Dufourspitze facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dufourspitze |
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| French: Pointe Dufour, Italian: Punta Dufour | |
The Monte Rosa massif with the Dufourspitze.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,634 m (15,203 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,165 m (7,103 ft) ↓ Great St Bernard Pass Ranked 7th in the Alps |
| Isolation | 78.3 km (48.7 mi) → M Blanc de Courmayeur |
| Listing | Country high point Canton high point Ultra Seven Second Summits |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Dufourspitze, Höchste Spitze, Gornerhorn (German) |
| English translation | Peak Dufour, Highest Peak, Large Horn |
| Geography | |
 Dufourspitze
Location in Switzerland
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| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Valais |
| Parent range | Pennine Alps |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1 August 1855 by Matthäus and Johannes Zumtaugwald, Ulrich Lauener, Christopher and James Smyth, Charles Hudson, John Birkbeck and Edward Stephenson. |
| Easiest route | rock/snow/ice climb |
The Dufourspitze is a very tall mountain in the Alps. It is part of the Monte Rosa mountain range.
Standing at 4,634 metres high, it is the highest mountain peak in Switzerland. It is also the second-highest peak in the entire Alps mountain range. Only Mont Blanc is taller. The mountain is located right on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
The mountain got its name from a famous Swiss engineer and map-maker. His name was Guillaume Henri Dufour.
About Dufourspitze
The Dufourspitze is a major peak in the Pennine Alps. It is part of a huge mountain group called Monte Rosa. This group has many high peaks. The Dufourspitze is the highest of them all.
It is a very important mountain for Switzerland. It marks the highest point in the country. It is also one of the "Seven Second Summits." These are the second-highest peaks on each continent.
Naming the Mountain
The mountain is named after Guillaume Henri Dufour. He was a Swiss army officer and engineer. He was also a very skilled topographer. This means he was an expert at making detailed maps of land.
Dufour led the creation of the first accurate maps of Switzerland. These maps were very important for the country. Naming the highest peak after him was a way to honor his work.
Climbing the Peak
Climbing the Dufourspitze is a big challenge. It is a serious climb that involves rock, snow, and ice. Only experienced climbers should try to reach the top.
The first people to successfully climb the Dufourspitze were a group of climbers. They reached the summit on August 1, 1855. The group included Matthäus and Johannes Zumtaugwald, Ulrich Lauener, Christopher and James Smyth, Charles Hudson, John Birkbeck, and Edward Stephenson.
Many climbs start from the Monte Rosa Hut. This hut is a mountain shelter. It helps climbers rest before their journey to the peak.
Images for kids
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The Dufourspitze seen from Nordend, another peak.
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The Monte-Rosa Hut, a starting point for climbs.
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The Monte-Rosa massif, with Dufourspitze in the center.
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Guillaume-Henri Dufour, the mountain's namesake.
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An aerial view of the Monte Rosa area from the south.
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The west side of the mountain and the Monte Rosa Glacier.
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A view from the base of the east face.
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See also
In Spanish: Pico Dufour para niños
