The Alps

Santis Mountain - Switzerland

Location

• The Alps is a vast mountain system in south central Europe, extending over 750 miles (1,200 km) through South France, North Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. The Alps includes several hundred peaks and glaciers, including numerous peaks over 12,000 feet, with Mont Blanc highest at 15,771 feet.

Animals and plants

Alps

Oak

Chestnut

Beech

Goats

Antelopes

Andes

Chinchilla

Llama Vulture Vicuna

Polylepis/Rose

Wild potato

Weather• In winter the valleys are cloudy and foggy with persistent frost. By contrast, during

settled weather, the mountains are relatively sunny and daytime temperatures may feel quite warm..

• In summer, conditions may be quite the reverse: the mountains shrouded in cloud by day and the valleys basking in warm, clear weather.

• In fine weather a number of local winds occur in the Alps. In the large valleys there is a tendency for daytime breezes to blow up the valley and for a reverse down-valley wind to occur at night. Near glaciers this night-time wind can be very cold.

• A more widespread wind known as the föhn can affect large areas of the Alps under certain meteorological conditions. It is a warm wind, bringing air of very low relative humidity.

• It is most noticeable in late winter and spring and can melt snow very quickly. At higher levels it can trigger dangerous avalanches, and at lower levels the very dry air and strong wind increase the fire risk to wooden buildings.

Alps + Andes

Alps

750miles long

Highest peak=15,771 ft

Andes

4,500miles long

Highest peak=22,834ft