Description
The Alps (French: Alpes, German: Alpen, Italian: Alpi) is one of the largest and longest mountain ranges in Europe, spanning 8 countries (from west to east), respectively: France, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. The Alps formed more than 10 million years ago when the African and Eurasian plaques were attracted to each other. The impact causes layers of marine sedimentary rock to lift up by fracture and corrugation activities that form high mountains such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Mont Blanc stretches along the French-Italian boundary, with an altitude of 4,810 m (15,781 ft), so it is the highest mountain in the Alps. 128 mountains of the Alps are more than four thousand meters high, of which there are 82 independent mountains, 46 peaks, some mountains more or less frozen. The Alps are divided into several mountain groups
The entire Alps region covers an area of about 200,000 km2. It extends about 750 km from west to east and about 400 km from south to north and is bordered by the Rhone Valley (Vallée du Rhône), Central Switzerland (Swiss Mittelland), upstream of the Danube River, Small Hungarian Plain, Valley Po valley and Gulf of Genova in the Ligure Sea. The Alps include the regions of eight countries and form the habitat of 13 million people and are seen as a resort and nature region of Europe.
