- Mont Blanc Location… Tourist Encyclopedia

ALPS- (German Alpen; French Alpes; Italian Alpi; from Celtic alp high mountain) the highest (up to 4807 m, Mont Blanc) mountain system Zap. Europe. Located in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein; spurs in Slovenia and Germany. Length approx. 1200 km ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

ALPS- (German Alpen; French Alpes; Italian Alpi; from the Celtic alp high mountain), the highest (up to 4807 m, Mount Mont Blanc) mountain system of Western Europe (France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Liechtenstein). Length about 1200 ... Modern Encyclopedia

ALPS- lat. Alpes, from Celt., alp, height. Large mountain ranges coming from mediterranean sea, near Nice, to the Danube, near Vienna. Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with the meaning of their roots. Michelson A.D., 1865 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Alps- noun, number of synonyms: 2 mountain system (62) mountains (52) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

Alps- ALPS, the highest and most powerful mountain range in Europe, stretches in the form of an arc from the Ligurian Sea to the Carpathians and the middle Danube and, being between 43 ° and 48 ° N. latitude and 5° and 17° east. longitude from Greenwich, occupies a central position in Europe. ... ... Military Encyclopedia

Alps- the most extensive mountain system in Europe, which constitutes the core of this part of the world, covers an area of ​​​​approximately 300 sq. km. km (without foothills 200 tons), lies in the middle between the equator and the north. pole, between 43° and 48° N. sh. and 37° E. d., and ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Alps- (German Alpen; French Alpes; Italian Alpi; from Celtic alp high mountain), the highest (up to 4807 m, Mont Blanc) mountain system in Western Europe. The Alps are located in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein; spurs in Slovenia and Germany. ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

ALPS- Alpes, (αι Άλπεις, τα Άλπεια oρη, m. b., from the Celtic word "alb", high), the highest mountain range in Europe, stretching in a large arc around upper Italy from Sinus Ligusticus to the north and with its eastern spurs connecting… Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities

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The Alps are mature mountains, although not as old as the Urals (which are about 350 million years old). The Alps were formed "only" some 40 million years ago, when two giant lithospheric plates - the Adriatic (present-day Africa) and Central European (Eurasia) collided. As a result of the enormous pressure, the rocks of the slabs crumpled like plasticine, and a significant part was squeezed upwards. Thus, the sky-high peaks of a young mountainous country were formed, the glaciation of which occurred only 1.5-1.8 million years ago. Today these mountains are known as the Alps. Together with them, neighboring mountain ranges were formed - the Carpathians, the Pyrenees and the Apennines. With the further "departure" of Africa, the single mountain system was torn, losing its integrity, and the Eurasian plate acquired modern look. The name "Alps", according to some sources, comes from the Celtic word, which means " high mountains".

On the territory of the Alpine mountainous country, Austria and Switzerland are entirely located, and such small states as Liechtenstein and Monaco. The northern parts of the Alps are within the boundaries of Germany, the western - within the limits of France, the southern - Italy. The southeastern ridges enter the territory of Slovenia. Seen from a bird's eye view, the mountain strip of the Alps extends in a semicircle from the Ligurian Sea and breaks off before reaching the Danube. The length of the semicircle along the outer edge is about 1200 km, along the inner edge - about 750 km, the width is from 50 km to 260 km. The total area of ​​the mountain system reaches more than 200 thousand kilometers. The geological history of the Alps is somewhat confused. It looks unusual, and even fabulous, when among the green hills with smooth outlines and cozy little houses huge Mountain peaks. Hills, this type of relief is called the Pre-Alps, composed of limestone, dolomite and flysch. In the mountains, in particular in the Glarn Alps, the remains of older rocks were found, lying on top of younger ones. In the collision of plates, ancient rocks were forced out by flush upwards, which led to such consequences. Geographically, the mountains are divided into two parts: Western Alps And Eastern Alps, the border between them runs along the valley of the river Rhine.

diagram of the Western and Eastern Alps

The highest mountain ranges are located in the Western Alps, the highest point of which is Mont Blanc. In French, "Mont Blanc" means " white mountain". The peaks of the Alps have always attracted climbers. Many tried to conquer Mont Blanc, but only in 1786 mountain guide Jacques Balm and physician Michel-Gabriel Packard were the first to reach the summit, and a year later Saussure (a Swiss geologist, botanist and climber) organized a large expedition , thanks to which the height of Mont Blanc is measured - 4807 meters.

Following them, scientists, aristocrats, and women rushed to conquer the peaks. It is said that by the end of the 1860s there was not a single peak left in the Alps, where no human foot had set foot. Today, the Alps are considered the most traveled among the mountain systems of our planet. The very word "alpinism" - climbing mountain peaks, clearly indicates the birthplace of this sport, which originated in the Alps at the end of the 18th century. The border of the Eastern Alps with the Western starts from lake constance in the north, runs along the valleys of the rivers Rhine, Liro and Mera to Lake Como in the south. The Eastern Alps differ from the Western Alps in their wider and less high mountain valley. most high point is Mount Bernina 4049 meters.

mount bernina

It is interesting that the Eastern Alps are homogeneous in origin with the Carpathians and represent a continuation of the Western Carpathians. This is the same mountain fold of the earth's crust, but having met the Bohemian massif, consisting of ancient hard rocks (granite, syenite), the Alps deviated from their original direction, and bypassing this massif, turned sharply to the northeast again and took the direction of the Western Carpathians. The main European rivers begin in the Alps: the Rhine, Rhone, Bar, Po, Ech, tributaries of the Danube. mountain range forms the main watershed Central Europe, and falling with precipitation, the water is carried by rivers in all directions. Most of the Alpine rivers originate in glaciers (glaciers), there are about 1100 of them, of which the largest are 100. Of these, Aletsch stands out - the most majestic glacier in the Alps.

The waters that flow from glaciers look like muddy streams, they are also called "glacial milk". They quickly descend, forming waterfalls and whirlpools on their way, streams of water rush into the valleys and, passing through the lakes, leave their sediment there and come out clean and transparent. One of the main decorations of the Alps are numerous lakes, which are located on the southern and northern slopes. The largest: Geneva, Como, Baden, there are also small lakes that are surrounded by rocks and most the years stand frozen.

small lake formed by a glacier

In addition to high mountains, the Alps also have deep caves. Caves are located in the massifs of the Eastern Alps and there are not so many of them, since the mountain system is still young, mainly karst caves formed by rivers, but there are also ice caves. The largest in the world ice cave is the Eisriesenwelt with a length of 42 kilometers.

Eisriesenwelt cave

It is located in the Salzburg Alps in Austria on the very edge of the Tennen massif. Although the cave is called "ice", but it is formed of limestone, and partially covered with ice, only one kilometer from the entrance. The cave was once formed by a river, and the ice was formed by melting snow that flowed into the cave and froze. The temperature in the cave is kept constant, below zero.

On the slopes of the Alps, altitudinal climatic zonality is clearly expressed, which manifests itself, moving from the warm temperate southern foothills to the harsh high-mountain climate of the upper parts of the mountains with frequent frosts, snowstorms and snowfalls. So, up to about 1000 meters there are many orchards, vineyards and fields. In the belt of 1000-1800 meters, the vegetation gradually changes to coniferous forests: in more humid areas, spruce and fir prevail, in drier areas, pine and cedar. At altitudes of 1800-2300 meters there are many summer pastures, mostly shrubs grow, meadows prevail. In the highlands, glaciers and snowfields, rocks and stone placers dominate. The Alps, due to their location in the very center of Europe, are one of the most densely populated and therefore visited mountainous countries planets.

Alps (German Alpen, French Alpes, Italian Alpi; from Celt. alp - high mountain)- the highest mountains in Western Europe. The Alpine mountain system stretches from Austria and Slovenia in the west, through the territories of Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the east.

A complex system of ridges and massifs, stretching in a convex arc to the northwest from the Mediterranean Sea to the Middle Danube Plain. It is about 1200 km long (about 750 km along the inner arc). Width up to 260 km. The transverse valley between Lake Constance and Como is divided into higher Western Alps(up to 4807 m high, Mount Blanc) and lower and wider Eastern Alps(up to 4049 m high, Mount Bernina).

The structure of the Alps was mainly created by tectonic movements during the period of Alpine folding. The highest - the axial zone of the Alps is composed of ancient crystalline (gneisses, mica schists), igneous (granites) and metamorphic (quartz-phyllite schists) rocks, it is distinguished by large altitudinal contrasts and a wide distribution of mountain-glacial relief (the so-called Alpine relief) and modern glaciation (about 1200 glaciers with total area about 3000 square kilometers).

These mountains are usually divided into several parts, divided in turn into independent regions.

• The Northern Alps include areas located in southern Germany and northern Austria. They are also called the Lime Alps. There are areas such as

• The Southern Alps include mostly Italian mountains. This is first of all

mountains around Lake Commo and

as well as such less famous, but no less attractive areas as

All areas without exception are accessible without a significant investment of time. Almost everywhere there is the opportunity to stay in campsites in the valley and huts in the upper reaches. For those who burn with initiative, but are limited in funds, there remains a time-tested and reliable way of mountain climbing "in our" i.e. with a tent offline. Contrary to the prevailing opinion that campgrounds banned you can constantly meet groups from Spain, the Czech Republic, etc. who live quietly in various places suitable for climbing. It is only necessary to find out in advance whether the area belongs to any nature reserve ... As for the zone of moraines and glaciers, the camp will be tolerated by the "public" as long as environmental standards are observed (take your own garbage downstairs).

In almost all a little bit interesting areas There is a wide range of cartographic material and guidebooks.

In all areas, as mentioned above, there is a very dense network of huts and bivouacs (simple shelters). They belong, for the most part, to the Alpine clubs of European countries, as well as to private individuals. As a rule, they offer the opportunity to spend the night and food. Depending on the accessory and inaccessibility, the prices are also varied. You can spend the night on wooden bunks for a couple of dollars (including a mattress and a blanket), or you can stay in a double room for a couple of dozen of the same banknotes and eat in a restaurant with "first, second and compote for the third."

An extensive network of various lifts allows you to have time to spend maximum amount events. It should be noted that pleasure is not cheap ...