The Alps are amongst the highest mountain ranges in the world and stretch throughout the European continent.The Alps are spread across eight Alpine countries in Europe, including France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy, Austria, Monaco, Switzerland, and Slovenia. The Alpine mountain range consists of some of the world’s tallest mountains.The Alpine mountain range formed over millions of years as a result of the collision of tectonic plates in the continents of Europe and Africa. In the 19th century, the Alps saw what is now referred to as the Golden Age of Alpinism. During this time, mountaineering in the Alps took off, and several new peaks of the Alps were climbed for the first time.Mountain climbers Alfred Wills and Edward Whymphrey were the reason mountaineering in the Alps took off during this time. Mont Blanc, the most prominent peak in Europe, is a part of the Alps. It has an elevation of 15,777 ft (4,808 m) above sea level (measured in 2005). The entire region features more than 128 peaks with an elevation of 13,200 ft (4,000 m) above sea level. The summits of the Alps pose a great challenge for mountaineers and skiing enthusiasts and are therefore frequented by daredevils from across the world.After reading these facts about the tallest peak in Europe as well as in the world, also check out the tallest mountain and the second highest mountain.Fun Facts About The Tallest AlpsThere are a lot of fun facts about the tallest peaks of the Alps, which we will explore here. Mont Blanc is also known as Monte Bianco. It is the tallest mountain of the Alps mountain range at 15,869 ft (4,809 m) in height. Mont Blanc is distributed between France and Italy. The formation of the Mont Blanc massif took place about 15 million years ago. It was completed around the end of the Tertiary Era.Mont Blanc saw its first ascent in 1786 by mountaineers Michel Paccard and Jacque Balmat. Mont Blanc is part of the Mont Blanc massif range of the Alps. Mont Blanc is a French name for White Mountain. The height of Mont Blanc varies each year, based on the depth of its snowcap. Monte Bianco is the Italian name for Mont Blanc. France and Italy have a bilateral agreement and long-disputed history for the ownership of Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is not only the tallest mountain in the Alps but also in entire western Europe. Mont Blanc is only the seventh-tallest mountain peak in Europe, Mount Elbrus being the tallest at 18,618 ft (5,642 m). The Italian Alps are a formation in the form of an arc, extending across the top of the country. The Swiss Alps consist of a lot of the highest peaks of the Alpine Range, including Dufourspitze, Dom, Liskamm, and many more. The first woman to reach the summit of Mont Blanc was Marie Paradis in 1808.In 2009, Asher Silver, a 10-year-old boy from the UK, set the record for being the youngest person to climb Mont Blanc. In 1960, a small passenger flight was landed on the Summit of Mont Blanc by pilot Henri Giraud. Mont Blanc is ranked 11th in the world in terms of topographically prominent peaks. Mont Blanc is often referred to as the birthplace of modern-day mountaineering. In the 19th century, botanist and meteorologist Joseph Vallot, with the aim of building his own cabin atop the Mont Blanc summit, began professional, scientific investigations of the area. In 1890, astronomer Pierre Janssen aimed at building an astronomical observatory on top of Mont Blanc.Geographical Facts About Mont BlancMont Blanc is located near the France-Italy border. There is a tunnel that is 7 mi (11.2 km) in length which runs directly under the mountain and connects France and Italy. The Mont Blanc Tunnel was built between 1957 and 1965 and served as a significant transport route. The tunnel connects Chamonix, a town in France; to Courmayeur, a town in Italy.The lowest temperature recorded in Mont Blanc was in 1983 at -45.4 F (-43 C ). At 15,869 ft (4,809 m) above sea level, Mont Blanc is the tallest peak of the Alps. The summit of Mont Blanc is located on a watershed line between the valleys of Montjoie and Arve in France and Ferret and Veny in Italy. The Alpine region of Switzerland, known commonly as the Swiss Alps, extends over the western and eastern Alps. Extending from Monaco in the west to Trieste in the east, the Italian Alps cover the northern tip of Italy. Mont Blanc Massif forms part of a larger Alpine range known as the Graian Alps. The Graian Alps are called Alpi Graie in Italian and Alpes Grees in French. The Graian Alps mountain range can be found in the western part of the Alps.The severe impact of climate change has been seen in the Mont Blanc region. In 2015, one of the several routes used to climb Mont Blanc was made unusable by a deep cleft, making the Grand Mulets route, which was the most popular route in the 20th century, impenetrable.Scary Facts About Mont BlancIn 1950 and 1966, two passenger aircrafts crashed in Mont Blanc, leading to a death toll of 160 people. Both flights were Air India flights flying to Geneva Airport. The second flight contained several notable people, one of them being Homi J Bhabha, a nuclear scientist who is known as the father of India’s nuclear program.The death toll in the first crash was 48 people and the death toll was 117 in the second crash. Climbing Mont Blanc mountain, though it may seem mesmerizing, is a dangerous act. In 2012, an avalanche came down, killing nine climbers. Depending upon the route taken by the climbers, the climb can be a very easy one or a very difficult and technical climb. It is advised that only people who have climbing experience and emergency logistics sorted should climb this mountain. Avalanches, crevasses, and seracs are a real danger here and can claim several lives. In 2008, it was known that more than 100 climbers died in the summer due to a storm. As per recorded numbers, over 1,400 people have died so far trying to climb Mont Blanc. In 1999, 39 people lost their lives in the Mont Blanc tunnel as a transport truck caught on fire.It is said that the low level of climbing experience of the climbers, coupled with the lack of proper guidance and, of course, the harsh weather conditions are the reason behind such high numbers of fatalities.Tourism Facts About Mont BlancMont Blanc is famous for its splendid views, attracting thousands of tourists each year. Mont Blanc also welcomes about 20,000 mountain climbers each year. The Tour Du Mont Blanc is long-distance trekking and hiking designed for tourists who are not climbers.The Tour Du Mont Blanc enables tourists to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Alps along with enjoying a trek through three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland. At 106 mi (170 km) long, this trek through France, Switzerland, and Italy can be a difficult trek. Tourists can also enjoy the domestic delicacies of these three countries as part of the trek. Tour Du Mont Blanc also allows trekkers to stay in huts built in the mountains to get an experience of a lifetime. The French town of Chamonix is widely known as an amazing destination for skiing, hiking, trekking, and snowboarding in winters. Chamonix, however, also boasts beautiful green summer months with adventures and outdoor activities that are sure to show tourists a good time. The most popular route for climbing is the Gouter Route. It usually takes two days for climbers to reach the summit through this route. Gouter Route also goes by the names of Voie Royale and Voie des Cristalliers.This route passes through the north side of the mountain and is known to be the easiest route to climb. The town of Chamonix was also the site for the first Winter Olympic Games held in 1924. There are local guides available to guide you through the climb. Since a lot of climbs begin from Chamonix, a lot of companies have now been established in this town that provides guides.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 111 facts about the tallest alps that everyone should know, then why not take a look at Sugarloaf Mountain Brazil facts or the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains.
The Alps are amongst the highest mountain ranges in the world and stretch throughout the European continent.
