Summary:
The Alps is a great European mountain system which is stretching
from the east (Austria, Slovenia) to the west of Europe (France). The
system also includes Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein and Germany. Its
name was taken from Latin Alpes. Currently it has these names: Alpen (German),
Alpes (French), Alpi (Italian) and Alpe (Slovenian).
Mont Blanc (4,808 metres) is the highest mountain and is in French Alps
on the border between France and Italy.
The Alps are
perfect place for skiing, hiking, travel, ski vacations and holiday as
there is obviously a lot of snow, not only during winter.
Geography:
The Alps are divided into two main parts. First one is the Western Alps
and second one is the Eastern Alps. The western part (located in Italy,
Switzerland and France) is higher but shorter and curved. The eastern
part belongs to Germany, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein and Slovenia.
Also we can divide them by countries. Main parts are: French Alps, Swiss
Alps and Italian
Alps.
Highest
peaks are Mont Blanc (4,808 m), Dufourspitze (4,634 m), Dom (4,545 m)
and Piz Bernina (4,052 m).
Climate:
Climate in this region is also called alpine. That means it is a cold
climate similar to what is in polar areas. Temperature is decreasing
with a rise from a sea level to higher regions. There is also a mountain
chains effect when winds carry warm air from lower regions to upper ones
where its volume expands and losing some of heat. There are very often
snows and rains.
Geology:
The landscape of Alps as we see it today was formed mostly by glaciation
during the past 2 million years. Ice ages changed the region very much.
During the last 10,000 years glaciers have been retreating back to
mountains.
Fauna:
Main trees in the Alps are oak, beech, sycamore maple and ash. Above the
forestry there are often short pine trees.
Above that is alpine meadow and more higher is vegetation becoming more
sparse. Also these can be found in the Alps: mountain pine, rusty leaved
alpenrose, Edelweiss, stemless gentian, alpine dwarf orchid, alpine
pasque flower, alpine rock jasmine or glacier buttercup and more.
Flora:
Species are mostly found in 15% of protected areas or parks of French
Alps, Swiss Alps, Italian or Austrian Alps. To mention just some of them:
alpine apollo butterfly, salamander, capercaillie, golden eagle, chamois,
alpine marmot, ptarmigan, mountain hare, tengmalmœ owl and more.
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