major mountain ranges in europe

Until this point, Austria and Switzerland had been the traditional and more popular destinations for winter sports, but by the end of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, France, Italy, and the Tyrol began to see increases in winter visitors. Shkhara Mountain 9. Furniture has been traditionally elaborately carved and in many Alpine countries, carpentry skills are passed from generation to generation. While Mont Blanc was first climbed in 1786 and the Jungfrau in 1811, most of the Alpine four-thousanders were climbed during the second half of the 19th century, notably Piz Bernina (1850), the Dom (1858), the Grand Combin (1859), the Weisshorn (1861) and the Barre des crins (1864); the ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 marked the end of the golden age of alpinism. The river Alpheus in Greek, Christian and Byzantine thought. [147], The Alps, Adolf Hitler, and improbable powerful organizations have been subject to crime fiction. In fact, the Alps are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The Alps are probably the most famous mountain range in Europe. Mershman, Francis. Hannibal once famously rode elephants across them, but today the mountain range is more home to skiers than pachyderms. [90], The Alps are a habitat for 30,000 species of wildlife, ranging from the tiniest snow fleas to brown bears, many of which have made adaptations to the harsh cold conditions and high altitudes to the point that some only survive in specific micro-climates either directly above or below the snow line. Belgium. [76], Various models of climate change have been projected into the 22nd century for the Alps, with an expectation that a trend toward increased temperatures will have an effect on snowfall, snowpack, glaciation, and river runoff. Schiller later wrote the play William Tell (1804), which tells the story of the legendary Swiss marksman William Tell as part of the greater Swiss struggle for independence from the Habsburg Empire in the early 14th century. There are over 10 major mountain ranges in Europe, and upwards of 100 minor ranges. On the highest rocky ledges, the spring flowers bloom in the summer. Maps and graphs. His work was continued by other scientists and now a permanent laboratory exists inside a glacier under the Jungfraujoch, devoted exclusively to the study of Alpine glaciers. The range has a length of approximately 26 km and extends from Kodzko Land to the historic Lower Silesian region. After World War II, members of the Schutzstaffel that feared prosecution as war criminals, known in modern English only as SS, disappeared into a crowd of refugees. The Alps ( / lps /) [a] are the highest and most extensive mountain range that is entirely in Europe, [b] [2] stretching approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. For the German river, see, The Alps seen from outer space, taken from the, Christianity, feudalism, and Napoleonic wars, Depending on the definitions used, a small mountain range in western. What are the 4 major mountain ranges in the world? Therefore, the term "the Alps", as a reference to the mountains, is a misnomer. Carpathians The Carpathian Mountains form an arc extending from Central Europe to Eastern Europe, covering a distance of approximately 1,500 km and ranking as the third longest mountain range in Europe, after the Urals and the Scandinavian Mountains. Several islands, such as Vaygach Island and the islands of Novaya Zemlya, are a continuation of the Ural Mountains that run below the sea and emerge again on the islands. [114], Christianity was established in the Alps by the Roman people. Schuhplattler), sports (e.g. [57], Glaciers end in ice caves (the Rhne Glacier), by trailing into a lake or river, or by shedding snowmelt on a meadow. Length. Even when large events feature only a little folk culture, all participants take part with gusto. [69] The mean precipitation in the Alps ranges from a low of 2,600mm (100in) per year to 3,600mm (140in) per year, with the higher levels occurring at high altitudes. Data and maps. David Friedrich Wiser amassed a collection of 8000 crystals that he studied and documented. Food is passed from the kitchen to the stube, where the dining room table is placed. [58] The 1,817km2 (702sqmi) of the Alps covered by glaciers in 1876 had shrunk to 1,342km2 (518sqmi) by 1973, resulting in decreased river run-off levels. With a summit of 2,469m (8,100ft), the Great St Bernard Pass is one of the highest in the Alps, crossing the Italian-Swiss border east of the Pennine Alps along the flanks of Mont Blanc. Europe's highest peak, Mount Elbrus, which has an elevation of 5,642 m, is located in the Caucasus Mountains. Seven bear skulls from the cave may have been buried by the same prehistoric people. [32], The highest pass in the alps is the Col de l'Iseran in Savoy (France) at 2,770m (9,088ft), followed by the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy at 2,756m (9,042ft); the road was built in the 1820s.[25]. 21 (30 October 2008), pp. Chalets often face south or downhill and are built of solid wood, with a steeply gabled roof to allow accumulated snow to slide off easily. The secondary chain of the Alps follows the watershed from the Mediterranean Sea to the Wienerwald, passing over many of the highest and most well-known peaks in the Alps. The Almabtrieb, Alpabzug, Alpabfahrt, Dsalpes ("coming down from the alps") is celebrated by decorating the cows with garlands and enormous cowbells while the farmers dress in traditional costumes. Mount Elbrus 2. [28], The Saint Gotthard Pass crosses from Central Switzerland to Ticino; in 1882 the 15km-long (9.3mi) Saint Gotthard Railway Tunnel was opened connecting Lucerne in Switzerland, with Milan in Italy. The 18th and 19th centuries saw an influx of naturalists, writers, and artists, in particular, the Romantics, followed by the golden age of alpinism as mountaineers began to ascend the peaks. [172], The lower regions and larger towns of the Alps are well-served by motorways and main roads, but higher mountain passes and byroads, which are amongst the highest in Europe, can be treacherous even in summer due to steep slopes. [91], Human interference has nearly exterminated the trees in many areas, and, except for the beech forests of the Austrian Alps, forests of deciduous trees are rarely found after the extreme deforestation between the 17th and 19th centuries. Como Grande is the tallest peak in the Apennines, with an elevation of 2,912 m. The Apennine Mountains contain pristine forests and montane grasslands, many of which are protected by national parks. [110], During the Second Punic War in 218 BC, the Carthage general Hannibal initiated one of the most celebrated achievements of any military force in ancient warfare, recorded as Hannibal crossing the Alps. 16871693, "Die Besteigung der Berge - Die Dolomitgipfel werden erobert (German: The ascent of the mountains - the dolomite peaks are conquered)", "Cahier d'architecture Haute Maurienne/Vanoise", "What Role Do the Alps Play within World Tourism? Dialects are common and vary from valley to valley and region to region. [67], Major European rivers flow from the Alps, such as the Rhine, the Rhne, the Inn, and the Po, all of which have headwaters in the Alps and flow into neighbouring countries, finally emptying into the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea. [39] In the Paleozoic Era the Pangaean supercontinent consisted of a single tectonic plate; it broke into separate plates during the Mesozoic Era and the Tethys sea developed between Laurasia and Gondwana during the Jurassic Period. [99] Molluscs such as the wood snail live up the snow line. In Germany, the medieval St. Bartholomew's chapel was built on the south side of the Knigssee, accessible only by boat or by climbing over the abutting peaks.[70]. [144][145][146], Fall 1932, Adolf Hitler commissioned the first of a series of refurbishments, which eventually turned a mountain cottage, later named Berghof, into a fortified citadel. The English word Alps comes from the Latin Alpes. [152] Farming and forestry continue to be mainstays of Alpine culture, industries that provide for export to the cities and maintain the mountain ecology. The alpine area fluctuates greatly because of regional fluctuations in tree lines. [55], Alpine glaciers can be straight rivers of ice, long sweeping rivers, spread in a fan-like shape (Piedmont glaciers), and curtains of ice that hang from vertical slopes of the mountain peaks. The Andes are the biggest range when considering length. (18,510 feet), the highest mountain in Europe and one of the Seven Summits. [6] Alpine plants are grouped by habitat and soil type which can be limestone or non-calcareous. [85] Although Alpenrose prefers acidic soil, the plants are found throughout the region. This domestic, but representative, fortification had two small bedrooms, and a full bathroom, planned by the Munich architect and NSDAP member Josef Neumaier. During this period winter sports were slowly introduced: in 1882 the first figure skating championship was held in St. Moritz, and downhill skiing became a popular sport with English visitors early in the 20th century,[161] as the first ski-lift was installed in 1908 above Grindelwald. [12] Golden eagles and bearded vultures are the largest birds to be found in the Alps; they nest high on rocky ledges and can be found at altitudes of 2,400m (7,900ft). Understanding the physical geography of Europe is incomplete without a good map, this is why here we have provided the printable Europe Mountains Map through which you can see the mountain ranges in Europe. However, the Himalayas are the tallest mountains found on the Earth. The mean height of the mountain peaks is 2.5km (1.6mi). Other meals are still served traditionally on carved wooden plates. The sequence of Tethyan marine sediments and their oceanic basement is sandwiched between rock derived from the African and European plates. Wildlife such as ibex live in the higher peaks to elevations of 3,400m (11,155ft), and plants such as edelweiss grow in rocky areas in lower elevations as well as in higher elevations. [123], After the fall of Napoleon, many alpine countries developed heavy protections to prevent further invasion. In the Alps, several species of flowering plants have been recorded above 4,000m (13,000ft), including Ranunculus glacialis, Androsace alpina and Saxifraga biflora. The effect of mountain chains on prevailing winds is to carry warm air belonging to the lower region into an upper zone, where it expands in volume at the cost of a proportionate loss of temperature, often accompanied by precipitation in the form of snow or rain. Basel: Geologisch-Palontologisches Institut, This page was last edited on 25 May 2023, at 00:10. wrestling marches and archery), as well as traditions with pagan roots such as the lighting of fires on Walpurgis Night and Saint John's Eve. [73] The height of the Alps is sufficient to divide the weather patterns in Europe into a wet north and dry south because moisture is sucked from the air as it flows over the high peaks. 1. Mount Ushba 6. [132], Conrad Gessner was the first naturalist to ascend the mountains in the 16th century, to study them, writing that in the mountains he found the "theatre of the Lord". [68] Tributary valleys, some of which are complicated, channel water to the main valleys which can experience flooding during the snowmelt season when rapid runoff causes debris torrents and swollen rivers. From the Colle di Cadibona to Col de Tende it runs westwards, before turning to the northwest and then, near the Colle della Maddalena, to the north. In Roman times, "Albania" was a name for the eastern Caucasus, while in the English languages "Albania" (or "Albany") was occasionally used as a name for Scotland,[10] although it is more likely derived from the Latin word albus,[7] the colour white. Western Uplands [154], Much of the Alpine culture is unchanged since the medieval period when skills that guaranteed survival in the mountain valleys and the highest villages became mainstays, leading to strong traditions of carpentry, woodcarving, baking, pastry-making, and cheesemaking. There are over 10 major mountain ranges in Europe, and upwards of 100 minor ranges. In some areas, the modern practice of building ski runs by mechanical means has destroyed the underlying tundra from which the plant life cannot recover during the non-skiing months, whereas areas that still practice a natural piste type of ski slope building preserve the fragile underlayers. [6] Train travel is well established in the Alps, with, for instance 120km (75mi) of track for every 1,000km2 (390sqmi) in a country such as Switzerland. [60], Although the Alpine topography shows marked glacial morphologies,[61] the mechanisms by which glacial reshaping occurs are unclear. [118] In 1291, to protect themselves from incursions by the House of Habsburg, four Alpine cantons drew up the Federal Charter of 1291, which is considered to be a declaration of independence from neighboring kingdoms. Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme, snowfall, snowpack, glaciation, and river runoff, Almabtrieb, Alpabzug, Alpabfahrt, Dsalpes, December 13, 1916 Marmolada-mountain-avalanche, January 13, 2016 Les-Deux-Alpes avalanche, "Le Mont-Blanc passe de 4.810 mtres 4.808,7 mtres", "Vte, e jsou Alpy i v Maarsku? In 1798, the Helvetic Republic was established, two years later an army across the Great St Bernard Pass. [c] [4] A railroad with a tunnel 1.6km (1mi) long was built along the route of the pass in the mid-19th century. The Alps (/lps/)[a] are the highest and most extensive mountain range that is entirely in Europe,[b][2] stretching approximately 1,200km (750mi) across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.[c][4]. [41] Peaks such as Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and high peaks in the Pennine Alps, the Brianonnais, and Hohe Tauern consist of layers of rock from the various orogenies including exposures of basement rock. Major mountain ranges of Europe. [130] In 1492, Antoine de Ville climbed Mont Aiguille, without reaching the summit, an experience he described as "horrifying and terrifying. [87] Writing about the gentians in Switzerland D. H. Lawrence described them as "darkening the day-time, torch-like with the smoking blueness of Pluto's gloom. Geografick zajmavost a tip na pjemn vlet", "Alp | Origin and meaning of alp by Online Etymology Dictionary", "Alpine Convention - the Convention - the Alpine Convention in a nutshell - the Alps - Home", "Die Alpen: Hydrologie und Verkehrsbergnge (German)", "Ronce, le gardien silencieux du col du Mont-Cenis", "Was die Tunnelbauer im Gotthard antrafen", "The 4000ers of the Alps: Official UIAA List", "Present-day uplift of the European Alps: Evaluating mechanisms and models of their relative contributions", "Hypsometric analysis to identify spatially variable glacial erosion", "Spatial and temporal variations of glacial erosion in the Rhne valley (Swiss Alps): Insights from numerical modeling", "Recent waning snowpack in the Alps is unprecedented in the last six centuries", "100-year mass changes in the Swiss Alps linked to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation", "Atlantic influence on spring snowfall over the Alps in the past 150 years". The formation of the Alps was a segment of this orogenic process,[37] caused by the collision between the African and the Eurasian plates[40] that began in the late Cretaceous Period. Various geological processes lead to the formation of mountain ranges, but a majority of the significant mountain ranges are formed as a result of plate tectonics.The second-largest and the second-most populous continent in the world, Africa is . The knight reached the summit of Rocciamelone where he left a bronze triptych of three crosses, a feat which he conducted with the use of ladders to traverse the ice. 10 Major Mountain Ranges of Africa. They pass through many European countries including France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy . [94] Classified as antelopes,[12] chamois are smaller than ibex and found throughout the Alps, living above the tree line and are common in the entire alpine range. Asia, Europe, North America and Africa (and Antarctica) are the four main mountain ranges in the world. Whewes via Flickr (CC BY 2.0) 6. Good opportunities to see local people celebrating the traditional culture occur at the many fairs, wine festivals, and firefighting festivals which fill weekends in the countryside from spring to autumn. The Alpine region area contains 128 peaks higher than 4,000m (13,000ft). the playing of Alpenhorns), dance (e.g. [111] The Roman people built roads along the Alpine mountain passes, which continued to be used through the medieval period. [25], Crossing the Italian-Austrian border, the Brenner Pass separates the tztal Alps and Zillertal Alps and has been in use as a trading route since the 14th century. Erzberg in Styria furnishes high-quality iron ore for the steel industry. Popularly gathered as food, the snails are now protected. [155], Farming has been a traditional occupation for centuries, although it became less dominant in the 20th century with the advent of tourism. 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