Alps 981 225594038 2008-07-14T13:45:33Z Sardanaphalus 427947 updating link using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{redirect3|Alp|For other uses, see [[ALP (disambiguation)]] and [[Alps (disambiguation)]]}} {{Geobox|Range |name=Alps|native_name= |image=MattRiff.jpg |image_caption=[[Pennine Alps]] |country=Austria|country1=France|country2=Germany|country3=Switzerland |country4=Italy|country5=Slovenia|country6=Liechtenstein |state_type=Region |region= |unit=|border=| border1=Alps |geology=| period= | orogeny= |area= | length=| length_orientation= |width= | width_orientation= |highest=Mont Blanc (Italian: Monte Bianco) |highest_elevation=4808 |highest_lat_d=45|highest_lat_m=50|highest_lat_s=01|highest_lat_NS=N |highest_long_d=06|highest_long_m=51|highest_long_s=54|highest_long_EW=E |map=Alpenrelief 01.jpg | map_caption=Digital relief of the Alps }} The '''Alps''' ({{lang-fr|Alpes}}; {{lang-de|Alpen}}; {{lang-it|Alpi}}; {{lang-rm|Alps}}; {{lang-sl|Alpe}}) is the name for one of the great [[mountain range]] systems of [[Europe]], stretching from [[Austria]] and [[Slovenia]] in the east, through [[Italy]], [[Switzerland]], [[Liechtenstein]] and [[Germany]] to [[France]] in the west. The word "Alps" was taken via [[French language|French]] from [[Latin]] ''Alpes'' (meaning "the Alps"), which may be influenced by the Latin words ''albus'' (white) or ''altus'' (high) or more likely a Latin rendering of a [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] or [[Ligurian language|Ligurian]] original. The highest mountain in the Alps is [[Mont Blanc]], at {{convert|4808|m|ft|0}}, on the Italian-French border. All the main peaks of the Alps can be found in the [[list of mountains of the Alps]] and [[list of Alpine peaks by prominence]]. ==Geography== {{main|Geography of the Alps}} ===Subdivision=== [[Image:Alps in the Chamonix Valley, near the Mer de Glace.jpg|thumb|right|The west face of the [[Aiguille du Dru|Petit Dru]] above the [[Chamonix]] valley near the [[Mer de Glace]].]] [[Image:Alpenrelief 02.jpg|thumb|The Alps with international borders marked]] [[Image:Grossglockner from SW.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Großglockner]], south of Salzburg, Austria]] The Alps are generally divided into the [[Western Alps]] and the [[Eastern Alps]]. The division is along the line between [[Lake Constance]] and [[Lake Como]], following the [[Rhine]]. The Western Alps are higher, but their central chain is shorter and curved; they are located in [[Italy]], [[France]] and [[Switzerland]]. The Eastern Alps (main [[ridge]] system elongated and broad) belong to [[Austria]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Switzerland]]. The highest peaks of the Western Alps are [[Mont Blanc]], {{convert|4808|m|ft|0}}, [[Mont Blanc de Courmayeur]] {{convert|4748|m|ft|0}}, the [[Dufourspitze]] {{convert|4634|m|ft|0}} and the other summits of the [[Monte Rosa]] group, and the [[Dom (mountain)|Dom]], {{convert|4545|m|ft|0}}. The highest peak in the Eastern Alps is [[Piz Bernina]], {{convert|4049|m|ft|0}}. The '''Eastern Alps''' are commonly subdivided according to the different [[lithology]] (rock composition) of the more central parts of the Alps and the groups at its northern and southern fringes: * [[Northern Limestone Alps]] (from the [[Wienerwald]] to [[Bregenzerwald]]),including the [[Flyschzone]]. peaks up to {{convert|3000|m|ft|-1}} * [[Central Eastern Alps]] (Austria, Switzerland), peaks up to {{convert|4050|m|ft|-1}} * [[Southern Limestone Alps]]. The border between the Central Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps is the [[Periadriatic Seam]]. The Northern Limestone Alps are separated from the Central Eastern Alps by the [[Graywacke zone|Grauwacken Zone]] The '''Western Alps''' are commonly subdivided with respect to [[geography]]: *[[Ligurian Alps]] *[[Maritime Alps]] *[[Cottian Alps]] *[[Dauphiné Alps]] *[[Graian Alps]] *[[Pennine Alps]] *[[Bernese Alps]] *[[Lepontine Alps]] *[[Glarus Alps]] *[[Appenzell Alps]]. Series of lower mountain ranges run parallel to the main chain of the Alps, including the [[French Prealps]]. (See [[Geography of the Alps|Alpine geography]].) The geologic subdivision is different and makes no difference between the Western and Eastern Alps: ''[[helvetic nappes|Helveticum]]'' in the north, ''[[Penninic nappes|Penninicum]]'' and ''[[Austroalpine nappes|Austroalpine system]]'' in the centre and south of the Periadriatic seam the [[Southern Alps (geology)|Southern Alpine system]] and parts of the [[Dinarides]] (see [[Geology of the Alps|Alpine Geology]]). 'Geographically'', the [[Jura mountains]] do ''not'' belong to the Alps; ''geologically'', however, they do. ===Main chain=== {{main|Main chain of the Alps}} [[Image:Alps from space.png|thumb|right|The [[Europe]]an Alps from space in 2002.]] The "main chain of the Alps" follows the [[drainage divide|watershed]] from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the [[Wienerwald]], passing over many of the highest and most famous peaks in the Alps. From the Colle di Cadibona to [[Col de Tende]] it runs westwards, before turning to the north-west and then, near the [[Colle della Maddalena]], to the north. Upon reaching the Swiss border, the line of the main chain heads approximately east-north-east, a heading it follows until its end near [[Vienna]]. ===Principal passes=== {{main|Principal passes of the Alps}} The Alps do not form an impassable barrier; they have been traversed for [[war]] and [[commerce]], and later by [[pilgrim]]s, students and tourists. Crossing places by road, train or foot are called passes. These are depressions in the mountains to which a valley leads from the plains and hilly pre-mountainous zones. ==Climate== {{main|Climate of the Alps}} [[Image:JungfraujochCloud.jpg|thumb|right|Cloud formation on the [[Jungfraujoch]], Bernese Alps]] The Alps are a classic example of what happens when a temperate area at lower altitude gives way to higher elevation terrain. Elevations around the world which have cold climates similar to those found in [[polar region|polar]] areas have been called [[Alpine climate|alpine]]. A rise from [[sea level]] into the upper regions of the [[Earth's atmosphere|atmosphere]] causes the [[temperature]] [[adiabatic lapse rate|to decrease]]. The effect of [[mountain]] chains on prevailing [[wind]]s 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 [[heat]], often accompanied by the [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] of moisture in the form of [[snow]] or [[rain]]. ==Geology== {{main|Geology of the Alps}} [[Image:Grosser Aletschgletscher 3178.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Aletsch Glacier]], largest in the Alps]] The Alps arose as a result of the pressure exerted on [[sediment]]s of the [[Tethys Ocean]] basin as its [[Mesozoic]] and early [[Cenozoic]] [[Stratum|strata]] were pushed against the stable [[Eurasia]]n landmass by the northward-moving [[Africa]]n landmass. Most of this occurred during the [[Oligocene]] and [[Miocene]] epochs. The pressure formed great recumbent folds, or ''nappes'', that rose out of what had become the Tethys Sea and pushed northward, often breaking and sliding one over the other to form gigantic thrust [[Geologic fault|fault]]s. [[Basement (geology)|Crystalline rocks]], which are exposed in the higher central regions, are the rocks forming [[Mont Blanc]], the [[Matterhorn]], and high peaks in the Pennine Alps and Hohe Tauern. The [[landscape]] seen today is mostly formed by [[glaciation]] during the past two million years. At least five [[ice age]]s have done much to change the region, scooping out the lakes and rounding off the limestone hills along the northern border. [[Glacier]]s have been retreating during the past 10,000 years, leaving large granite [[Glacial erratic|erratics]] scattered in the forests in the region. As the last ice age ended, it is believed that the [[climate]] changed so rapidly that the glaciers retreated back into the mountains in a span of about 200 to 300 years. ==Population== The biggest city situated in the Alps, is [[Grenoble]], [[France]] (metropolitan area about 500,000 inhabitants). French people call the city "The Capital City of Alps". The second biggest city of the alpine arch, is [[Innsbruck]], [[Austria]]. In 2001, the total population of all the alpine area was about 12,295,000. ==Political and cultural history== {{main|History of the Alps}} Little is known of the early dwellers in the Alps, save from the scanty accounts preserved by [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] and [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[historian]]s and [[geographer]]s. A few details have come down to us of the conquest of many of the Alpine tribes by [[Augustus]]. During the [[Second Punic War]] in 218 BC, The [[Carthaginian]] general [[Hannibal]] successfully crossed the alps along with an army numbering 38,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants.<ref>Lancel, Serge, ''Hannibal'', p. [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0631218483&id=6uVh2FH-LF4C&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&ots=aUKons1lrD&dq=hannibal,+9,000,+gaul&sig=VmI384S-_PzLHpB4JnFd-Da4CkA 60]</ref>. This was one of the most celebrated achievements of any military force in [[ancient warfare]]{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. Much of the Alpine region was gradually settled by [[Germanic tribes]] ([[Langobards]], [[Alemanni]], [[Bavarii]]) from the [[6th century|6th]] to the [[13th century|13th centuries]], the latest expansion corresponding to the [[Walser]] migrations. It is not until the final breakup of the [[Carolingian Empire]] in the [[10th century|10th]] and [[11th century|11th centuries]] that it becomes possible to trace out the local history of the Alps. ==Exploration== {{main|Exploration of the High Alps}} The higher regions of the Alps were long left to the exclusive attention of the people of the adjoining valleys, even when Alpine travellers (as distinguished from Alpine climbers) began to visit these valleys. The two men who first explored the regions of ice and snow were H.B. de Saussure (1740-1799) in the [[Pennine Alps]], and the Benedictine monk of [[Disentis]], Placidus a Spescha (1752-1833), most of whose ascents were made before 1806, in the valleys at the sources of the [[Rhine]]. ==Travel and Tourism== {{main|Tourism in the Alps}} <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Alpstravel.jpg|thumb|right|The Alps can be easily accessed from around Europe by plane or train.]] --> The Alps are popular both in summer and in winter as a destination for sightseeing and sports. [[Winter sports]] (alpine and Nordic skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing, ski tours) can be practised in most regions from December to April, while in summer the Alps are popular with hikers, mountain bikers, paragliders, mountaineers, while many lakes attract swimmers, sailors and surfers. The lower regions and larger towns of the Alps are well accessed by [[motorways]] and [[main roads]], but higher [[passes]] and by-roads can be treacherous even in summer. Many passes are closed in winter. A multitude of [[airports]] around the Alps (and some within), as well as long-distance rail links from all neighbouring countries, afford large numbers of travellers easy access from abroad. ==Flora== A natural vegetation limit with altitude is given by the presence of the chief [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s&mdash;[[oak]], [[beech]], [[Ash tree|ash]] and [[sycamore maple]]. These do not reach exactly to the same elevation, nor are they often found growing together; but their upper limit corresponds accurately enough to the change from a temperate to a colder climate that is further proved by a change in the wild [[herb]]aceous vegetation. This limit usually lies about {{convert|1200|m|ft|-1}} above the sea on the north side of the Alps, but on the southern slopes it often rises to {{convert|1500|m|ft|-1}}, sometimes even to {{convert|1700|m|ft|-1}}. This region is not always marked by the presence of the characteristic trees. Human interference has nearly exterminated them in many areas, and, except for the beech forests of the [[Austria]]n Alps, forests of deciduous trees are rarely found. In many districts where such woods once existed, they have been replaced by the [[Scots pine]] and [[Norway spruce]], which are less sensitive to the ravages of goats who are the worst enemies of such trees. Above the forestry, there is often a band of short pine trees (''[[Pinus mugo]]''), which is in turn superseded by dwarf [[shrub]]s, typically ''[[Rhododendron ferrugineum]]'' (on acid soils) or ''[[Rhododendron hirsutum]]'' (on basic soils). Above this is the [[alpine meadow]], and even higher, the vegetation becomes more and more sparse. At these higher altitudes, the plants tend to form isolated cushions. In the Alps, several species of flowering plants have been recorded above {{convert|4000|m|ft|-1}}, including ''[[Ranunculus glacialis]]'', ''[[Androsace alpina]]'' and ''[[Saxifraga biflora]]''. <center><gallery> Image:Kosodrzewina (Sosna górska) Pinus mugo mugo.jpg|mountain pine<br />(''[[Mountain Pine|Pinus mugo]]'') Image:Rhododendron ferrugineum.JPG|rusty-leaved Alpenrose<br />(''[[Rhododendron ferrugineum]]'') Image:Leontopodium alpinum1.jpg|Edelweiss<br />(''[[Edelweiss|Leontopodium alpinum]]'') Image:Gentiana acaulis.jpg|stemless gentian<br />(''[[Gentiana acaulis]]'') Image:Chamorchis_alpina_230705b.jpg|Alpine dwarf orchid<br />(''[[Chamorchis alpina]]'') Image:Pulsatilla_alpina_schneebergensis.jpg|Alpine pasque-flower<br />(''[[Pulsatilla alpina]]'') Image:Androsace alpina02.jpg|Alpine rock-jasmine (''[[Androsace alpina]]'') Image:Ranunculus_glacialis.jpg|glacier buttercup<br />(''[[Ranunculus glacialis]]'') </gallery></center> ==Fauna== Species common to the Alps. These are most numerous in the 15% of the [[List of national parks of the Alps|Alps that are protected in parks and reserves]].{{Fact|date=June 2007}} <center><gallery> Image:Parnassius pheobus.jpg|<center>[[Alpine Apollo Butterfly]] Image:Salamandra atra.jpg|<center>[[Alpine Salamander]] Image:Plochacz 3001xx.jpg|<center>[[Alpine Accentor]] Image:Alpenkauw2.jpg|<center>[[Alpine Chough]] Image:Auerhahn mg-k.jpg|<center>[[Capercaillie]] Image:Aquila chrysaetos large drawing.jpg|<center>[[Golden Eagle]] Image:Ptarmigan9.jpg|<center>[[Ptarmigan]] Image:Aegolius-funereus-001.jpg|<center>[[Tengmalm's Owl]]</center> Image:Iiiiibed.jpg|<center>[[Alpine Ibex]] Image:Marmota marmota Alpes2.jpg|<center>[[Alpine Marmot]] Image:Rupicapra rupicapra 0.jpg|<center>[[Chamois]] Image:Arctic Hare.jpg|<center>[[Mountain Hare]] </gallery></center> ==See also== *[[Swiss Alps]] ==External links== * [http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2005-09-17 Satellite photo of the Alps], taken on [[August 31]], [[2005]] by [[MODIS]] aboard [[Terra (satellite)|Terra]] * {{it}} [http://www.alpinfoto.it Images from the Alps] Many images from Alps, landscape, flowers and wildlife. * [http://www.hribi.net/panorama.asp?lng=1 360° Panoramic Views in Alps] * [http://pano.ica-net.it/en/default.htm A virtual visit of Western Alps with 360° panoramic images] * [http://www.diealpen.at A online picture collection of the Alps] More than 2000 pictures of climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, landscape * [http://www.nill.cz/index.php?set=alp Photos] - Italian Alps - Santa Catarina * {{en}} [http://www.asensio.ch/champery.htm Photos of alpin swiss landscapes and wildlife (Valais)] * [http://www.jmpatin.kjm.fr/Photos Discover wildlife of the Alps with 60 representative photos] ==References== {{reflist}} <!--For ease of standardization, use a citation template from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_messages/Sources_of_articles#Citations_of_generic_sources --> {{Unreferenced|date=April 2007}} {{Geography topics}} {{Physical geography topics}} [[Category:Alps| ]] [[Category:Mountain ranges of Europe]] [[Category:Physiographic provinces]] {{Link FA|af}} [[af:Alpe]] [[als:Alpen]] [[ar:ألب]] [[an:Alpes]] [[frp:Arpes]] [[ast:Alpes]] [[bn:আল্পস্‌ পর্বতমালা]] [[be:Альпы]] [[be-x-old:Альпы]] [[bar:Oipn]] [[bs:Alpi]] [[br:Alpoù]] [[bg:Алпи]] [[ca:Alps]] [[cs:Alpy]] [[cy:Alpau]] [[da:Alperne]] [[de:Alpen]] [[et:Alpid]] [[el:Άλπεις]] [[eml:Èlp]] [[es:Alpes]] [[eo:Alpoj]] [[eu:Alpeak]] [[fa:آلپ]] [[fr:Alpes]] [[fy:Alpen]] [[ga:Sliabh Alpa]] [[gl:Alpes]] [[ko:알프스 산맥]] [[hi:आल्प्स]] [[hr:Alpe]] [[id:Alpen]] [[is:Alpafjöll]] [[it:Alpi]] [[he:הרי האלפים]] [[jv:Alpen]] [[ka:ალპები]] [[sw:Alpi]] [[ku:Alp]] [[la:Alpes]] [[lv:Alpi]] [[lb:Alpen]] [[lt:Alpės]] [[hu:Alpok]] [[mr:आल्प्स]] [[mn:Альпийн нуруу]] [[nl:Alpen]] [[ne:आल्प्स]] [[ja:アルプス山脈]] [[no:Alpene]] [[nn:Alpane]] [[nrm:Alpes]] [[oc:Alps]] [[nds:Alpen]] [[pl:Alpy]] [[pt:Alpes]] [[ro:Alpi]] [[rm:Alps]] [[qu:Alpikuna]] [[ru:Альпы]] [[sq:Alpet]] [[scn:Alpi]] [[simple:Alps]] [[sk:Alpy]] [[sl:Alpe]] [[sr:Алпи]] [[sh:Alpe]] [[fi:Alpit]] [[sv:Alperna]] [[ta:ஆல்ப்ஸ்]] [[th:เทือกเขาแอลป์]] [[vi:Alps]] [[tg:Кӯҳҳои Алп]] [[tr:Alpler]] [[uk:Альпи]] [[ur:الپس]] [[vec:Alpi]] [[yi:אלפן]] [[zh-yue:阿爾卑斯山]] [[zh:阿尔卑斯山]]