The highest mountains of Western Europe are the Alps . They stretch across the territory of eight countries - France, Italy and Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Monaco. The climate here is very harsh, even in the summer in the mountains it is cool, not to mention the harsh winters with snowstorms.
The title of the highest peak in Europe rightfully belongs to Mount Mont Blanc. Here ski athletes from all over the world are striving to get there, accordingly - here is just a mass of high class ski resorts.
Mont Blanc or Elbrus: which is the highest mountain in Europe?
Quite often there is controversy as to whether Mont Blanc should be considered the highest point in Europe, if Elbrus is above it by as much as 800 meters. There is an opinion that it is Elbrus that is the highest peak of Europe, and even in crossword puzzles, this answer is sometimes accepted as true.
But is it really so? After all, geographically the location of Elbrus is not exactly European. Rather, it is located on the territory of the Asian part of the continent.
Disputes about this have been going on for hundreds of years, and until then there is no consensus on this issue. Historians and geographers can not define a clear boundary between Europe and Asia, because in nature it is impossible to distinguish everything so unambiguously and rectilinearly. So, the fate of Elbrus is still not solved. Of course, Europeans and Asians alike are equally pleased to see this mountain as their highest peak.
Mountains in Western Europe
Whatever the dispute over Elbrus, the territory of the Alps unquestionably and unconditionally belongs to Europe. At its many kilometers length, the mountains are more than endowed with natural beauties in the form of crystal lakes, slopes convenient for skiing, picturesque glaciers, endless fascinating mountainous species.
These high mountains of western Europe have become an ideal place for skiing. And the season here opens in November, because the weather and climate are contributing to this. Singing songs of praise to the Alpine ski resorts is not needed - everyone and everyone has heard about it. Take resorts all - with any thickness of the purse and any level of skill.
What else are the Alps famous for?
Beautiful are not only the snow-covered Alps , but also their green slopes. For example, the Dolmita Bellunesi National Park in Veneto is known all over the world. On the territory of the park, stretching for 30 thousand hectares, there are various and amazing landscapes of beauty - from lowlands and meadows to hills and mountain peaks. Not only the representatives of natural biodiversity are preserved in the park, but also the traditions of the village and village labor.
Here, in Italy, the castle Castello del Buonconsiglio is located comfortably - the largest complex of buildings in Trentino. It was the residence of bishops and princes until the end of the 18th century.
The French Alps are not inferior in their splendor. Especially attractive is the Rhône-Alpes region - in honor of the Rhone and the Alpine mountains. On the territory of this region there are as many as 8 protected zones and each of them is unique in its beauty. There are also fragrant vineyards, and thick olive groves, and picturesque valleys, as if descended from the pages of children's fairy tales.
The Swiss Alps are immediately associated with Mount Matterhorn. This majestic peak is the highest peak of the glacier in the Alps and one of the most difficult to conquer. But every step of the climb on it is worth this effort - such endless landscapes, enchanting the soul, can not be found anywhere else in the world.
Well, it is impossible not to mention the Austrian Alps - here mountains occupy more than half of the entire territory of the country, so that all the sights are somehow connected with them. This is a curative thermal spring in the valley of Gastein, and Mount Hafelekarspitze, and the Monastery of Stift Winten in Innsbruck and much more.