The Alps are the youngest and highest mountain system in Europe.
The
Alps
are
the
youngest
and
highest
mountain
system
in
Europe
.
They stretch across the western and southern part of the continent in a broad arc.
They
stretch
across
the
western
and
southern
part
of
the
continent
in
a
broad
arc
.
The mountain range starts near the Mediterranean Sea on the border between France and Italy.
The
mountain
range
starts
near
the
Mediterranean
Sea
on
the
border
between
France
and
Italy
.
Then it curves north and eastward through northern Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, southern Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
Then
it
curves
north
and
eastward
through
northern
Italy
,
Switzerland
,
Liechtenstein
,
southern
Germany
,
Austria
and
Slovenia
.
The Alps are about 1,000 km long, and the broadest section is over 260 km wide.
The
Alps
are
about
1,000
km
long
,
and
the
broadest
section
is
over
260
km
wide
.
The highest peak, Mont Blanc, situated on the border between France, Italy and Switzerland, rises 4,807 meters above sea level.
The
highest
peak
,
Mont
Blanc
,
situated
on
the
border
between
France
,
Italy
and
Switzerland
,
rises
4,807
meters
above
sea
level
.
Other famous peaks are the Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn, the GroBglockner and the Zugspitze.
Other
famous
peaks
are
the
Monte
Rosa
,
the
Matterhorn
,
the
GroBglockner
and
the
Zugspitze
.
Millions of years ago the area of today's Alps was covered by a large sea that separated Europe and Africa.
Millions
of
years
ago
the
area
of
today
's
Alps
was
covered
by
a
large
sea
that
separated
Europe
and
Africa
.
The southern land mass started moving northwards.
The
southern
land
mass
started
moving
northwards
.
This movement folded rock layers at the bottom of the sea.
This
movement
folded
rock
layers
at
the
bottom
of
the
sea
.
Heat and pressure transformed the rock and pushed the material upwards.
Heat
and
pressure
transformed
the
rock
and
pushed
the
material
upwards
.
Today these regions are the highest parts of the Alps.
Today
these
regions
are
the
highest
parts
of
the
Alps
.
Most of the newly formed rock is granite and gneiss, but many ranges consist of limestone which also formed on the seabed.
Most
of
the
newly
formed
rock
is
granite
and
gneiss
,
but
many
ranges
consist
of
limestone
which
also
formed
on
the
seabed
.
During the Ice Age, which started about a million years ago, the Alps were covered with a thick blanket of snow.
During
the
Ice
Age
,
which
started
about
a
million
years
ago
,
the
Alps
were
covered
with
a
thick
blanket
of
snow
.
Glaciers moved down valleys and made them wider and deeper.
Glaciers
moved
down
valleys
and
made
them
wider
and
deeper
.
As they moved they took rock and other material with them, creating moraines.
As
they
moved
they
took
rock
and
other
material
with
them
,
creating
moraines
.
When glaciers started to melt water filled up behind these natural dams and created the alpine lakes we know today.
When
glaciers
started
to
melt
water
filled
up
behind
these
natural
dams
and
created
the
alpine
lakes
we
know
today
.
The largest of these glaciers is the Aletsch in Switzerland which reaches a length of about 25 km.
The
largest
of
these
glaciers
is
the
Aletsch
in
Switzerland
which
reaches
a
length
of
about
25
km
.
The longest glacier of the eastern Alps is the 8 km long Pasterze, at the foot of the GroBglockner.
The
longest
glacier
of
the
eastern
Alps
is
the
8
km
long
Pasterze
,
at
the
foot
of
the
GroBglockner
.
The ice and snow of the alpine regions helped create the large rivers of today: the Rhine, Rhone, Danube and the Po.
The
ice
and
snow
of
the
alpine
regions
helped
create
the
large
rivers
of
today
:
the
Rhine
,
Rhone
,
Danube
and
the
Po
.
The Alps are the youngest and highest mountain system in Europe. They stretch across the western and southern part of the continent in a broad arc. The mountain range starts near the Mediterranean Sea on the border between France and Italy. Then it curves north and eastward through northern Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, southern Germany, Austria and Slovenia.  The Alps are about 1,000 km long, and the broadest section is over 260 km wide. The highest peak, Mont Blanc, situated on the border between France, Italy and Switzerland, rises 4,807 meters above sea level. Other famous peaks are the Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn, the GroBglockner and the Zugspitze.  Millions of years ago the area of today's Alps was covered by a large sea that separated Europe and Africa. The southern land mass started moving northwards. This movement folded rock layers at the bottom of the sea. Heat and pressure transformed the rock and pushed the material upwards. Today these regions are the highest parts of the Alps. Most of the newly formed rock is granite and gneiss, but many ranges consist of limestone which also formed on the seabed.  During the Ice Age, which started about a million years ago, the Alps were covered with a thick blanket of snow. Glaciers moved down valleys and made them wider and deeper. As they moved they took rock and other material with them, creating moraines. When glaciers started to melt water filled up behind these natural dams and created the alpine lakes we know today.  The largest of these glaciers is the Aletsch in Switzerland which reaches a length of about 25 km. The longest glacier of the eastern Alps is the 8 km long Pasterze, at the foot of the GroBglockner.  The ice and snow of the alpine regions helped create the large rivers of today: the Rhine, Rhone, Danube and the Po.