Heart of the Alps: Europe's highest mountain. The highest mountains in Western Europe - the Alps

Mountain peaks can be safely called one of the geological wonders of the world, they conquer, they fascinate and beckon, push for exploits and inspire creativity. The European ranges with their heights cannot compete with the "abode of snow" Himalayas, but among them there are those that are worthy of attention. Below is a list of the ten highest mountains in Europe.

Bazarduzu/Kichensuv

Height: 4,466 m (Azerbaijan)

The top of Bazarduzu opens the rating, which means “market square” in Turkic. The mountain received another name from the indigenous population of Dagestan - the Lezgins and sounds like Kichensuv, "mountain of fear." It is part of the Dividing Massif of the Greater Caucasus and is located on the border of Dagestan and Azerbaijan. For the first time this peak was conquered by people in the middle of the 19th century (1847). Then the expedition was headed by the Russian explorer-topographer A. Aleksandrov. A feature of the mountain is its ice wall on the eastern side.

Altitude: 4,478 m above sea level (Switzerland/Italy)

In ninth place is a native of the Pennine Alps - Matterhorn with a curved peak, reminiscent of a cap that separates two ski resort: Swiss Zermat and Italian Breuil-Cervinia. Until 1865, this sharp peak inspired people not anyhow what fear because of which the Matterhorn was the last of the conquered peaks in the Alps. The pioneers were the team of climbers Eduard Whymper of 6 people. However, four of them tragically died, they fell into the abyss as a result of a rope break.

Altitude: 4,506 m above sea level (Switzerland)

Eighth in the ranking, the peak of Weisschron, located on the territory of the Peniny Alps. It separates the two states of Italy and Switzerland, although most of the range is located in the Swiss mountains. Weischron first succumbed to humans in 1861. Then the young physicist Tyndall and the guides Wenger and Bennen climbed to its top. This mountain giant is known as one of the most difficult and dangerous, there are frequent cases of avalanches and deaths.

Altitude: 4,527 m (Switzerland/Italy)

The ten mountain titans of Europe include a hill named "cannibal". The mountain was so nicknamed because of the frequent snow avalanches, sharp rocks and dangerous hanging snow blocks. It is located in the region of the Western Alps and consists of two heights, one of which has an indicator of 4,527 meters. The first ascent dates back to 1891. Then a group of climbers of 14 people went along the eastern ridge.

House

Height: 4,545 m (Switzerland)

In the place where the Pienine Alps and the mountain range with beautiful name Mishabel, there is a peak - Dom. The complex shape of this mountain consists of five hills that are so close to each other that they resemble the teeth of a pitchfork. The summit was first conquered by the Englishman Davis with German guides on September 11, 1858.

Altitude: 4,634 m (Switzerland/Italy)

Peak Dufour is located in the Pienine Alps. It was named after the Swiss commander and engineer who developed the military map of the southwest of Switzerland. The summit is part of the Monte Rosa mountain range. It differs from its Alpine counterparts in its fiery red rocks. The first trip to Dufour took place in 1855 by a joint group of Swiss and English climbers.

Height: 4,810 m (France)

Mont Blanc is located on the border of France and Italy. It rises in the western part of the Alps and is a 50 km long crystalline massif, in the depths of which a tunnel has been laid connecting the two states. The mention of the ascent of Mont Blanc by Jacques Balma and Dr. Michel Packard is dated August 8, 1786. And in 1808 the first woman with the heavenly surname Paradis reached the “white peak”. The mountain area headed by Mont Blanc is a sought-after mountain tourism center, where famous resorts.

Height: 5,200 m (Georgia)

The central part of the Main Range of the Caucasus is headed by the third highest peak in Europe. It is inferior to Dykhtau by only 4 meters, but the interest in it is huge because of the affordable and easy climbing opportunities. The first travelers from Sweden conquered the mountain in 1888, and the climbers of the Soviet Union climbed Shkhara a little later, in 1933. Today, the Caucasus peak hosts numerous groups of tourists and climbers.

Height: 5,204 m (Russia)

The second place belongs to the Russian mountain peak Dykhtau, located in the lands of the Kabardino-Balkarian Reserve. The first trip to its peak was successfully made by Europeans at the end of the 19th century: the Swiss Zarflu and the British Mummery.

Height: 5,642 m (Russia)

The first place goes to Russia, where the highest peak of Europe, Elbrus, is located. For the first time, this mountain succumbed to man in 1829, when a scientific expedition was organized, led by General Emmanuel, who received the honorary title of member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences as a result. Elbrus feeds the large rivers of Stavropol and the Caucasus with its glaciers and is of great interest to athletes and tourists. Included in the list of the highest peaks of the parts of the world "Seven Summits".

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The relief of Europe is an alternation of mountain systems and plains. There are no such high mountains as, for example, in Asia, but all the mountains are magnificent and many peaks are in demand among climbers. There is also a dilemma: whether to attribute the Caucasus Mountains to Europe or not. If we consider the Caucasus as the European part of the world, then we get the following rating.

The mountain is located in the Russian part of the Caucasus and reaches a height of 5642 meters. The first ascent to the summit was made in 1874 by a group of climbers from England led by Grove. There are those who wish to climb Elbrus from all over the world.

Dykhtau

This mountain is also located in the Russian part of the Caucasus. The height of the mountain is 5205 meters. This is a very beautiful peak, but its conquest requires serious technical training. For the first time in 1888, the Englishman A. Mummery and the Swiss G. Zafrl climbed it.

Shkhara

Mount Shkhara is located in the Caucasus between Georgia and the Russian Federation. Its height is defined as 5201 meters. It was first climbed by climbers from Britain and Sweden in 1888. The peak is quite simple in terms of the difficulty of climbing, so thousands of athletes of different levels of training conquer it every year.

Mont Blanc

Mount Mont Blanc is located on the border of France and Italy in the mountain system of the Alps. Its height is 4810 meters. The first conquest of this peak was made by the Savoyard J. Balma and the Swiss M. Pakkar in 1786. Today, climbing Mont Blanc is a favorite challenge for many climbers. In addition, a tunnel was made through the mountain, through which you can get to France from Italy and vice versa.

Dufour

This mountain is also considered national treasure two countries, Italy and Switzerland. Its height is 4634 meters, and the mountain itself is located in the mountain system of the Alps. The first ascent of this mountain was made in 1855 by a team of Swiss and British.

Peak House

Peak Dom is located in Switzerland in the Alps and its height reaches 4545 meters. The name of the peak means "cathedral" or "dome", which indicates that this is the highest mountain in the area. The conquest of this peak took place in 1858, which was made by the Englishman J.L. Davis, accompanied by the Swiss.

Liskamm

This mountain is located on the border of Switzerland and Italy in the Alps. Its height is 4527 meters. A lot of snow avalanches come down here, and therefore the climb becomes even more dangerous. The first ascent was in 1861 by a British-Swiss expedition.

Thus, the European mountains are relatively high and beautiful. Every year they beckon great amount climbers. According to the complexity of the ascent, all peaks are different, so people with any degree of training can climb here.

Surprisingly, in our enlightened XXI century, there is still debate about what is the highest peak in Europe. Some scientists believe that this is Elbrus, while others - Mont Blanc. It would seem, what is so difficult? With the help of modern technology, you can easily install any top. But just with the levels there are no problems. The heights of both Elbrus and Mont Blanc were established a long time ago with an accuracy of up to a centimeter. The problem is in the sphere of borders. That is, in the statement “the highest peak of Europe is ...” the emphasis should not be on meters, but on which territories are considered included in this continent. And if everything is clear with Mont Blanc: the alpine peak is, of course, Europe, then with Elbrus, everything is not so simple. Let's take a look at this problem.

A question of magnitudes

"White Mountain", Mont Blanc, is located on the western side of the Alps, on the border of France and Italy. This array also had problems with territorial affiliation. But a different plan. After the loss of independence of the Duchy of Savoy, the mountain and the valleys around it repeatedly passed from Italy to France and vice versa. Now, after the redrawing of the territory of Europe in the post-war period, it has been established that a cordon between these states runs along the main peaks of the Mont Blanc massif. Thus, the town of Saint-Gervais, lying on a slope, belongs to France, and located nearby, to Italy. The height of Mont Blanc reaches 4810 meters. Next to this peak, other peaks of the array rise, only slightly inferior to the head. This is Mont Blanc de Courmayeur (more than 4700 meters), and also Grand Bos, Rocher de la Tourmet and more than a dozen four-thousanders. And the height of Elbrus is as much as 5642 meters. Unconditional record holder! The question lies elsewhere. This is the highest peak in Europe or the usual

A question of boundaries

As you know, nature loves continuity and smoothness. Continents pass one into another. If it had not been formed not so long ago by geographical standards, then both Americas would have been merged with Eurasia. But man is a strange creature: give him clear boundaries. Therefore, the division of our continent into Europe and Asia is purely arbitrary. And in many ways, besides geography, politics is involved here. From the time of Herodotus until the fifties of the twentieth century, everything was more or less clear. The border separating Europe and Asia ran from the coast along the main peaks of the Urals, then along the river of the same name, then along the northern Caspian and, following the Main, went to the Black Sea. Further, the cordon ran through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. There was no confusion in the Mediterranean either: the coast of modern Turkey is Asia, everything to the north of it is Europe, and Africa outlines the water area from the south. In the system of these coordinates, Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe, because it is located to the north of the main ridge of the Caucasus.

Indefatigable All-Union Geographical Society

With the borders between Europe and Asia, everything was clear until 1958. The confusion began through the fault of the All-Union Geographical Society. Pundits set about revising long-established norms. They decided that it was not appropriate to divide natural landscapes in half. They ranked the Caucasus mountain system as such, despite the obvious differences in the climatic characteristics of the northern and southern slopes. The same was done with water areas and river valleys. With one stroke of the pen, the Urals were completely and completely in Europe, and the Caucasus - in Asia. Thus, Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, whose height is 832 meters ahead of Mont Blanc, was far from the first mountain on the new mainland, significantly losing to Everest.

Various systems

During the Soviet Union, the inhabitants of one-sixth of the land lived in isolation from the rest of the world. And it was not the Iron Curtain. Distorted was not only the idea of ​​how life is under decaying capitalism, but also about neutral concepts that are quite far from politics. So, in all the geography textbooks of the Soviet Union it was written that the border between Europe and Asia runs along the eastern edge Ural mountains, then (which is illogical) up to its confluence with the Caspian Sea, then along the northern coast of the water area to the source. Further, the cordon passed along the Kumo-Manych depression to the Don, and then to its mouth and Sea of ​​Azov. As a result of this division, not only Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, passed into Asia, but the entire Taman Peninsula.

What about the meaning?

But let's try to guess the course of logical reasoning ... No, not Soviet geographers, but those whose mouthpiece they served. In the late 50s, not only America was the main rival of the Land of the Soviets, but also the state Western Europe. The ideology (which covered all spheres of society) opposed the socialist system to the decaying bourgeois one. The USSR was supposed to stand apart, and it was believed that the fewer things that would connect it with Europe, the better. The fact that Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe, and at the same time in Russia, greatly tormented the Soviet leadership. Therefore, the borders between Europe and Asia were revised. It was this, and not at all concern for the integrity of natural landscapes, that was the true reason for such a decision.

Diversity in reference books

Despite the fact that the decision of the All-Union Geographical Society was supported in the next 1959 at the World Geophysical Congress, most countries ignored the Soviet innovation. And the discrepancies continue to this day. Let us turn, for example, to the very authoritative reference book "Wikipedia". The English version claims that the border between Europe and Asia runs "... along the watershed of the Ural Mountains, along the river of the same name, the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus to the southeast ..." This means that in most countries of the world they believe that the highest peak in Europe is Mount Elbrus. But the Russian-language version gives completely different data.

A small legacy of the past

Despite the fact that the Soviet Union has long sunk into oblivion, some of its decisions still live in the minds of people. So, what will the Russian-language "Wikipedia" tell the inquisitive seeker of geographical truth? What is the highest peak in Europe? It turns out that this version of the world guide defines the borders between Europe and Asia in the spirit of conciliation with the 1958 resolution and generally accepted concepts “along the eastern foot of the Urals, Mugodzhary, Emba, the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, along the Araks, the Black and Marmara seas ...” What do we see in modern interpretation? The entire Ural system, as proposed in 1958, is considered Europe. But the whole Caucasus is also considered to be it! new frontier passes along the flowing at the southern sole of this mountain system. And this means that, according to the Russian-language Wikipedia, Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe. A photo of this two-humped snow-covered peak adorns the corresponding article.

Roof of Russia

It's time to tell about Elbrus. What is it, the highest peak of Europe, and at the same time Russia? Turns out it's a volcano. True, faded. The last eruption, according to geologists who studied the frozen lava, occurred in 50 AD. A two-horned peak was formed, like the entire Caucasus, twenty million years ago. The mountain is located on the border between two republics of the Russian Federation: Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. Unlike Mont Blanc, which bristles into the sky with numerous peaks, Elbrus has only two of them. These are, in fact, the edges of the cone of the volcano. Between them about three kilometers. The highest is the western peak. Eastern - slightly lower (5621 m above the sea surface). But the saddle between the two peaks does not fall below the level of 5300 meters. Academician V.K. Vishnevsky determined the height of Elbrus in 1813. The first to be conquered, of course, was the eastern summit. This happened in July 1829. It took nearly fifty years for a man to set foot on the western peak of Elbrus. highest peak Europe was conquered in 1874 by a group of English climbers. F. Grove led the expedition. But among the discoverers was the Balkar A Sottaev.

Mountain peaks are one of the most interesting geological phenomena that are popular among climbers. European mainland with its elevations, of course, it cannot compete with the Himalayan mountain ranges, but still there are those among them that deserve attention.

Presented to the attention of the curious highest mountains in Europe.

Height 4 466 m

(Azerbaijan) opens the list of the highest mountain points in Europe. The hill is located on the border of two states - Russia and Azerbaijan. Bazarduzu is the peak of the Dividing Range of the Greater Caucasus. The mountain rises to 4,466 meters above sea level. Translated from the Turkic Bazarduzu means "market square". This name was given to one of the highest European points in memory of the annual large fairs that were held in the valley during the Middle Ages. It was here that merchants from four parts of the world gathered. The conquest of Bazarduzu took place in 1847. Then the ascent to the peak was made by the Russian climber A. Alexandrov. At the beginning of the 20th century, eight glaciers descended from the summit, the largest of them was called Tikhitsar, its length was about 1 kilometer.

Height 4 478 m

(Switzerland/Italy) is one of the highest mountains in Europe, rising to 4,478 meters above sea level. Its location is the Pennine Alps, between the Swiss resort of Zermat and the Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia. Until 1865, many attempts were made to conquer the Matterhorn, but they were all unsuccessful. Only in 1865 the climb was made by a group of climbers led by Edward Whymper. During the ascent, four people died during the descent due to broken ropes.

Height 4 506 m

(Switzerland) ranks eighth in the ranking of the highest mountain peaks in Europe. The mountain is located in Switzerland and borders Italy. The region of the hill is the Pennine Alps, which are located in the western part of the Alps. The height of one of the highest European points is 4506 meters. The peak was first summited by the British climber John Tyndall together with guides Johann Josef Bennen and Ulrich Wenger in 1861. Translated from English, Weisshorn means "white peak". All mountain climbing routes are considered difficult.

Height 4 538 m

Liskamm- a mountain hill, which is located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It is part of the Western Alps. Liskamm is one of the ten highest mountains in Europe. It consists of two peaks, one of which rises to 4,538 meters above sea level. The mountain has received the nickname "eater" among climbers because of the numerous descending snow avalanches and blocks that hang from the ridge. People first climbed the mountain in 1861. It was then that Liskamm managed to conquer for the first time an expedition of fourteen people, which included 8 British climbers and 6 Swiss guides.

Height 4 545 m

One of the highest mountains in Europe is called (Switzerland). The location of this peak is the Pennine Alps. House is an integral part mountain range Mishabel. Translated from German, the name of the peak means "cathedral" or "dome". It was named after Canon Berchtold of Sion Cathedral, the man who began exploring the local area. The former name of the peak was Mischabel, meaning "villas" in Russian. So the hill was called due to the fact that the peaks of the array are located very close to each other. For the first time, the Briton J. L. Davis and his guides J. Zumtaugwald, J. Kroenig and H. Branchen climbed the House in 1858.

Height 4 634 m

(Switzerland/Italy) ranks fifth among the highest mountain points in Europe. It is part of the Monte Rosa mountain range, which is part of the Pennine Alps. The summit was conquered in 1855 by a team of English and Swiss climbers. The mountain hill got its name in honor of the Swiss engineer and topographer Guillaume-Henri Dufour, who is the creator of the detailed topographic map southwestern Switzerland for military purposes. Peak Dufour rises to 4,634 meters above sea level.

Height 4 810 m

(Italy / France), located on the border of two states, ranks fourth in the list of the highest European mountains. One of the highest mountain points is part of the Western Alps. Mont Blanc, which in Italian means " white mountain”, is a crystalline massif with a height of 4810 meters. Conquest of one of the most high points Europe happened in 1786. The first climbers were Jacques Balm of Savoy and Michel Paccard of Switzerland. Under Mont Blanc there is a tunnel that connects Italy and France. The mountain has two popular ski resorts, one of which belongs to France (Chamonix) and the other to Italy (Courmayeur).

Height 5 200 m

(Georgia) opens the top three highest mountains in Europe. It is part of the main Caucasian ridge and rises to 5200 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Georgia. Shkhara was first conquered by a Swedish climbing team in 1888. Soviet climbers climbed Shkhara a little later - in 1933. Today it belongs to one of the easiest mountains to climb, therefore it has considerable popularity among tourists who want to conquer mountain peak. The Enguri River originates from the mountain glacier of the same name.

Height 5 204 m

(Russia) ranks second in height among European peaks. One of the highest points is part of the Caucasus ranges. Dykhtau is located on the lands of the Kabardino-Balkar high-mountain reserve. It has two peaks - Main and Eastern, which are separated by a saddle. Main summit has a height of 5204 meters, thanks to which Dykhtau takes second place in the list. The mountain point is popular among climbers: more than a dozen climbing routes have been laid here. The first to climb to the top were Briton Albert Mummery and Swiss Heinrich Zarflu at the end of the 19th century. Translated into Russian, Dykhtau means "steep mountain".

Height 5 642 m

(Russia) tops the list of the highest mountains in Europe. Elbrus is considered part of Caucasus mountains and is a vent extinct volcano of two peaks connected by a saddle. The western summit rises to 5,642 meters above sea level. These indicators give the right to say that Elbrus is the highest European point. This peak was first conquered by British climbers in 1874. The mountain is popular for sports, tourism and climbing. Elbrus glaciers are the source of food for the largest rivers of the Caucasus and the Stavropol Territory.

m - a mountain hill, which is located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It is part of the Western Alps. Liskamm is one of the ten highest mountains in Europe. It consists of two peaks, one of which rises to 4,538 meters above sea level. The mountain has received the nickname "eater" among climbers because of the numerous descending snow avalanches and blocks that hang from the ridge. People first climbed the mountain in 1861. It was then that Liskamm managed to conquer for the first time an expedition of fourteen people, which included 8 British climbers and 6 Swiss guides.

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HouseHeight 4 545 m

One of the highest mountains in Europe is called House(Switzerland). The location of this peak is the Pennine Alps. The house is an integral part of the Mischabel mountain range. Translated from German, the name of the peak means "cathedral" or "dome". It was named after Canon Berchtold of Sion Cathedral, the man who began exploring the local area. The former name of the peak was Mischabel, meaning "villas" in Russian. So the hill was called due to the fact that the peaks of the array are located very close to each other. For the first time, the Briton J. L. Davis and his guides J. Zumtaugwald, J. Kroenig and H. Branchen climbed the House in 1858.

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Peak DufourAltitude 4 634 m

Peak Dufour(Switzerland/Italy) ranks fifth among the highest mountain points in Europe. It is part of the Monte Rosa mountain range, which is part of the Pennine Alps. The summit was conquered in 1855 by a team of English and Swiss climbers. The mountain hill got its name in honor of the Swiss engineer and topographer Guillaume-Henri Dufour, who is the creator of a detailed topographic map of southwestern Switzerland for military purposes. Peak Dufour rises to 4,634 meters above sea level.

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Mont BlancHeight 4 810 m

Mont Blanc(Italy / France), located on the border of two states, ranks fourth in the list of the highest European mountains. One of the highest mountain points is part of the Western Alps. Mont Blanc, which means "white mountain" in Italian, is a 4810 meters high crystalline massif. The conquest of one of the highest points in Europe took place in 1786. The first climbers were Jacques Balm of Savoy and Michel Paccard of Switzerland. Under Mont Blanc there is a tunnel that connects Italy and France. The mountain has two popular ski resorts, one of which belongs to France (Chamonix) and the other to Italy (Courmayeur).

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ShkharaHeight 5 200 m

Shkhara(Georgia) opens the top three highest mountains in Europe. It is part of the main Caucasian ridge and rises to 5200 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Georgia. Shkhara was first conquered by a Swedish climbing team in 1888. Soviet climbers climbed Shkhara a little later - in 1933. Today it belongs to one of the easiest mountains to climb, therefore it has considerable popularity among tourists who want to conquer the mountain peak. The Enguri River originates from the mountain glacier of the same name.

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DykhtauHeight 5 204 m

Dykhtau(Russia) ranks second in height among European peaks. One of the highest points is part of the Caucasus ranges. Dykhtau is located on the lands of the Kabardino-Balkar high-mountain reserve. It has two peaks - Main and Eastern, which are separated by a saddle. The main peak has a height of 5204 meters, thanks to which Dykhtau takes the second place in the list. The mountain point is popular among climbers: more than a dozen climbing routes have been laid here. The first to climb to the top were Briton Albert Mummery and Swiss Heinrich Zarflu at the end of the 19th century. Translated into Russian, Dykhtau means "steep mountain".

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ElbrusHeight 5 642 m

Elbrus(Russia) tops the list of the highest mountains in Europe. Elbrus is considered part of the Caucasus Mountains and is the mouth of an extinct volcano from two peaks connected by a saddle. The western summit rises to 5,642 meters above sea level. These indicators give the right to say that Elbrus is the highest European point. This peak was first conquered by British climbers in 1874. The mountain is popular for sports, tourism and climbing. Elbrus glaciers are the source of food for the largest rivers of the Caucasus and the Stavropol Territory.