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What are the Alps?

The Alps are a large mountain range in the middle of Europe.

They are spread over eight countries: France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany and Slovenia.

The Alps are fold mountains. This means that they formed when two large tectonic plates slowly collided, pushing up the ground over tens of millions of years. This created some of the highest peaks in Europe. The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc.

Two sets of arms each pushing a cardboard box towards each other. There is a pile of towels in between the cardboard boxes which is being pushed upwards, creating an arch.
Image caption,
The model above uses cardboard boxes and towels to show how fold mountains are created by the collision of tectonic plates.
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What is it like in the Alps?

The Alps are made up of lower grassland hills and higher snow-capped mountains.

The weather in the Alps is affected by different temperatures of air coming from the north, west and south. These conditions create different types of climate, depending on height - the higher up the mountains, the colder it gets.

Ibex goats climb a dam in Italy to find food.
Image caption,
Ibex goats climb a dam in Italy to find food.

The tops of the mountains are covered in snow and glaciers, which are large blocks of ice.

Different types of animals and plants live in different climate zones. Some are not found anywhere else in the world, such as ibex goats.

Many river sources are in the Alps. When snow and ice melt in the spring and summer, they supply water to the rivers and lakes at the foot of the mountains.

Dams have been built to hold this water in order to create hydroelectric power for nearby towns and cities. Austria鈥檚 Kaprun power plants produce 700 kWh of power a year and make an important contribution to the country鈥檚 power supply.

Ibex goats climb a dam in Italy to find food.
Image caption,
Ibex goats climb a dam in Italy to find food.
Kaprun Dam in Austria. It is a large body of water surrounded by mountains.
Image caption,
Kaprun Dam in Austria.
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Watch: The Alps with Sue Venir

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Climate Change

Rising temperatures due to climate change mean that some glaciers within the Alps are disappearing and this is changing the water balance. This means that many plant species in this region cannot adapt quickly enough and are then threatened with extinction.

A waterfall fed by glacial meltwater in the French Alps.
Image caption,
A waterfall fed by glacial meltwater in the French Alps.

Melting ice due to higher temperatures can also make the soil unstable. This can cause landslides (when earth falls from a mountain or cliff). It can also lead to flooding further downstream.

These changes in the water balance may affect things that rely on existing seasonal melt patterns. For example, farmers need to know when they can water their crops.

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What is tourism like in the Alps?

People hiking on a snowy part of the Alps mountain range.

Tourism is the main industry in the Alps. Around 30 million people visit the Alps each year, enjoying activities such as:

  • skiing and snowboarding
  • walking
  • sightseeing
  • trail running
  • mountain biking
  • paragliding
People hiking on a snowy part of the Alps mountain range.
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Watch: A tour of the Alps

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Activity: Quiz 鈥 The Alps

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