The Alps are one of the unique regions not only in Europe, but throughout the world. Wildlife is still preserved in this mountainous region. The peaks of the Alps exceed 4000 m, and the local landscapes are strikingly contrasting: snow-capped peaks, green meadows, sparkling lakes, majestic glaciers.
1. Greatness and power
The Alps form a gigantic mountain range. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Danube in the east. The Alps are located on the territory of seven states: Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia. At their widest part, in Austria, the mountains reach heights of 250 km. They are five times longer in length. It is noteworthy that the Alps continue to grow. They add 10 mm annually. However, the forces of nature - water, wind, sun, ice - nullify this growth. The grandeur and power of the Alps attracts millions of tourists every year.
2. Highest point
Mount Mont Blanc is the apogee of the Alps. Its height is 4807 m. The mountain is located on the French-Italian border. There is also a tunnel that connects the two countries.
3. Glaciers
High in the Alps, a lot of snow accumulates. It turns into huge masses of ice. Subsequently, under the influence of their own gravity and atmospheric conditions, they slowly move down the slopes. The speed of the glacial flow is about 1 cm per year.
4. Lakes
Mountain lakes in the Alps appeared during the descent of glaciers 10 thousand years ago. They occupy the depressions of ancient glacial hollows, enclosed by natural barriers. The largest of the lakes is Leman. Its length is about 73 km.
5. Flora
Edelweiss is the most characteristic plant in the Alps. It is found at an altitude of 1800 to 2500 m, above the upper border of the forests. It is the area of the last flowering alpine meadows dotted with thousands of summer flowers. There you can see many magnificent natural meadows, huge fragments of rocks, dwarf bushes, springs and mountain rivers. The high altitude does not allow actively growing agricultural crops, but it is good to graze cows in the alpine meadows, which the locals do.
6. Human assimilation
People have settled in the Alps for a long time. This is evidenced by 100 thousand drawings on slate slabs in the Valley of Wonders, which is in the French department of the Maritime Alps. Scientists believe that people drew them 3,800 years ago in honor of the gods they worship.
7. Dams
The underground resources of the Alps are poor. In order not to buy oil and coal for heating and generating electricity, hundreds of dams were built, the power of the waters of which feeds hydroelectric power plants. The highest dam in the Alps is considered to be Grand Dixens, located in Switzerland. It is located at an elevation of 284 m.
8. Cheese
Alpine cheeses are famous all over the world. The most famous are the Swiss Gruyeres and Emmenthal. The latter is in the form of huge millstones with massive irregular holes, and the former is more modest in size, with small round holes.
