Alpok.com http://www.alpok.com Make the Alps your home this winter Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:48:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en The Alps http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps/ http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:57:32 +0000 admin http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps/ The Vallee BlancheThe Alps, being the highest mountain belt in Europe.

The Alps is a great mountain system in South Central Europe, forming an arc (750 m) long from the Gulf of Genoa to the Danube River at Vienna. It is the highest and most densely populated mountain belt in Europe.

The Alps are an area of transit trade with an important route connecting Central and Southern Europe.

The picture above it the ‘Vallee Blanche’ .

See also

]]> http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps/feed/ Alps geographical subdivision http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/alps-geographical-subdivision/ http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/alps-geographical-subdivision/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:57:08 +0000 admin http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/alps-geographical-subdivision/ Alps snow neveThe Alpine mountains are divided in two. The Western Alps and the Eastern Alps.

The Western Alps are higher, but their central chain is shorter and curved. They are located in Italy, France and Switzerland.

The Eastern Alps are be found in Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Switzerland. The Highest Peaks of Western Alps are Mont Blanc, Mont Blanc de Courmayeur, and the Dufourspitze while the highest peak in the East is Piz Bernina.

Note the highest mountains of Europe are in Russia (The Elbrus).

Photo by: Leia Mendes Cook

]]> http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/alps-geographical-subdivision/feed/ The Alps Environment and Landscape http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps-environment-and-landscape/ http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps-environment-and-landscape/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:56:48 +0000 admin http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps-environment-and-landscape/ Swiss mountainsThe Alps receives higher precipitation in the Northern part.
The water runoff feeds several large rivers like Rhine, Rhone, and Po River. Its elevation and exposure to maritime air masses and to the suns rays are the prime variables influencing its vegetation, creating a beech forest despite its cool temperature. Above the 1800 meter margin is the treeless zone; however, this area has other Alpine flora including rhododendron, edelweiss, among others.

Places around the Alps can be crossed through passes. Passes are depressions in the mountains to which the valley leads from the plains and hilly pre-mountain zones. Passes have been made for war, commerce and later by pilgrims, students and now popularly for tourists. Today, the Alps is famous as the center for transit trade as it connects the Central and Southern Europe.

]]> http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/the-alps-environment-and-landscape/feed/ Trade and Industry in the Alps http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/trade-and-industry/ http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/trade-and-industry/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:56:23 +0000 admin http://www.alpok.com/2007/10/30/trade-and-industry/ Alps TourismTourism, skiing, pasture and hydroelectricity are the main industries of the Alps.

In the flatter upland tracts of the Alps, many people own animals which graze on pasture. This serves as their main source of livelihood. They engage in dairy production and raising livestock.

The zone above the timberline serves as a site for recreation where many tourists love to explore.

Today, the Alps are the favorite destination of many ski enthusiasts.

The Alps is also known for the production of hydroelectric power and extraction of salt and iron ore.

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