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The Mont Blanc massif (French: Massif du Mont-Blanc; Italian: Massiccio del Monte Bianco) is a mountain range in the Alps, located mostly in France and Italy, but also straddling Switzerland at its northeastern end. It contains eleven major independent summits, each over 4,000 metres (13,123 ft) in height.
Mont Blanc (BrE: / ˌmɒ̃ˈblɒ̃ (k)/; AmE: / ˌmɒn (t) ˈblɑːŋk /) [3] is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, and the highest mountain in Europe outside the Caucasus Mountains, rising 4,805.59 m (15,766 ft) [4] above sea level, located on the Franco-Italian border. [5]
- The First Mountain Pioneers
- Extreme Temperatures!
- Fascinating Views from The Summit
- An Overcrowded Mountain!
- The Town of Chamonix
- The Mont-Blanc Tunnel
- Mer de Glace Via Montenvers Railway
- The Journey to Aiguille Du Midi
- Le Brévent
- The Mont-Blanc Tramway, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
In 1741, English travellers William Windham (1717-1761) and Richard Pocockeorganised a discovery expedition in the valley of Chamonix. There, they tackled the biggest glacier above Chamonix at Montenvert. They named it “Mer de Glace” (Sea of Ice). They marvelled at the size of the glacier. Its ogives and curved colour bands formed at the base of th...
At the summit, the wind speed can reach 150 kph. Temperatures can drop to -40°C. They rarely rise above 0 °C (32 °F) even in summer. From the altitude of 3,700 m, all precipitations fall in the form of snow. Contrary to general public knowledge, snowfalls are more significant in summer than winter, for the cold air does not contain much humidity.
From the summit, the view stretches to four mountain ranges: 1. the Jura, 2. the Vosges, 3. the Black Forest (Germany) and 4. the Massif Central. However, even in sunny weather, it is not always possible to distinguish these mountains. This is due to pollution emanating from the plains and the absence of wind. Visibility can be reduced to 100 km as...
In summer, between 300 and 400 expeditions to the summit can be launched each day. Those in favour of protecting the site estimate that in the future, more than 100,000 visitors could climb the summit, compared to 30,000 today. In the summer of 2003, a French TV channel covered shocking news. Alpinists were blamed for tonnes of rubbish and faeces s...
The resort town of Chamonix lies at the foot of Mont-Blanc. It offers various outdoor activities, from mountaineering, hiking and climbing to skiing and snowboarding. Find out more about Chamonix-Mont Blanc.
The Mont-Blanc tunnel is one of France’s longest tunnels (11.6 km), linking Chamonix, France, to Courmayeur, Italy.
The Montenvers mountain railway (Chemin de fer du Montenvers) leaves Chamonix to reach the Montenvers Hotel (1.913 m). There, you can enjoy a stunning view of the Mer de Glace. More info on our Chamonix article.
Reaching the Aiguille du Midi (3,842 m) is one of the most exciting cable car rides in the Alps. It offers fantastic views of the Swiss, Italian and French Alps as far as the Matterhorn and Monta Rosa. More info on our Chamonix article.
To admire one of the best views of the Mont Blanc massif, go to the top of Le Brévent. The mountain is accessible by gondola from the centre of Chamonix. More info on our Chamonix article.
The Mont-Blanc tramway is a mountain railway line that departs from the railway station of Le Fayet in the town of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains. This popular tourist attraction is 12.4 km long and was completed in 1914. Initially worked by steam locomotives, the line was electrified in 1956. The three coaches were named Anne, Marie, and Jeanne, after th...
Sep 10, 2024 · Mont Blanc, mountain massif and highest peak (15,771 feet [4,807 metres]) in Europe. Located in the Alps, the massif lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The race to the summit certainly has its limits, even in Europe’s highest massif. The Mont Blanc massif is characterised by an impressive elevation gain (spanning 4,300 metres from its lowest to highest point), but also a relatively small surface area, stretching a mere 38km2.
Sep 14, 2021 · Mont Blanc, French for “white mountain”, is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, reaching a staggering 4,808.7 m (15,777 ft) altitude above sea level. Mont Blanc is the second most renowned mountain after Mount Elbrus, and the eleventh most prominent mountain peak in the world.
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The Mont Blanc Massif is the home of Mont Blanc (Italian: Monte Bianco) (4,808 m / 15,774 ft), the tallest and most prominent (4,696 m / 15,407 ft) peak in the region and western Europe. Most of the massif sits within the governmental department of Haute-Savoie in the Western.
