Alps facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alps
Satellite view of the Alps
Highest point
Peak	Mont Blanc
Elevation	4,808.73 m (15,776.7 ft)
Listing	List of mountain ranges
Dimensions
Length	1,200 km (750 mi)
Width	250 km (160 mi)
Area	200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi)
Geography
Relief of the Alps. See also map with international borders marked.
Country	Austria France Germany Italy Liechtenstein Monaco Slovenia Switzerland
Range coordinates	46°35′N 8°37′E / 46.58°N 8.62°E / 46.58; 8.62
Geology
Orogeny	Alpine orogeny
Age of rock	Tertiary
Type of rock	Bündner schist flysch molasse

The Dolomites (Italy) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Alps are Europe's highest and largest mountain range. They stretch for about 1,200 kilometers across eight countries. These countries are Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia.

The Alps form a giant curve from the Mediterranean Sea to the Adriatic Sea. These mountains were created over millions of years. This happened when the African and Eurasian land plates slowly crashed into each other. This huge collision pushed up rocks from the sea floor. It formed tall peaks like Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

Mont Blanc is on the border between France and Italy. It is the highest mountain in the Alps, standing at 4,809 meters. The Alpine region has 82 peaks that are taller than 4,000 meters.

The size and height of the Alps affect Europe's weather. The mountains have different climate zones. Rainfall varies a lot across the region. Animals like ibex live on the highest peaks, up to 3,400 meters. Plants like edelweiss grow in rocky areas, both high up and lower down.

People have lived in the Alps since ancient times. A 5,000-year-old mummified man, named "Ötzi," was found in 1991. He was discovered on a glacier near the Austrian–Italian border.

Around 600 BC, the Celtic La Tène culture thrived here. Hannibal famously crossed the Alps with elephants. The Romans also built settlements in the region. In 1800, Napoleon led an army of 40,000 soldiers across a mountain pass. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many naturalists, writers, and artists visited the Alps. This led to the "golden age of alpinism," when mountaineers started climbing the highest peaks.

The Alpine region has a rich culture. Traditional activities like farming, cheesemaking, and woodworking are still important. Tourism began to grow in the early 1900s. It became the main industry after World War II.

The Winter Olympic Games have been held in the Swiss, French, Italian, Austrian, and German Alps. As of 2025, about 14 million people live in the region. It welcomes 120 million visitors every year.

What's in a Name? The Alps' Story

An "Alp" refers to a high elevation pasture frequented only in summer. It often includes several huts and small places of worship (here the Alpe Bardughè in Ticino).

The English word Alps comes from the Latin word Alpes.

The Latin word Alpes might come from the word albus, meaning "white." It could also be linked to an ancient word for "hill." Many mountainous areas in Europe have names that sound similar.

In ancient times, people called all high mountains Alpes. This was according to the Celts.

Today, the word alp (or similar words like alm or alpe) means something specific. It refers to the high mountain pastures where animals graze in summer. These pastures are below the glaciers, not the peaks themselves. So, calling the mountains "the Alps" is a bit of a mix-up! The names for the mountain peaks vary by country. For example, in German, they use words like Gipfel or Spitze. In French, they use Mont or Pointe. In Italian, they use Monte or Pizzo.

Exploring the Geography of the Alps

The Alps extend in an arc from France in the south and west to Slovenia in the east, and from Monaco in the south to Germany in the north.

The Alps form a giant crescent shape in central Europe. This curved line stretches about 800 kilometers from east to west. It is about 200 kilometers wide. The average height of the mountain peaks is 2.5 kilometers. The range starts near the Mediterranean Sea. It then curves through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia.

To the south, the Alps reach into northern Italy. To the north, they extend to southern Germany. In some places, like Chiasso in Switzerland, the mountains clearly meet flatlands. In other areas, like Geneva, the change is less clear.

The Alps are found in eight countries: Austria (28.7% of the area), Italy (27.2%), France (21.4%), Switzerland (13.2%), Germany (5.8%), Slovenia (3.6%), Liechtenstein (0.08%), and Monaco (0.001%).

Aerial view of the Pennine Alps, the second-highest range of the Alps

The highest part of the Alps is split by the Rhône valley. This area includes Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa. The peaks in the eastern Alps (Austria and Slovenia) are generally smaller. They are not as tall as those in the central and western parts.

Geologists often divide the Alps into the Eastern Alps and Western Alps. The dividing line is in eastern Switzerland, near the Splügen Pass.

A typical alpine village in the Tuxertal valley of Tyrol, Austria

Mont Blanc, at 4,810 meters, is the highest peak in the Western Alps. Piz Bernina, at 4,049 meters, is the highest in the Eastern Alps. Other very high peaks include Monte Rosa (4,634 meters) and Ortler (3,905 meters).

Smaller mountain ranges run alongside the main Alps. These include the French Prealps and the Jura Mountains. The main chain of the Alps follows the natural water divide. This line goes from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Vienna.

Mountain Passes: Pathways Through the Alps

Teufelsbrücke (Devil's Bridge) on the route to the Gotthard Pass; the currently used bridge from 1958 over the first drivable bridge from 1830

People have crossed the Alps for many reasons. They traveled for trade, wars, religious journeys, and tourism. These crossing routes are called passes. They are usually lower areas in the mountains where valleys connect different regions. In the past, merchants used pack animals like mules. Later, heavy carts and sleighs were used.

During the Middle Ages, religious groups built hospices (shelters) at the top of many main passes. Important passes include the Col de l'Iseran, Brenner Pass, and Gotthard Pass.

The Brenner Pass connects Italy and Austria. It has been a trade route since the 1300s. The Semmering Pass is one of the lowest, at 985 meters. It has been used since the 1100s. A railway tunnel was built there in the mid-1800s. The Great St Bernard Pass is very high, at 2,469 meters. Napoleon Bonaparte led 40,000 troops across this pass in 1800.

The col du Mont-Cenis (2,081 m (6,827 ft)) at the centre left of the picture gives access to a large alpine lake, and further away to the Italian peninsula 12 km (7.5 mi) beyond the pass.

The Mont Cenis pass was a key route between Western Europe and Italy. Many armies crossed it over the centuries. In the 1800s, engineers improved the main Alpine passes. They built tunnels and bridges to make travel faster. The Fréjus Rail Tunnel opened in 1871, and the Fréjus Road Tunnel in 1980.

The Gotthard Pass connects central Switzerland to Ticino. The Saint Gotthard Railway Tunnel opened in 1882. It connected Lucerne, Switzerland, with Milan, Italy. The Gotthard Road Tunnel opened in 1980. On June 1, 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel opened. It is the world's longest railway tunnel, at 57.1 kilometers. It is the first tunnel to cross the Alps on a flat route.

The highest pass in the Alps is the Col de l'Iseran in France, at 2,770 meters. The Stelvio Pass in Italy is also very high, at 2,756 meters. Its road was built in the 1820s.

The Highest Mountains of the Alps

The Eiger (shown along with the Mönch and the Jungfrau) has the tallest north face in the Alps.

The UIAA (a climbing organization) lists 82 "official" Alpine peaks over 4,000 meters. These include mountains and smaller peaks important for climbing. Here are 29 of the most prominent "four-thousanders":

Most of these peaks were first climbed in the second half of the 1800s. The climb of the Matterhorn in 1865 was a famous event. Early climbers like Karl Blodig completed ascents of many major 4,000-meter peaks.

Rivers and Lakes: Water for Europe

The St. Bartholomew's chapel on the Königssee in Bavaria is a popular tourist destination.

The Alps are a vital source of water for Europe. They provide drinking water, irrigation for farms, and power from hydroelectric dams. Even though the Alps are only about 11% of Europe's land, they supply up to 90% of the water to lower areas. This is especially important in dry regions and during summer. Cities like Milan get 80% of their water from Alpine runoff. Over 550 hydroelectric power plants use water from Alpine rivers.

Major European rivers, like the Rhine, Rhône, and Po, start in the Alps. They flow into neighboring countries and eventually reach the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, and Black Sea.

The Rhône River is a huge source of fresh water for the Mediterranean. It begins as melting glacier water. It flows into Lake Geneva and then into France. The Rhine River starts in Switzerland and provides almost 60% of that country's exported water. Melting snow can cause rivers to swell and flood valleys.

The rivers also form beautiful lakes. Lake Geneva is a crescent-shaped lake on the Swiss-French border. In Germany, the historic St. Bartholomew's chapel sits on the Königssee. It can only be reached by boat or by climbing.

Southern pre-alpine lakes like Lake Garda are characterised by warmer microclimates than the surrounding areas.

The Alps have also created large lakes in Italy, like Lake Garda. These Italian Lakes are popular tourist spots because of their mild climate.

Scientists are studying how climate change affects water in the Alps. Less snow and shrinking glaciers mean less water stored in the mountains. This could impact rivers and water availability for many European countries in the future.

Alpine Climate: Weather in the Mountains

The Alps are a great example of how altitude changes climate. As you go higher, the temperature drops. This is why high mountain areas around the world have "Alpine climates," similar to polar regions. The tall Alps also block winds, causing warm air to rise and cool. This often leads to snow or rain. The mountains are high enough to create different weather patterns across Europe. They make the north wetter and the south drier.

The Aletsch Glacier with pine trees growing on the hillside (2007; the surface is 180 m (590 ft) lower than 150 years ago)

Scientists have studied the Alps' weather since the 1700s. They especially look at winds like the seasonal foehn wind. Many weather stations in the mountains collect data for climate experts. Some valleys, like the Aosta Valley in Italy, are quite dry.

Areas with lots of rain and snow can experience floods when snow melts quickly. The Alps get between 2,600 mm and 3,600 mm of precipitation each year. Higher altitudes get more. Snow usually starts in November and melts from April or May. Above 2,400 to 3,000 meters, snow stays all year. Temperatures there are near freezing even in summer. Rivers are fullest in June and July when high-altitude snow melts.

The Alps have five climate zones, each with different plants.

• The colline zone is the lowest, from 500 to 1,000 meters.
• The montane zone is from 800 to 1,700 meters.
• The sub-Alpine zone is from 1,600 to 2,400 meters.
• The Alpine zone is above the tree line, up to the snow line.
• The glacial zone covers areas with permanent glaciers.

Weather can vary even within the same zone. Valleys directly connected to peaks are colder than those at the mouth of a valley.

Climate Change and the Alps

Shrinkage of snow cover duration, starting ~end of the 19th century

Experts predict that temperatures in the Alps will keep rising. This will affect snowfall, snowpack, glaciers, and river water. Over the last 50 years, the time snow stays on the ground has shrunk by 5.6% each decade. This means people in the Alps need to adapt to these changes.

How the Alps Were Formed: Geology

Important ideas about geology came from studying the Alps in the 1700s. In the mid-1900s, the theory of plate tectonics helped explain how mountains form.

The geologic folding seen at the Arpenaz waterfall, shown here in a mid-18th-century drawing, was noted by 18th-century geologists.

The Alps began forming about 300 million years ago. Earth's land plates moved apart, creating the Tethys Sea. Later, the African and Eurasian plates started colliding. This collision, which began in the late Cretaceous Period, pushed up the Alps. This process is still happening today.

The immense pressure from the colliding plates folded and pushed up marine rocks. This created the tall, jagged peaks we see. As the mountains rose, erosion created sediments. These sediments formed new rock layers in the surrounding areas.

The dolomitic peaks of Triglav National Park in the Julian Alps

The Alps are made of layers of rock from European, African, and ancient ocean origins. The bottom layers are from the European plate. Above them are marine sediments. On top are rocks from the African plate. The Matterhorn is a great example of this. Its tip is made of rock from the African plate. Its base is European rock. The middle layers are from the ancient Tethys Sea.

The tip of the Matterhorn (Italian-Swiss border) consists of gneisses originally part of the African plate, and the base of the peak is part of the Eurasian plate.

Haute Maurienne (Ambin and Vanoise massifs) and its exposed crystalline basement made of high-pressure subduction rocks such as blueschist and metaquartzite (picture taken at 2,400 metres or 7,900 feet)

Because the Earth's plates are still moving, earthquakes still happen in the Alps. The land is also slowly rising, about 1 to 2.5 mm each year. This is due to ongoing plate movement and the melting of ancient ice sheets.

Minerals: Treasures of the Alps

The Alps have been a source of minerals for thousands of years. Celtic tribes mined copper long ago. The Romans mined gold for coins. Today, Erzberg in Austria provides high-quality iron ore. Beautiful crystals like amethyst and quartz are found throughout the Alps.

People have collected and studied Alpine crystals for centuries. In the 1700s, scientists like Leonhard Euler studied their shapes. By the 1800s, crystal hunting was popular.

Glaciers: Rivers of Ice

This illustration of the glacier systems of the Mont Blanc massif by Alexander Keith Johnston was first published 1848 in The Physical Atlas.

Millions of years ago, glaciers carved out many of the valleys in the Alps. In the mid-1800s, naturalist Louis Agassiz showed that the Alps were once covered in ice. He is known as the "father of the ice-age concept."

Louis Agassiz's studies of the Unteraar Glacier in the 1840s showed that it moved at 100 m (328 ft) per year.

Agassiz studied how glaciers move. He found that the Unteraar Glacier moved about 100 meters per year. Today, a special lab inside a glacier studies Alpine glaciers.

Glaciers pick up rocks and sediment as they flow. This causes erosion and forms valleys over time. The Inn valley is an example of a valley carved by glaciers. Glacial valleys have very steep sides. Piles of rock called moraines build up at the edges of glaciers.

The Sphinx Tunnel connecting Jungfraujoch railway station to the Sphinx Observatory, through a glacier at the Jungfraujoch

Alpine glaciers can be long rivers of ice or spread out like fans. Their movement causes the ice to crack loudly. This might be why people in the Middle Ages thought dragons lived in the mountains! These cracks create dangerous crevasses, which are often hidden by new snow.

Glaciers end in ice caves, flow into lakes or rivers, or melt onto meadows. Sometimes, a piece of a glacier breaks off, causing floods.

Glaciers in the Alps have been shrinking. In 1876, glaciers covered 1,817 square kilometers. By 1973, this had shrunk to 1,342 square kilometers. Forty percent of Austria's glaciers have disappeared since 1850. Thirty percent of Switzerland's glaciers are also gone. This means less water for rivers.

Avalanches: Snow's Powerful Force

Avalanches are sudden, fast-moving slides of snow down a mountainside. They can be very dangerous. In the past, avalanches have destroyed villages and caused loss of life. Mountaineers and skiers must be very careful in avalanche-prone areas.

Alpine Ecology: Plants and Animals

Flora: Alpine Plants and Their Life Cycle

Stemless gentian (Gentiana acaulis)

The Alpine regions are home to 13,000 species of plants. These plants grow in different habitats, from meadows and bogs to rocky slopes. The type of soil, whether limestone or not, also affects where plants grow.

The lowest areas have deciduous trees like oak, beech, and ash. These trees usually grow up to about 1,200 meters on the north side of the Alps. On the warmer southern slopes, they can reach 1,500 to 1,700 meters.

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)

Above the forests, you often find dwarf pine trees. Higher up, there are Alpenrosen, which are small shrubs. Above the tree line is the "alpine" zone. Here, plants have adapted to cold, dry, and high-altitude conditions.

Alpine plants like the Alpine gentian grow in meadows. Gentians are named after an ancient king. Forty species of this early-spring flower grow in the Alps, between 1,500 and 2,400 meters. They bloom at different times as the snow melts higher up the mountains.

Berchtesgaden National Park in Bavaria

Preserved internal alpine forest and meadow, Vanoise National Park

On the highest rocky ledges, spring flowers bloom in summer. These plants often grow in small, cushion-like shapes. Several flowering plants have been found above 4,000 meters, including Ranunculus glacialis and Edelweiss. Edelweiss is perhaps the most famous Alpine plant. It grows in rocky areas from 1,200 to 3,400 meters high.

Alpine meadows smell wonderful in summer. The strong, sweet scent of Alpine clover is very common. Some Alpine plants are also used for medicine, like Origanum vulgare.

Human activity has changed the plant life. Many forests were cut down between the 1600s and 1800s. Today, some high meadows are no longer harvested, which might lead to forests growing back. However, building ski runs can damage the delicate plant life.

Fauna: Alpine Animals and Their Adaptations

The Alps are home to 30,000 species of wildlife. These range from tiny snow fleas to brown bears. Many animals have special ways to survive the cold and high altitudes. Some can only live in specific micro-climates.

Young alpine ibex. When fully grown the horns of this male will be about one metre wide.

The largest mammal living at high altitudes is the alpine ibex. They have been seen as high as 3,000 meters. Ibex live in caves and come down to eat grasses. Chamois are smaller antelopes found throughout the Alps, living above the tree line. Brown bears still live in parts of the eastern Alps.

Many rodents, like voles, live underground. Marmots live mostly above the tree line, up to 2,700 meters. They hibernate in large groups for warmth. Golden eagles and bearded vultures are the largest birds in the Alps. They nest on high rocky ledges. The most common bird is the alpine chough, often seen near climber's huts.

The alpine Apollo butterfly has adapted to alpine conditions.

Reptiles like adders and vipers live up to the snow line. They hibernate underground to escape the cold. High-altitude Alpine salamanders give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Brown trout swim in the streams. Wood snails also live up to the snow line and are now protected.

Many species of moths and butterflyes live in the Alps. Some blue butterflies fly as high as 1,800 meters. Large butterflies, like the Parnassius family, are also found. Twelve species of beetles live up to the snow line. The beautiful Rosalia alpina beetle is now protected. Spiders, like the large wolf spider, live above the snow line. Scorpions can be found in the Italian Alps.

Dinosaur tracks from the Triassic Period were found in Switzerland in the 1970s. This shows how ancient life in the Alps truly is.

A Look at Alpine History

Prehistory: Early Human Life in the Alps

Petroglyphs, Rock Drawings in Valcamonica, Italy, which was recognized by UNESCO in 1979 and was Italy's first recognized World Heritage Site

After the last ice age, early humans settled along lake shores and in caves. Evidence of human life has been found near Grenoble, France. In Austria, houses built on piles were found in Mondsee lake. Standing stones have been discovered in the French and Italian Alps. Over 200,000 drawings and etchings, known as the Rock Drawings in Valcamonica, have been documented.

A mummy of a Stone Age human, called Ötzi, was found on a glacier. His clothes suggest he was an Alpine farmer. His remains are now in a museum in Italy.

From the 1200s to 600 BC, various groups settled in the Alps. Celtic tribes lived in what is now Switzerland. They mined salt in places like Salzburg. By 600 BC, the La Tène culture was known for its beautiful Celtic art.

The Roman people built roads through the Alpine mountain passes. These roads were used for centuries. Roman markers can still be seen on some passes. During the Second Punic War in 218 BC, the general Hannibal famously crossed the Alps with his army.

Later, Julius Caesar defeated the Helvetii tribe. The Romans then conquered other tribes and built settlements in the Alps. Remains of villas and temples have been found in towns like Aosta and Lausanne.

Important Events and the Rise of Nations

Suvorov crossing the Alps, by Vasily Surikov

Christianity spread in the Alps with the Romans. Monasteries and churches were built, even high in the mountains. The Franks expanded their empire, and feudalism came to the eastern Alps. Castles were built to protect growing kingdoms. Castello del Buonconsiglio in Italy and Château de Chillon in Switzerland are examples of medieval architecture.

The Great St Bernard Hospice, built in the 800s or 900s, offered shelter to travelers. In 1291, four Alpine regions formed the Federal Charter of 1291. This was a declaration of independence from powerful neighbors. Over time, more regions joined, and by the 1500s, Switzerland became a sovereign state.

In the 1700s, a treaty called the Peace of Utrecht used the Alps to define borders. This was one of the first times geography was used to set country lines.

Napoleon passing the Great St Bernard Pass, by Edouard Castres

During the late 1700s and early 1800s, Napoleon's armies crossed the Alps. In 1798, the Helvetic Republic was formed. In 1800, Napoleon led an army across the Great St Bernard Pass. After Napoleon's time, Alpine countries built strong defenses to prevent future invasions.

In the 1800s, the monasteries that once sheltered travelers became tourist spots. Many religious orders had built important centers in the Alps.

Exploring the High Peaks

Mont Blanc massif

Charcoal found in a cave in Switzerland shows that prehistoric people visited the high peaks 50,000 years ago. For a long time, people thought the mountains were scary places, home to dragons. Glaciers were a mystery.

In 1356, a French knight climbed Mont Aiguille. He left three bronze crosses on Rocciamelone. In 1492, Antoine de Ville climbed Mont Aiguille, describing it as "horrifying." Leonardo da Vinci was fascinated by the light at high altitudes. He climbed a mountain, possibly Monte Rosa, and described the sky as "blue like that of a gentian."

Horace Bénédict de Saussure shown in, Descent from Mont-Blanc, by Christian von Mechel

Conrad Gessner was the first naturalist to climb mountains to study them in the 1500s. By the 1800s, more scientists came to explore the peaks. Horace-Bénédict de Saussure studied glaciers and geology. In 1787, he was part of the third team to climb Mont Blanc. Today, all the major peaks have been climbed.

Artists and Mountaineers: The Alps' Allure

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich

In the 1700s, poets like Albrecht von Haller described the Alps as pure and mythical. Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote about their beauty. Later, Romantic artists and writers, like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and J. M. W. Turner, admired the Alpine scenery. William Wordsworth visited in 1790. Friedrich Schiller wrote the play William Tell about Swiss independence. After the Napoleonic Wars, many artists and musicians visited the Alps to experience their grand beauty.

In 1816, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary Shelley visited Lake Geneva. The scenery inspired their writings. Shelley wrote "Mont Blanc," Byron wrote "The Prisoner of Chillon," and Mary Shelley got the idea for Frankenstein there.

By the mid-1800s, scientists came to study the geology and ecology. Tourism and mountaineering grew. Early climbers combined science with sport. The first president of the Alpine Club, John Ball, helped discover the Dolomites.

Alpine Society and Culture

Largest Alpine Cities

The largest city within the Alps is Grenoble in France. Other important cities in the Alps with over 100,000 people include Bolzano/Bozen and Trento in Italy, and Innsbruck in Austria.

Cities with over 100,000 inhabitants in the Alps are:

Rank	Municipality	Inhabitants	Country	Region
1	Grenoble	162,780	France	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
2	Innsbruck	132,236	Austria	Tyrol
3	Trento	117,417	Italy	Trentino-South Tyrol
4	Bolzano/Bozen	106,951	Italy	Trentino-South Tyrol

Alpine People and Culture

The Alps are home to 14 million people across eight countries. In the valleys and plains, people work in manufacturing and services. In the higher mountains, farming is still very important. Farming and forestry help support the economy and protect the mountain environment.

The Alpine regions are rich in different cultures and languages. Many local dialects are spoken, varying from valley to valley. For example, in the Slavic Alps, there are 19 different dialects. Some French, Swiss, and Italian dialects come from ancient languages like Arpitan and Occitan. German dialects come from old Germanic tribal languages. Romansh, spoken in southeast Switzerland, is an ancient language from Latin and Celtic roots.

Hallstatt is known for its production of salt, dating back to prehistoric times.

Much of Alpine culture has stayed the same since medieval times. Skills like carpentry, woodcarving, baking, and cheesemaking were essential for survival. These traditions are still strong today.

Farming has been a main job for centuries. However, it became less common in the 1900s as tourism grew. Because the Alps are so steep and rocky, there isn't much land for grazing. In mid-June, cows are moved to high pastures near the snowline. Herdsmen live in stone huts or wooden barns to watch them. Villagers celebrate when the cows go up to the pastures and when they return in mid-September. This return, called Almabtrieb, is celebrated with decorated cows and traditional costumes.

In the summers the cows are brought up to the high mountain meadows for grazing. Small summer villages such as the one shown in this photograph taken in Savoy are used.

Cheesemaking is an ancient tradition. A wheel of cheese from Switzerland's Emmental can weigh up to 45 kg. The Beaufort cheese in France can weigh up to 70 kg. Haymaking is also important in mountain villages. It has become more mechanized, but scythes are still needed on steep slopes.

In high villages, homes are built to withstand cold winters. The kitchen is separate from the living area, called the stube, which is heated by a stove. Bedrooms on the second floor stay warm from the rising heat. The typical Swiss chalet comes from the Bernese Oberland. Chalets are often made of wood with steep roofs. This allows snow to slide off easily.

Herding sheep in Austria

Meals are often shared, like fondue, where everyone dips into a pot. Furniture is often beautifully carved. Carpentry skills are passed down through generations.

Alpine chalet being built in Haute-Maurienne (Savoy). The use of thick pieces of orthogneiss (4–7 cm) is by the strict architectural regulations in the region bordering the national parks of Vanoise-Grand Paradis.

Roofs are traditionally made from Alpine rocks like schist or slate. These chalets are found in higher valleys where there is a lot of snow. The roof slope is not too steep, so snow can stay on top and act as insulation. In lower areas with more forests, wooden tiles called "tavaillon" are used.

In German-speaking parts of the Alps, there is a strong tradition of folk culture. Old customs are kept alive through cultural groups. At events, people wear traditional costumes like lederhosen for men and dirndls for women. Visitors can see these customs at public festivals. These festivals often include music (like Alpenhorns), dance (like Schuhplattler), and sports. Many areas also celebrate Fastnacht before Lent.

Tourism: Exploring the Alpine Wonderland

View of the ski resort Bolsterlang, Oberallgäu, Bavaria, Germany

A ski resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Veneto, Italy

Karl Schranz running the Lauberhorn in 1966

The Alps are a very popular place for tourists. Many resorts, like Oberstdorf in Germany and Chamonix in France, get over a million visitors each year. Tourism is a huge part of the Alpine economy. Winter sports are a big draw, but summer visitors are also important.

Tourism started in the early 1800s. People visited the mountains for the scenery and stayed at spa resorts. Big hotels were built, and cog-railways took tourists to higher places. The Jungfraubahn goes high up into the mountains, above the snow line. Winter sports became popular. The first figure skating championship was held in St. Moritz in 1882. Downhill skiing grew popular in the early 1900s. The first ski-lift was installed in 1908.

The Winter Olympic Games have been held in the Alps many times. Chamonix hosted in 1924, St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948, and Innsbruck in 1964 and 1976. Famous ski races like the Lauberhorn Rennen and Hahnenkamm started in 1930.

After World War I, ski lifts were built to welcome winter visitors. Downhill skiing became very popular in the mid-1900s. New ski villages were built in France in the 1970s. By the early 2000s, France, Italy, and Tyrol saw more winter visitors. However, there are concerns about how tourism affects traditional Alpine culture and the environment. Since 2015, the number of high-altitude ski resorts has been declining due to climate change. Many resorts now use snow-making machines.

Transportation: Getting Around the Alps

Zentralbahn Interregio train following the Lake Brienz shoreline, near Niederried in Switzerland

The Alps have 4,200 kilometers of roads, used by six million vehicles each year. Train travel is also very common. Switzerland, for example, has 120 kilometers of track for every 1,000 square kilometers. Many of Europe's highest railways are in the Alps.

In 2007, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel opened, a 34.57-kilometer-long tunnel. On June 1, 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel opened. It is 57.1 kilometers long and is the first flat route through the Alps.

Some mountain villages are car-free. This is either because they are hard to reach or by choice. Wengen and Zermatt in Switzerland can only be reached by cable car or cog-rail trains. Avoriaz in France is also car-free. Other villages are thinking about limiting cars to protect the fragile Alpine environment.

Lower regions and larger towns have good motorways and main roads. However, higher mountain passes can be dangerous, even in summer, due to steep slopes. Many passes close in winter. Several airports and long-distance train lines make it easy for travelers to reach the Alps.

See also

In Spanish: Alpes para niños