Alps Map: Travel Maps International Adventure Map (National Geographic Adventure Map)

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From 11 December 2016, it has been part of the regular railway timetable and used hourly as standard ride between Basel/ Lucerne/ Zurich and Bellinzona/ Lugano/ Milan. [32] In Austria, the Danube runs to the north of the Alps, separating it from the majority of the Bohemian Forest, although some small areas, such as the Dunkelsteiner Wald south of the Wachau, belong geologically to the Bohemian Forest despite being south of the Danube. The Vienna Woods near Vienna forms the north-eastern corner of the Alps, and here the Danube passes at its closest to the Alps (see Viennese Basin).

Above the forestry, there is often a band of short pine trees ( Pinus mugo), which is in turn superseded by Alpenrosen, dwarf shrubs, typically Rhododendron ferrugineum (on acid soils) or Rhododendron hirsutum (on alkaline soils). [85] Although Alpenrose prefers acidic soil, the plants are found throughout the region. [12] Above the tree line is the area defined as "alpine" where in the alpine meadow plants are found that have adapted well to harsh conditions of cold temperatures, aridity, and high altitudes. The alpine area fluctuates greatly because of regional fluctuations in tree lines. [86] Edelweiss ( Leontopodium alpinum) There have been several ice ages in the last 2.5 million years, where the Swiss Alps were often completely glaciated except a few very high peaks. Erosion and meltwater flows led to the formation of today’s Swiss mountains. The Alps are a prominent climate barrier between northern and southern Switzerland. A typical phenomenon is the Föhn. It brings a lot of precipitation on the southern side of the Alps and dry, warm downdrafts on the northern side of the Alps, which can be very strong, even stormy. Foehn valleys, such as Altdorf in the canton of Uri, have a temperature about 0.5 degrees higher than other comparable valleys. This extends the agricultural vegetation period, but also leads to more damage thanks to the winds.Schmid, Stefan M.; Genschuh, Bernhard; Kissling, Eduard; Schuster, Ralf (2004). "Tectonic map and overall architecture of the Alpine orogen". Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae. 97: 93–117. doi: 10.1007/s00015-004-1113-x. S2CID 22393862.

Eventhough the hike up the “ Grosser Mythen” near “ Lucerne” is very demanding, an incredible reward awaits you. Views over Lake Lucerne, Lake Lauerz and a 360-degree panorama of the Swiss Alps awaits you. Furthermore, the Grosser Mythen hike at sunrise is particularly exciting. You can find out more here. 5 Lakes Hike Pizol Andrews, Marie (13 March 2009). "Victorian Bushfires". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. Sternai, P.; Herman, F.; Fox, M. R.; Castelltort, S. (July 13, 2011). "Hypsometric analysis to identify spatially variable glacial erosion". Journal of Geophysical Research. 116 (F3): F03001. Bibcode: 2011JGRF..116.3001S. doi: 10.1029/2010JF001823. ISSN 0148-0227.

See also: List of glaciers in Switzerland This illustration of the glacier systems of the Mont Blanc massif by Alexander Keith Johnston was first published 1848 in The Physical Atlas. This delimitation of the Alps is, however, largely subjective and open to argument. In particular, some people restrict the use of the term "Alps" to the higher mountains in the centre of the range, relegating the surrounding hills and mountains to the status of "pre-Alps" or foothills. This can sometimes lead to conflicting definitions, such as Mont Ventoux being considered to lie outside the Alps (there are no comparably sized mountains around it, and it is at a considerable distance from the main chain of the Alps).

Sternai, Pietro; Herman, Frédéric; Valla, Pierre G.; Champagnac, Jean-Daniel (April 15, 2013). "Spatial and temporal variations of glacial erosion in the Rhône valley (Swiss Alps): Insights from numerical modeling". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 368: 119–131. Bibcode: 2013E&PSL.368..119S. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2013.02.039. ISSN 0012-821X. S2CID 14687787. The severe weather in the Alps has been studied since the 18th century; particularly the weather patterns such as the seasonal foehn wind. Numerous weather stations were placed in the mountains early in the early 20th century, providing continuous data for climatologists. [15] Some of the valleys are quite arid such as the Aosta valley in Italy, the Maurienne in France, the Valais in Switzerland, and northern Tyrol. [15] In this ultimate “Swiss Alps” guide you will learn everything about nature, the best hikes & train journeys and some of the most beautiful places in the mountains of Switzerland. Zampieri, Matteo; Scoccimarro, Enrico; Gualdi, Silvio; Navarra, Antonio (January 15, 2015). "Observed shift towards earlier spring discharge in the main Alpine rivers". Science of the Total Environment. Towards a better understanding of the links between stressors, hazard assessment and ecosystem services under water scarcity. 503–504: 222–232. Bibcode: 2015ScTEn.503..222Z. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.06.036. hdl: 2122/9055. PMID 25005239. See also: List of glaciers in Switzerland Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Alps, a deep U-shaped valley that resulted from erosion by glaciersSince the highest dams are located in Alpine regions, many large mountain lakes are artificial and are used as hydroelectric reservoirs. [9] Some large artificial lakes can be found above 2,300 m, but natural lakes larger than 1km 2 are generally below 1,000 m (with the exceptions of lakes in the Engadin such as Lake Sils, and Oeschinen in the Bernese Oberland). The melting of low-altitude glaciers can generate new lakes, such as the 0.25km 2 large Triftsee which formed between 2002 and 2003. Of the 21 total species of amphibians, only one is endemic, Salamandra lanzai. There are fifteen reptile species are present, including adders and vipers. The Rhône is second to the Nile as a freshwater source to the Mediterranean Sea; the river begins as glacial meltwater, flows into Lake Geneva, and from there to France where one of its uses is to cool nuclear power plants. [68] The Rhine originates in a 30km 2 (12sqmi) area in Switzerland and represents almost 60% of water exported from the country. [68] Tributary valleys, some of which are complicated, channel water to the main valleys which can experience flooding during the snowmelt season when rapid runoff causes debris torrents and swollen rivers. [69] The Great St Bernard Hospice, built in the 9th or 10th centuries, at the summit of the Great Saint Bernard Pass was a shelter for humans and destination for pilgrims. [118] In 1291, to protect themselves from incursions by the House of Habsburg, four Alpine cantons drew up the Federal Charter of 1291, which is considered to be a declaration of independence from neighboring kingdoms. After a series of battles fought in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, more cantons joined the confederacy and by the 16th century, Switzerland was established as a sovereign state. [119]