The Alps

Formation
• The European and the African continents collided  mountain
Location
• Member of the young Eurasian Mountain System

ps
The Al
Location
 Location
• They stretch
through 8
countries

!
 Location
• The highest peak is 4808 m
• It is located on the border of
France and Italy
Main parts of the Alps
• Western Alps:
• They are higher
• They are located in Italy, France and Switzerland
• Here is the highest peak (Mount Blanc)
• The glaciers of this part are longer
• Eastern Alps:
• They are elongated and broad
• They are located in Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia,
Switzerland
Climate
• It is determined by the altitude
• The southern slopes of the mountain get more sunshine  the temperature
is warmer
• All year round snow and ice cover the higher peaks above the snowline
• At high elevations, the snow turns to ice and then flows down to the valleys
as glaciers
• The snowline is not permanent lower-higher in the south or north
• The western winds carry the preception from the Atlantic Ocean  the
north-western slopes of the Alps get much more rain
• The valleys and the basins close between the ranges get less rain
Rivers, alpine lakes
• Among the great alpine rivers we can distinguish two classes:
• Which spring directly from glaciers (e.g.: Rhone, Rhine)
• Which rise in lakes (e.g.: Po)
• The lakes have glacial origin
• The largest lakes are Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda