Alps Mountain
The Alps are Europe’s highest and largest mountain range system. They extend from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany to France in the west. The English word ‘Alps’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Alpes’ (via French). The term ‘Alp’ refers to a high mountain pasture. Mont Blanc, the most famous mountain in the Alps, lies at 4,808 meters (15,774 feet) on the Italian-French border.
The altitude and extent of the range influence the climate in Europe; in the mountains, precipitation levels vary dramatically, and climatic conditions are divided into distinct zones. Ibex dwell at elevations up to 3,400 m (11,155 ft.), while Edelweiss grows in rocky places at both lower and higher elevations. The Alps are an excellent example of what happens when a calm zone at a lower elevation provides an approach to higher territory. As you move from sea level to higher altitudes, the temperature drops. The mountain’s impact leads warm air from the lower district to rise into an upper zone, extending and losing temperature, resulting in snow and/or rain. Human habitation in the Alps dates back to the Paleolithic era. In 1991, a 5,000-year-old mummy was discovered on a glacier near the Austrian-Italian border.
These mountain monoliths have witnessed and participated in numerous historical events that have shaped the countries of today’s European continent. Beginning with the Celtic La Tène culture in the 6th century BC, Hannibal famously crossed the Alps with a herd of elephants and established Roman towns in the area. In 1800, Napoleon traversed a mountain pass with a 40,000-strong force. Adolf Hitler, born in Austria, had a lifelong romantic obsession with the Alps and by the 1930s acquired a house at Berghof, in the Obersalzberg region west of Berchtesgaden. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there was an influx of naturalists, writers, and artists, particularly the Romantics. This was followed by the golden period of alpinism, when mountaineers began ascending peaks.
The Alps provide lowland Europe with drinking water, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. Although the Alps comprise just around 11% of Europe’s surface area, they provide up to 90% of lowland Europe’s water, especially in drier areas and during the summer months.
The Alps are regarded as the birthplace of “alpinism” or mountaineering. Karl Blodig (1859-1956) was among the first to successfully climb all major 4,000-meter peaks. He finished his series of ascents in 1911.
The Alps are attractive destinations for both summer and winter sports. The Alps are ideal for both sightseeing and recreational activities. From December to April, several locations provide winter sports such as alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and ski trips. Many well-known Alpine resorts can be found here, including Chamonix (France), Zermatt, Saint Moritz, and Davos (Switzerland), Sankt Anton and Innsbruck (Austria), and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany). In the summer, the Alps are popular with explorers, mountain bikers, paragliders, and mountain inhabitants. There are also snow-capped lakes that attract swimmers, seafarers, and surfers. The Alps’ lower areas and larger towns are well connected by highways and main roads, but higher cruises and byways can be treacherous even in late April. Many passes are closed in the winter. Numerous airport ports around the Alps (and some inside), as well as long-distance rail connections from all surrounding countries, manage the costs of large numbers of travelers and provide easy access from overseas. Each year, more than 100 million people visit the Alps. The Alps are divided into five atmospheric zones, each with a unique type of condition. The atmosphere, vegetation, and animal life vary depending on the area or zone of the mountain.
The section of the Alps above 3,000 meters is known as the névé zone (glacial zone). This location, with the coldest environment, is perpetually covered in packed snow. Plants are rare in the névé zone.
-The snow-capped zone ranges in height from 2,000 to 3,000 meters. This zone is less frigid than the névé zone. Wildflowers and grasses can thrive here.
The subalpine zone, which is 1,500 to 2,000 meters altitude, lies just beneath the snow-capped zone. As the temperature rises in the subalpine zone, fir and spruce woodlands form.
-The arable zone is around 1,000 to 1,500 meters high. A large number of oak trees grow here. Cultivation is done in this area of the range.
-The wetlands are beneath 1,000 meters. There is a wider range of plants available here. Aside from vegetation, settlements are also located in marshes because the climate is more comfortable for humans and domestic animals.
The Alpine area is distinguished by its rich cultural legacy and traditions. The traditional culture of farming, cheese making, and woodworking still exists in Alpine villages, although the tourist industry began to grow early in the 20th century and expanded greatly after World War II to become the dominant industry by the end of the century. The Winter Olympics have been held in the Swiss, French, Italian, Austrian, and German Alps. Currently, the region is home to 14 million people and receives 120 million visitors annually.
Early visitors to the Alps were captivated by the region’s natural beauty, which has contributed to its current popularity. As popularity expanded, the Alpine ecosystem degraded steadily, beginning in the mid-twentieth century due to rising people. This has resulted in decreased air quality, water pollution in rivers and lakes, increased noise pollution, slope erosion from ski slopes and highways, rubbish dumping, quarry erosion, and acid rain-damaged forests. The most important alteration has been the transformation of the Alpine scenery. The main river valleys have been turned into linear conurbations of concrete and asphalt, and many settlements in the upper lateral valleys have taken on the characteristics of lowland suburbs to cater to the expanding tourist trade. The most evident result of this growth is a severe deterioration in air quality. Factory pollution contributes to pollution from home heating and vehicle exhausts, which is aggravated by temperature inversions and windless weather. Alpine communities and valleys may suffer filthy air for weeks on end. The Alps’ unique beauty and vegetation, which attracted early explorers, are undergoing irreversible changes.
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