25 Interesting Facts About the Alps

The mighty Alps tower over Europe, challenging numerous climbers eager to conquer their peaks. While they may not be as formidable as many mountains in Asia and South America, they are still not easily conquered by everyone. Thanks to their breathtaking nature, clean air, and incredible views from the heights, the Alps have become a very popular resort area. Every year, tens of thousands of skiers, climbers, and travelers visit this region.

Facts About the Alps

1. Part of the Alpine mountain range, located in Italy, was once the seabed before tectonic processes raised the region to the surface.
2. The Alps are home to the world’s longest mountain tunnel, stretching 51 kilometers. It took nearly 20 years to build.
3. The “Pilatusbahn” alpine railway is the steepest in the world, with some sections having a gradient exceeding 48 degrees.
4. The Alps cover approximately 10% of all Europe.
5. The Alpine mountain range was the first to be studied extensively by geologists, simply because it was readily accessible. This occurred in the 18th century.
6. The Alps span eight countries in total.
7. At altitudes above 2,500 meters, the snow in the Alps never fully melts.
8. The longest staircase in the world leads to the Alpine peak Niesen. It is 3,500 meters long, consisting of 11,674 steps, and very few can conquer it.
9. These mountains are relatively young. Geologists have determined that they began forming around 50 million years ago, after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
10. The world-famous meringue dessert was invented in Meiringen, one of the Alpine towns.
11. The deepest lake in all of Europe, Lake Como, with a depth of 410 meters, is located in the Alps.
12. The word “alpinism” (mountaineering) traces its roots back to these mountains.
13. The Alps are home to numerous waterfalls. Perhaps the most interesting is Staubbach Falls, which cascades down from a height of 282 meters.
14. The Winter Olympics have been held in five Alpine countries.
15. Most Alpine towns are small, but Grenoble, the largest, has a population of over 500,000 people.
16. Australia, Japan, and New Zealand all have mountain ranges named the Alps.
17. Trees can be found in the Alpine mountains at altitudes up to 3,000 meters above sea level.
18. About 66% of all of Switzerland is located in the Alps.
19. There are even “Alps” on the Moon, a name given by astronomers to one of the lunar mountain ranges.
20. The Alps are the most thoroughly studied mountain range in the world.
21. Alpine meadows are named after these mountains.
22. Grapes grow well in the Alps at altitudes up to half a kilometer above sea level.
23. Tourism in the Alps only began to gain popularity in the second half of the last century, after World War II.
24. The Alps are the highest mountains located entirely within Europe.
25. The total population of the Alps is estimated at 12 million people.