The highest mountains of Western Europe - the Alps

The territory of Western Europe is mostly flat. However, about 17 percent of its area is still occupied by mountain massifs. First of all, these are the Alps, then the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, the Apennines and others. The highest mountains of Western Europe are undoubtedly the Alps, which are simultaneously considered the most extensive (300 sq km) system of ridges and massifs.

Alpine mountains

The vast mountain system of Western Europe, the Alps, is located on the territory of eight states. The zigzag line of ridges, ridges, and hills extends from the Ligurian Sea (France, Monaco, Italy) to the Middle Danish plain (Austria, Slovenia) by 1200 km.

The highest mountains of Western Europe are divided into two parts: Western (higher) and Eastern (lower). By the way, the first part, in turn, is divided into two halves, the result is the Central Alps, which pass through Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

The Eastern Alps stretch across Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria and Slovenia. They are much lower than the Western. Their highest point is the Bernina mountain, located in Switzerland. Its height is 4049 meters.

In Germany, the highest is the Zugspitze mountain (almost 3000 m). In Austria - Großglockner (3798 m).

Mont Blanc is the vertex of the vertices

The highest mountains of Western Europe contain the highest peak of this part of the world. Mount Mont Blanc is located in the Western Alps on the border between Italy and France, its height reaches 4,810 meters. In length, it stretches for 50 kilometers in the form of a crystalline massif.

Mont Blanc in translation means "white mountain". This is understandable, the snow top is covered with ice. By the way, the area of glaciation of Mont Blanc occupies about 200 square meters. Km. Therefore, to reach the "white mountain" was a difficult matter and not once ended with the death of climbers.

And yet the highest mountains of Western Europe, including their main peak, submitted themselves to people. The doctor Michel-Gabriel Pakkar and his guide Jacques Balma August 8, 1786 rose to the coveted height. It is interesting that in 1886 the "white mountain" was reached by an expedition led by Theodore Roosevelt, the future president of the United States.

Lovers of exotics

Today Mont Blanc is an attractive place for lovers of winter sports, rock climbers and just travelers, albeit well-trained physically.

For example, around Mont Blanc is a 130-kilometer tourist route. It captures the territory of Switzerland, Italy and France and is divided into 10 stages from the calculation: from 3 to 10 hours en route in a picturesque area.

There are also developed routes that allow reaching the border of glaciers, for example, to the Chalet de Pyramid from the valley of Chamonix.

Since 1958, the Mont Blanc has a ropeway through which you can climb the massif, but certainly not to the highest point of the mountain. However, the peak of Aiguille du Midi (3842 m), it is there that provides tourists with a "cable car", makes it possible to appreciate the attractive beauty of these ridges. And under the Mont Blanc is a 12-kilometer tunnel, through which a car can move from Italy to France.

Pyrenees - high mountains of Western Europe

The Pyrenees mountains close the Pyrenees peninsula in the north, isolating Spain from the rest of Europe, stretching from the shores of the Bay of Biscay for 450 kilometers to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Pyrenees are divided into three parts based on natural conditions: Western (Atlantic), Central (High) and Eastern (Mediterranean).

The central Pyrenees, therefore, are called high, that here their greatest peaks are located. The peak of Aneto, the highest point of the Pyrenees, rises 3404 meters above sea level, Pose Mountain - 3375 meters, Monte Perdido - 3355 meters, Mount Vinmal - 3298 meters, Peak-Lon - at 3194 meters.

On the territory of the Pyrenees mountains entirely contained a dwarf state - the principality of Andorra, populated mainly by Catalans.

Pyrenees are known for their karst caves, the uniqueness of which is attached to stalactites, underground lakes, and prehistoric rock paintings. Also famous are the Pyrene-Occidental Nature Reserve and the Spanish National Park Ordesa y Monte Perdido.

On the Iberian Peninsula

This peninsula should not be ignored if we continue to consider the theme of "Mountains of Western Europe". The list will be replenished first by the Cantabrian mountains, which follow the Pyrenees, although below them, but are also quite high (Picos de Europa, up to 2613 m). To the south of them is a vast array of Meseta, its plateau is divided by the Central Cordillera ridges up to 2592 meters high.

There are also Iberian mountains up to 2313 meters high. And, finally, the Andalusian mountains. They belong to the second place after the Alps in the height of the mountain peaks. Mount Mulassin (the Sierra Nevada Ridge) rises to 3487 m. This is the largest peak not only of the peninsula, but also of Spain. It offers wonderful views of the Corral hanging glacier and other peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

Mountain range - Apennines

The mountains in Western Europe belong to the most picturesque corners of the earth, the Apennines that cross the peninsula in the middle and pass through Italy confirm this.

In the lower part of the hill (500-700 m) vineyards, olive and lemon trees are grown. At an altitude of 900-1000 m, mixed and then coniferous forests grow. Alpine and subalpine meadows are selected closer to the peaks.

The highest point of the Apennines is Corno Grande, its height is 2912 meters. By the way, snow in these mountains can only be found there.

Unfortunately, this mountain beauty of the Apennines is fraught with danger. There is a very high seismic activity here: earthquakes in this region of Europe are not uncommon. In the south of the Apennine peninsula is located the volcano Vesuvius. The volcano Etna (3,076 m, Sicily) is a tectonic extension of the Apennines. Both are active, so the danger of eruptions exists constantly.

Indescribable in the beauty of the mountains of Western Europe! Photos, especially successfully made, of course, reflect a part of this beauty.