60 Interesting Facts About the Alps Mountains
The Alps are one of the most famous mountain ranges in Europe and are definitely an amazing place to visit if you ever can. But most people don’t know much about it, while there are tons of facts you’d love to know about.
Discover 60 interesting facts about the Alps Mountains in this post. 🏔
The Best the Alps Facts
To get started, I’ve gathered in this first section the 10 best Alps Mountains facts to know. Enjoy!
1. It took a very long while for the Alps to be created
Not only did it take long for the whole mountain range to appear, but it was also a complicated process resulting from chain reactions that lasted for millions of years.
Where the Alps stand now, there was already a mountain range, called the Hercynian mountains. It eroded at the end of the Paleozoic era though. After lots of erosion and floods, the Alpine orogeny began the formation of the Alps, 65 million years ago.
2. The Alps are Europe’s youngest mountain range
Yes, 65 million years old is not enough to be old in terms of mountain ranges! The Alps are in fact Europe’s youngest mountain range.
It is said that they have been inhabited for the past 60,000 years. Compare that number to the age of the mountain range and you will realize how old and impressive they are.
3. The Alps are spread over eight countries
The Alps are a very old and very large mountain range. They are located in the middle of Europe, and though you might not know this, they are spread over eight countries: France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.
4. Lots of rivers have their source in the Alps
If you have ever been to Switzerland for example, you must have seen tons of rivers in the middle of the mountains. The Alps are home to many different rivers, and melting ice supplies even more water during summer.
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval in France
5. The main industry in the Alps is tourism
There are dozens of millions of tourists who visit the Alps every year, and this number is only growing over the years. Fantastic landscapes and fully-equipped ski stations are good reasons to go to the mountain range.
6. Mont Blanc is not the only famous peak in the Alps
While the highest peak usually gets more praise, there are many mounts that you must have heard of in the Alps, like the Matterhorn, the Weisshorn, the Finsteraarhorn, and the Dufourspitze. These are barely less tall than Mont Blanc!
7. The mounts in the Alps are very dangerous
Climbing has always been a dangerous sport, and the Alps are no exception. In fact, the famous Matterhorn is very deadly: since 1865, over 500 people have lost their lives trying to conquer its summit, whether that’s because of bad equipment or lack of experience.
Matterhorn in Switzerland
8. The “four-thousanders” is the nickname of about a hundred peaks in the Alps
The Alps are home to many very high peaks. As a matter of fact, there is a group called the “four-thousanders”, and made of all the peaks that are higher than 4,000 meters / 13,123 feet. Believe it or not, there are 128 of them!
9. Tourism in the Alps has exploded since World War II
Nowadays, there are many tourists in the Alps, whether it is for summer and hiking, or winter and skiing. That was not always the case though, since the Alps were a place where many battles took place during World War II.
10. 90 percent of water in Europe comes from the Alps
That is right, Europeans have the Alps to thank for the majority of their beautiful rivers! The Alps are a very important water reservoir, especially in arid areas and during summer in general.
And that is it for the 10 most general and interesting facts about the Alps. Now, I will quickly talk about both the French and the Swiss parts of the Alps, arguably the most famous ones, before going on to the fun part:
French Alps Facts
The French Alps are one of the five mountain ranges of the country. They are very popular among the French and also among tourists. Here, enjoy these 10 quick facts about them:
11. The highest peak of Europe, Mont Blanc, is located in the French Alps
Mont Blanc peak
12. The biggest city in the French Alps is Grenoble
13. The French Alps provide water and electricity to all of Europe
14. There are people living in the middle of the French Alps
15. The French Alps are either covered in trees or in ice
16. The weather in the French Alps is extreme
17. Emperor Napoleon crossed the French Alps in 1800
18. Transportation was very hard to set up in the French Alps
Chamonix in France
19. There were climbers in the French Alps for many centuries
20. Even celebrities love the French Alps (Brad Pitt, Elton John & George Clooney)
Read more about the French Alps in this dedicated post.
Swiss Alps Facts
The Alps are a mountain range reaching into several countries, including Switzerland. They are a huge part of what makes Switzerland famous, so I have 10 dedicated quick facts for you:
21. The majority of the highest peaks of the Alps are located in Switzerland
22. The highest peak of the Swiss Alps is Monte Rosa
23. There is one route that passes the twelve highest Swiss peaks
24. Toblerone is a Swiss brand and was designed after the Matterhorn
25. Almost half of the Alpine glaciers are in Switzerland
26. The largest glacier in the Alps is located in Switzerland
27. You can spend the night in an igloo village in the Swiss Alps
28. The Swiss Alps are home to some of the most popular ski stations
Verbier in Switzerland’s Valais Canton
29. The highest peak in Europe to be served by cable car is in the Swiss Alps
30. Switzerland is the country that is most often associated with the Alps
Read more about the Swiss Alps in this dedicated post.
Fun Facts About the Alps
Every place has fun and unusual facts you probably do not know about. I have gathered below 15 Alps fun facts, and I hope you will love them as much as I do:
31. You can spend the night in an igloo village in the Alps
Sure, the Alps are not as cold as either of the Poles, but there is still an igloo village in the city of Zermatt, Switzerland. At the base of the Matterhorn, guests can sleep in a very special place.
There is even a three-story igloo that was built in 2016, and that is now an official Guinness World Record, with around 1,400 snow bricks.
32. The Big Foot Beach State Park is located in the Alps
If you are thinking of seeing BigFoot (you probably won’t), you should not head to a popular Park that has nothing to do with the mythical creature: the Big Foot Beach State Park. Situated in Geneva, it is a popular camping ground for swimming and fishing.
33. You can see the Mont Blanc massif from outside of the Alps
You already know it, Mont Blanc is the highest peak of the Alps. What you might not know though is that you can see its structure all the way from Lyon to Dijon, and from Geneva to Grenoble. That’s how massive the massif is.
View of Grenoble with the Alps in the background
34. Europe’s highest vineyard is located in the Alps
Grapes probably do not taste very different just because they grow in the heights, but the famous Heida white wine grows in Europe’s highest vineyard, in Canton Valais. The vineyard is sitting at 1,500 m / 4,921 feet high.
35. The Alps region has one of the strongest cultural identities in Europe
The Alps’ traditional culture of farming, woodworking, and cheesemaking is still very strong today. Historically, it has always been a region filled with people with an important sense of pride.
36. Adolf Hitler had an operations base in the Alps
It is said that during World War II, German leader Adolf Hitler kept an operations base in the Bavarian Alps, in Germany. It could have been near his home, the Berghof, near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria.
37. Caesar had no choice but to go through the Alps
During Roman times, the legendary Emperor Julius Caesar made several journeys through the alps, just like other Roman leaders as well as Napoleon Bonaparte. He then founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains.
38. There was a “White Friday” in the Alps in 1916
This has nothing to do with the “Black Friday” we now know. In fact, “White Friday” was a very tragic day. During the Italian front of World War I, 270 soldiers were killed by a huge avalanche when it struck Austrian barracks.
39. There have been human inhabitants in the Alps for 50,000 to 60,000 years
Humans have been living in the Alps for a very long while. However, when you compare that to the age of the mountain range (65 million years), you can quickly realize how old and impressive it is.
40. You can find lots of crystals in the Alps
If you are a collectionist, want to become rich, or simply like to explore new areas, you should definitely go to the Alps, and look carefully. If you are lucky, you will see crystals like amethyst, quartz, and cinnabar.
41. Jean-Jacques Rousseau is from the Alps
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a very famous French-speaking historical figure. This philosopher actually came from Geneva and lived during the 18th century. Maybe he helped popularize his home region and was one of the first ones to do so.
42. The Alps receive lots of snow and rain, all around the year
Whether it is snow or rain, there is a great deal of precipitation all around the year in the Alps. The higher you go, the more snow turns to ice, before flowing down the valleys to finally become part of a glacier.
43. The lakes in the Alps are crystal clear
Have you ever dreamt about swimming in a crystal clear lake? Don’t think about a far-away island, just go to the Alps! There, you can swim in lakes like Lake Geneva, Constance, Como, and Zürich, and take wonderful pictures.
Lake Como in Italy
44. If you go higher and higher in the Alps, you will see the trees disappear
Slowly but steadily, I can promise you that if you go higher and higher in the Alps, you will see the trees progressively disappear. This is due to the low temperatures and also the lack of pressure and moisture at high altitudes.
45. The first ever Winter Olympics was held in the Alps
Chamonix is one of the most famous ski stations in the French Alps, and back in 1924, it was home to the first ever Winter Olympics, also known as the “I Olympic Winter Games”. Since then, there have been Winter Olympics every 4 years.
There you go, these were my 15 fun facts about the Alps. The last part is dedicated to kids, but I am pretty sure you will still learn something, so you should keep reading:
The Alps Facts for Kids
Though every fact on this list is suited for kids, I want to dedicate a special part to the youngsters. Eternally curious and thirsty for knowledge, I hope they will be happy with these 15 facts about the Alps for kids:
46. The Alps make up 11 percent of the area of Europe
The Alps in general are just huge. They reach many different countries, and constitute 11 percent of Europe’s surface!
Because of this, they have a very strong influence on Europe’s climate. This is due to the fact that the Alps have many huge variations in elevation and exposure, controlling the winds and the air in all of Europe.
47. Many languages are spoken in the Alps
French is spoken in the Alps, not only in France but also in Switzerland. The other most spoken languages are Italian, German, and Slovenian. Various dialects can be heard in the many very different regions that the Alps cross.
48. Mont Blanc is the highest peak of the Alps
Mont Blanc in French, Monte Bianco in Italian, is the highest peak in Europe, at 4,807 m / 15,771 feet. It is situated in the French part of the Alps, along the French-Italian border, even reaching Switzerland. Because the summit is in French territory though, it is part of France.
It was not before 1786 that the summit of Mont Blanc was conquered, by Michel-Gabriel Paccard.
49. Several different industries help people live in the Alps
On top of raising livestock, more and more different industries are starting to appear in the Alps, such as the use of hydroelectric power. This led to the establishment of many electricity-dependent industries, like aluminum, steel, and chemicals. Tourism is also going through the roof in recent years, with tourists from all around the globe.
50. The emblem of the Alps is the ibex, a wild goat
There are many different animals and plants in the Alps, do not get me wrong, but the most famous one has to be the ibex, and by far.
This wild goat adapted itself to the surrounding areas throughout the centuries, and can now climb very steep slopes as well as find something to eat all around the year.
51. The French Alps were not always that popular
In the past, the Alps have always been seen as a very dangerous and distant location, obviously because of the lack of technological advancement. It was during the 18th and 19th centuries that they started to become more and more popular, because of artists, poets, and writers.
52. The Iceman was discovered in the Alps
The Iceman, also called Ötzi, is a mummified man who is probably around 5,000 years old. He was discovered in a region that now bears his name, the Ötztal Alps, located on the border between Austria and Italy, in September 1991. It is a natural mummy of a man who lived somewhere between 3,400 and 3,100 BCE.
53. Glaciers have covered the Alps for centuries
In case you do not know what they are, glaciers are a permanent blanket of ice and snow.
In the Alps and everywhere else, they are permanent above 2,743 m / 9,000 feet above sea level. In 1876, the Alps glaciers covered around 1,817 km² / 701 sq mi. In 1973, this shrunk to 1,342 km² / 518 sq mi.
54. You can do many different activities in the Alps
Tourists love traveling to the Alps for many different reasons. More precisely, the most popular activities are skiing and snowboarding, sightseeing, paragliding, trail running, hiking, and mountain biking. Everyone can find what they like!
55. There are more animal species in the Alps than you would think
You are probably thinking about the Alps as a very harsh place and a desertic area. While that is not entirely false, there are still species that adapted themselves to this environment over the years, and you can find many endemic animals, meaning they only live in that specific place.
Emosson Lake in Switzerland
56. The Alps are a very important part of Europe
The Alps act as a border separating Europe into three parts: Western, Central, and Southern Europe. They lie entirely in the continent and can be seen as a natural way of separating the land.
57. There are many people living in the Alps
No, the Alps are not only ice and high peaks with dangerous avalanches. In fact, there are 14 million people living there, making the Alps the most densely populated mountain range in Europe.
58. The Alps are divided into two parts
Not only have the Alps shaped Europe as it is now, but they are also divided into two parts themselves. A line can be drawn between Lake Constance and Lake Como, following the Rhine valley, and dividing the mountain range.
59. The highest peaks of the Alps are in the Western Alps
Generally speaking, the Western Alps peaks are higher than the ones in the East. Almost all of the highest ones are either in Switzerland or very close to its border. The Western Alps are made up of France, Italy, and Switzerland.
60. The Eastern Alps are less steep in general
The Eastern Alps span across Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland. Compared to their Western counterparts, they are generally broader and less arched. This definitely does not mean that there is nothing to see there though, trust me!
Hallstatt in Austria
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So there you have them, these were all my 60 interesting Mountain Alps facts. I hope you enjoyed them and that you learned something new today.
The Full List of 60 the Alps Facts
- It took a very long while for the Alps to be created
- The Alps are Europe’s youngest mountain range
- The Alps are spread over eight countries
- Lots of rivers have their source in the Alps
- The main industry in the Alps is tourism
- Mont Blanc is not the only famous peak in the Alps
- The mounts in the Alps are very dangerous
- The “four-thousanders” is the nickname of about a hundred peaks in the Alps
- Tourism in the Alps has exploded since World War II
- 90 percent of water in Europe comes from the Alps
- The highest peak of Europe, Mont Blanc, is located in the French Alps
- The biggest city in the French Alps is Grenoble
- The French Alps provide water and electricity to all of Europe
- There are people living in the middle of the French Alps
- The French Alps are either covered in trees or in ice
- The weather in the French Alps is extreme
- Emperor Napoleon crossed the French Alps in 1800
- Transportation was very hard to set up in the French Alps
- There were climbers in the French Alps for many centuries
- Even celebrities love the French Alps (Brad Pitt, Elton John & George Clooney)
- The majority of the highest peaks of the Alps are located in Switzerland
- The highest peak of the Swiss Alps is Monte Rosa
- There is one route that passes the twelve highest Swiss peaks
- Toblerone is a Swiss brand and was designed after the Matterhorn
- Almost half of the Alpine glaciers are in Switzerland
- The largest glacier in the Alps is located in Switzerland
- You can spend the night in an igloo village in the Swiss Alps
- The Swiss Alps are home to some of the most popular ski stations
- The highest peak in Europe to be served by cable car is in the Swiss Alps
- Switzerland is the country that is most often associated with the Alps
- You can spend the night in an igloo village in the Alps
- The Big Foot Beach State Park is located in the Alps
- You can see the Mont Blanc massif from outside of the Alps
- Europe’s highest vineyard is located in the Alps
- The Alps region has one of the strongest cultural identities in Europe
- Adolf Hitler had an operations base in the Alps
- Caesar had no choice but to go through the Alps
- There was a “White Friday” in the Alps in 1916
- There have been human inhabitants in the Alps for 50,000 to 60,000 years
- You can find lots of crystals in the Alps
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau is from the Alps
- The Alps receive lots of snow and rain, all around the year
- The lakes in the Alps are crystal clear
- If you go higher and higher in the Alps, you will see the trees disappear
- The first ever Winter Olympics was held in the Alps
- The Alps make up 11 percent of the area of Europe
- Many languages are spoken in the Alps
- Mont Blanc is the highest peak of the Alps
- Several different industries help people live in the Alps
- The emblem of the Alps is the ibex, a wild goat
- The French Alps were not always that popular
- The Iceman was discovered in the Alps
- Glaciers have covered the Alps for centuries
- You can do many different activities in the Alps
- There are more animal species in the Alps than you would think
- The Alps are a very important part of Europe
- There are many people living in the Alps
- The Alps are divided into two parts
- The highest peaks of the Alps are in the Western Alps
- The Eastern Alps are less steep in general
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