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The High Alps are the parts of the
/ref> The High Alps have Tundra climate, tundra or ice cap climate rather than the Alpine climate eponymous of the Alpine region at 1,800-2,500 m, above the tree-line but still amenable to transhumance economy. Exploration of the High Alps began in the 18th century, with Horace-Bénédict de Saussure. The first ascent of the highest peak of the Alps, Mont Blanc, dates to 1786. All important mountain passes in Switzerland are below 2,500 m (with Nufenen Pass as high as 2,478 m) but there are a few minor foot passes above 3,000 m: Schöllijoch at 3,343 m, Theodul Pass at 3,301 m, Zwischbergen Pass at 3,268 m, and others. Of historical interest is the Schnidejoch at 2,756 m which appears to have served as a pass since prehistoric times. In other Alpine countries there are higher road passes, such as the Col de l'Iseran (the highest paved road in Europe) in France and the Stelvio Pass in Italy. The alpine line of perpetual snow is not fixed. The occurrence of favorable meteorological conditions during several successive seasons can increase the extent of the snowfields and lower the limit of seemingly permanent snow, while the opposite may cause the limit to rise higher on the flanks of the mountains. In some parts of the Alps the limit is about 2,400 m elevation, while in others it cannot be placed much below 2,900 m. As very little snow remains on rocks angled more than 60°, this is soon removed by the wind, some steep masses of rock remain bare even near the summits of the highest peaks, but as almost every spot offering the least hold for vegetation is covered with snow, few flowering plants are seen above 3,350 m. The climate of the glacial region has often been compared to that of the polar regions, but they are very different. Here, intense solar radiation by day, which raises the surface when dry to a temperature approaching 27°C, alternates with severe frost by night. There, the Sun, which never sets is only able to send feeble rays that maintain a low temperature, rarely rising more than a few degrees above the freezing point. Hence the upper region of the Alps sustains a far more varied and brilliant vegetation.
The High Alps are the parts of the Alps
The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
...
unsuitable for habitation or seasonal transhumance
Transhumance is a type of pastoralism or Nomad, nomadism, a seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions (''vertical transhumance''), it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and low ...
. This includes all regions higher than 3,000 m above sea level, as well as most regions between 2,500 m and 3,000 m ( Juf at 2,126 m is the highest permanently inhabited village in the Alps). Alpine pastures are typically below 2,400 m but may exceptionally be located as high as 2,800 m.The alp of Bréona ( Valais) is among the highest, with buildings at 2,435 m and pastures reaching as high as 2,800 /ref> The High Alps have Tundra climate, tundra or ice cap climate rather than the Alpine climate eponymous of the Alpine region at 1,800-2,500 m, above the tree-line but still amenable to transhumance economy. Exploration of the High Alps began in the 18th century, with Horace-Bénédict de Saussure. The first ascent of the highest peak of the Alps, Mont Blanc, dates to 1786. All important mountain passes in Switzerland are below 2,500 m (with Nufenen Pass as high as 2,478 m) but there are a few minor foot passes above 3,000 m: Schöllijoch at 3,343 m, Theodul Pass at 3,301 m, Zwischbergen Pass at 3,268 m, and others. Of historical interest is the Schnidejoch at 2,756 m which appears to have served as a pass since prehistoric times. In other Alpine countries there are higher road passes, such as the Col de l'Iseran (the highest paved road in Europe) in France and the Stelvio Pass in Italy. The alpine line of perpetual snow is not fixed. The occurrence of favorable meteorological conditions during several successive seasons can increase the extent of the snowfields and lower the limit of seemingly permanent snow, while the opposite may cause the limit to rise higher on the flanks of the mountains. In some parts of the Alps the limit is about 2,400 m elevation, while in others it cannot be placed much below 2,900 m. As very little snow remains on rocks angled more than 60°, this is soon removed by the wind, some steep masses of rock remain bare even near the summits of the highest peaks, but as almost every spot offering the least hold for vegetation is covered with snow, few flowering plants are seen above 3,350 m. The climate of the glacial region has often been compared to that of the polar regions, but they are very different. Here, intense solar radiation by day, which raises the surface when dry to a temperature approaching 27°C, alternates with severe frost by night. There, the Sun, which never sets is only able to send feeble rays that maintain a low temperature, rarely rising more than a few degrees above the freezing point. Hence the upper region of the Alps sustains a far more varied and brilliant vegetation.
See also
* Alpine foothills * Climate of the Alps * Geography of the Alps *Main chain of the Alps
The main chain of the Alps, also called the Alpine divide is the central line of mountains that forms the drainage divide of the range. Main chains of mountain ranges are traditionally designated in this way, and generally include the highest p ...
* Retreat of glaciers since 1850
* List of glaciers in Switzerland
* Altitudinal zonation
* High mountain tour
* White War (fighting in the high-altitude Alpine sector of the Italian front during the First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
between Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
)
*List of Alpine four-thousanders
A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
* List of mountains of the Alps above 3000 m
*List of mountains of the Alps (2500–2999 m)
This page tabulates only the most prominent mountains of the Alps, selected for having a topographic prominence of ''at least'' , all exceeding in height. Although the list contains 537 summits, some significant alpine mountains are necessaril ...
* :Alpine three-thousanders
References
{{Authority control Alps Climate of the Alps Tundra Alps conifer and mixed forests