Pennine Alps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pennine Alps | |
| French: Alpes valaisannes, German: Walliser Alpen, Italian: Alpi Pennine | |
| Range | |
 View of Pennine Alps from Riederalp
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| Countries |  Switzerland,  Italy |
|---|---|
| Regions |  Valais,  Piedmont,  Aosta Valley |
| Part of | Alps |
| Borders on | Graian Alps, Lepontine Alps, Bernese Alps, Po plain |
| Highest point | Monte Rosa |
| - elevation | 4,634 m (15,203 ft) |
| - coordinates | 45°56′12″N 7°52′00″E / 45.93667°N 7.8666667°E |
 Pennine Alps (section nr.9) within the Western Alps
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The Pennine Alps (also: Valais Alps) are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in Switzerland (Valais) and Italy (Piedmont and the Aosta Valley). They are not to be confused with the Pennines.
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Geography
The Italian side is drained by the rivers Dora Baltea, Sesia and Toce, tributaries of the Po. The Swiss side is drained by the Rhône River.
The Great St Bernard Tunnel, under the Great St Bernard Pass, leads from Martigny, Switzerland to Aosta.
SOIUSA classification
According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain range is an Alpine section, classified in the following way1:
- main part = Western Alps
- major sector = North Western Alps
- section = Pennine Alps
- code = I/B-9
Borders
The Col Ferret and the Dora Baltea valley separate them from the Graian Alps; the Simplon Pass separates them from the Lepontine Alps; the Rhône valley separates them from the Bernese Alps.
Subdivision
The SOIUSA divides the range into five subsections 1:
- Aosta-Walais western Alps (DE:Grand Combin-Alpen /IT:Alpi del Grand Combin/FR:Alpes valdôtaines-valaisannes occidentales ) - SOIUSA code:I/B-9.I,
- Aosta-Walais central Alps (DE:Weisshorn-Matterhorn-Alpen /IT:Alpi del Weisshorn e del Cervino/FR:Alpes valdôtaines-valaisannes centrales) - SOIUSA code:I/B-9.II,
- Eastern Aosta and Northern Valsesia Alps (DE:Monte Rosa-Alpen /IT:Alpi del Monte Rosa/FR:Alpes valdôtaines orientales et valsésiennes septentrionales ) - SOIUSA code:I/B-9.III,
- Southern Valsesia Alps (DE:Südliche Sesiataler Alpen /IT:Alpi Biellesi e Cusiane/FR:Alpes Valsésiennes méridionales ) - SOIUSA code:I/B-9.IV,
- Eastern Walais Alps (DE:Östliche Walliser Alpen /IT:Alpi del Mischabel e del Weissmies/FR:Alpes valaisannes orientales ) - SOIUSA code:I/B-9.V.
Morphology
The main chain (watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and Adriatic Sea) runs from west to east on the border between Italy (south) and Switzerland (north). From Mont Vélan, the first high summit east of St Bernard Pass, the chain rarely goes below 3000 metres and contains many four-thousanders such as Matterhorn or Monte Rosa. The valleys are quite similar on both side of the border, being generally oriented perpendicular to the main chain and descending progressively into the Rhône Valley on the north and the Aosta Valley on the south. Unlike many other mountain ranges, the higher peaks are often located outside the main chain and found themselves between the northern valleys (Grand Combin, Weisshorn, Mischabel, Weissmies).
Peaks
See also: List of mountains in Switzerland
The chief peaks of the Pennine Alps are:
| Name | Height (metres) | Height (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Monte Rosa | 4,638 | 15,217 |
| Ostspitze | 4,632 | 15,197 |
| Grenzgipfel | 4,618 | 15,151 |
| Nordend | 4,609 | 15,121 |
| Zumsteinspitze | 4,563 | 14,970 |
| Signalkuppe | 4,554 | 14,941 |
| Dom | 4,545 | 14,911 |
| Lyskamm | 4,538 | 14,889 |
| Weisshorn | 4,506 | 14,780 |
| Täschhorn | 4,491 | 14,734 |
| Matterhorn | 4,478 | 14,693 |
| Parrotspitze | 4,432 | 14,541 |
| Dent Blanche | 4,364 | 14,318 |
| Nadelhorn | 4,327 | 14,196 |
| Grand Combin | 4,314 | 14,164 |
| Lenzspitze | 4,294 | 14,088 |
| Stecknadelhorn | 4,241 | 13,914 |
| Castor | 4,230 | 13,879 |
| Zinalrothorn | 4,223 | 13,856 |
| Hohberghorn | 4,219 | 13,841 |
| Alphubel | 4,206 | 13,799 |
| Rimpfischhorn | 4,199 | 13,776 |
| Strahlhorn | 4,191 | 13,751 |
| Dent d'Hérens | 4,171 | 13,684 |
| Breithorn | 4,164 | 13,661 |
| Bishorn | 4,153 | 13,625 |
| Pollux | 4,092 | 13,425 |
| Ober Gabelhorn | 4,073 | 13,364 |
| Dürrenhorn | 4,035 | 13,238 |
| Allalinhorn | 4,027 | 13,236 |
| Weissmies | 4,031 | 13,226 |
| Lagginhorn | 4,010 | 13,140 |
| Fletschhorn | 3,993 | 13,110 |
| Adlerhorn | 3,988 | 13,084 |
| Schalihorn | 3,974 | 13,038 |
| Jägerhorn | 3,970 | 13,025 |
| Grand Cornier | 3,962 | 12,999 |
| Ulrichshorn | 3,925 | 12,877 |
| Wellenkuppe | 3,903 | 12,805 |
| Feechopf | 3,888 | 12,756 |
| Klein Matterhorn | 3,883 | 12,740 |
| Pointe du Mountet | 3,877 | 12,720 |
| La Ruinette | 3,879 | 12,727 |
| Name | Height (metres) | Height (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Mont Blanc de Cheilon | 3,870 | 12,697 |
| Bouquetins | 3,838 | 12,592 |
| Brunegghorn | 3,833 | 12,575 |
| Tour de Boussine | 3,833 | 12,575 |
| Cima di Jazzi | 3,818 | 12,527 |
| Balfrin | 3,802 | 12,474 |
| Pigne d'Arolla | 3,796 | 12,454 |
| Mont Vélan | 3,765 | 12,353 |
| Tête Blanche | 3,750 | 12,304 |
| L'Évêque | 3,738 | 12,264 |
| Le Pleureur | 3,706 | 12,159 |
| Aiguille de la Tsa | 3,668 | 12,034 |
| Besso | 3,667 | 12,031 |
| Mont Collon | 3,637 | 11,932 |
| Les Diablons | 3,605 | 11,828 |
| Mont Gelé | 3,517 | 11,539 |
| Becca di Luseney | 3,506 | 11,503 |
| Château des Dames | 3,489 | 11,447 |
| Grand Tournalin | 3,379 | 11,086 |
| Rosablanche | 3,348 | 10,985 |
| Mont Avril | 3,341 | 10,962 |
| Grande Rochère | 3,326 | 10,913 |
| Corno Bianco | 3,320 | 10,893 |
| Testa Grigia | 3,315 | 10,876 |
| Sasseneire | 3,259 | 10,693 |
| Grand Golliat | 3,240 | 10,630 |
| Pizzo Bianco | 3,216 | 10,552 |
| Latelhorn | 3,207 | 10,523 |
| Schwarzhorn | 3,204 | 10,512 |
| Gornergrat | 3,136 | 10,289 |
| Mont Nery | 3,070 | 10,073 |
| Bella Tola | 3,028 | 9,935 |
| Monte Tagliaferro | 2,964 | 9,725 |
| Riffelhorn | 2,931 | 9,617 |
| Cima di Bo | 2,556 | 8,386 |
Glaciers
Main glaciers:
- Gorner Glacier
- Corbassière Glacier
- Findel Glacier
- Zmutt Glacier
- Zinal Glacier
- Otemma Glacier
- Allalin Glacier
- Ferpècle Glacier
- Fee Glacier
- Mont Miné Glacier
- Ried Glacier
- Turtmann Glacier
- Moiry Glacier
- Arolla Glacier
- Moming Glacier
- Cheilon Glacier
Passes
The chief passes of the Pennine Alps are:
| Mountain pass | location | type | elevation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesiajoch | Zermatt to Alagna | snow | 4,424 | 14,515 |
| Domjoch | Randa to Saas-Fee | snow | 4,286 | 14,062 |
| Lysjoch | Zermatt to Gressoney-La-Trinité | snow | 4,277 | 14,033 |
| Mischabeljoch | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,856 | 12,651 |
| Alphubel Pass | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,802 | 12,474 |
| Adler Pass | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,798 | 12,461 |
| Moming Pass | Zermatt to Zinal | snow | 3,745 | 12,287 |
| Schwarztor | Zermatt to Ayas | snow | 3,741 | 12,274 |
| Ried Pass | Sankt-Niklaus to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,597 | 11,800 |
| Neues Weisstor | Zermatt to Macugnaga | snow | 3,580 | 11,746 |
| Allalin Pass | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,570 | 11,713 |
| Col de Valpelline | Zermatt to Aosta | snow | 3,562 | 11,687 |
| Biesjoch | Randa to Turtmann | snow | 3,549 | 11,644 |
| Triftjoch | Zermatt to Zinal | snow | 3,540 | 11,615 |
| Col du Sonadon | Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Val de Bagnes | snow | 3,489 | 11,447 |
| Col d'Herens | Zermatt to Evolène | snow | 3,480 | 11,418 |
| Col Durand | Zermatt to Zinal | snow | 3,474 | 11,398 |
| Col des Maisons Blanches | Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Val de Bagnes | snow | 3,426 | 11,241 |
| Col de Bertol | Arolla to the Col d'Herens | snow | 3,414 | 11,200 |
| Col du Mont Rouge | Val de Bagnes to the Val d'Hérémence | snow | 3,341 | 10,962 |
| Theodulpass | Zermatt to Valtournenche | snow | 3,322 | 10,899 |
| Col de Tracuit | Zinal to Turtmann | snow | 3,252 | 10,670 |
| Zwischbergen Pass | Saas-Fee to Gondo | snow | 3,248 | 10,657 |
| Col d'Oren | Val de Bagnes to the Valpelline | snow | 3,242 | 10,637 |
| Col de Seilon | Val de Bagnes to the Val d'Hérémence | snow | 3,200 | 10,499 |
| Col du Cret | Val de Bagnes to the Val d'Hérémence | snow | 3,148 | 10,329 |
| Col de Valcournera | Valtournenche to the Valpelline | snow | 3,147 | 10,325 |
| Col de Collon | Arolla to Aosta | snow | 3,130 | 10,270 |
| Col de Valsorey | Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Aosta | snow | 3,113 | 10'214 |
| Col de Chermontane | Val de Bagnes to Arolla | snow | 3084 | 10,119 |
| Cimes Blanches | Valtournenche to Ayas | bridle path | 2,980 | 9,777 |
| Col de Torrent | Evolène to the Val de Torrent | bridle path | 2,924 | 9,593 |
| Augstbord Pass | Sankt-Niklaus to Turtmann | bridle path | 2,893 | 9,492 |
| Col de Crete Seche | Val de Bagnes to the Valpelline | snow | 2,888 | 9,475 |
| Col d'Olen | Alagna to Gressoney | bridle path | 2,871 | 9,420 |
| Monte Moro | Saas-Fee to Macugnaga | bridle path | 2,862 | 9,390 |
| Pas de Chevres | Arolla to the Val d'Hérémence | foot path | 2,851 | 9,354 |
| Antrona Pass | Saas-Fee to Antrona | bridle path | 2,844 | 9,331 |
| Col de Sorebois | Zinal to the Val de Torrent | bridle path | 2,825 | 9,269 |
| Col de Vessona | Valpelline to Nus | foot path | 2,794 | 9,167 |
| Fenêtre de Durand | Val de Bagnes to Aosta | bridle path | 2,786 | 9,141 |
| Z'Meiden Pass | Zinal to Turtmann | bridle path | 2,772 | 9,095 |
| Turlo Pass | Alagna to Macugnaga | foot path | 2,736 | 8,977 |
| Fenêtre de Ferret | Great St Bernard to the Swiss Val Ferret | bridle path | 2,699 | 8,855 |
| Colle Bettaforca | Ayas to Gressoney | bridle path | 2,676 | 8,780 |
| Col Serena | Great St Bernard to Morgex | foot path | 2,538 | 8,327 |
| Col Ferret | Courmayeur to Orsières | bridle path | 2,533 | 8,311 |
| Col de Valdobbia | Gressoney to the Val Sesia | bridle path | 2,479 | 8,134 |
| Great St Bernard | Martigny to Aosta | road | 2,472 | 8,111 |
| Col de Moud | Alagna to Rima | bridle path | 2,323 | 7,622 |
| Col d'Egua | Rima to the Valle Anzasca | bridle path | 2,236 | 7,336 |
| Simplon Pass | Brig to Domodossola | road | 2,009 | 6,592 |
| Baranca Pass | Varallo to the Val Anzasca | bridle path | 1,820 | 5,971 |
Nature conservation
Some regional nature parks, like the Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia (6,511 ha - Piedmont, IT)2, the Riserva Naturale Mont Mars (390 ha - Aosta Valley, IT) 3 and the Regional park of Binn valley (15,891 ha - Valais,CH) 4, have been established on both sides of the main water divide.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b Marazzi, Sergio (2005) (in Italian). Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA. Priuli & Verlucca. ISBN 978-88-8068-273-8.
- ^ Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia site on www.parks.it (accessed on April 2012)
- ^ Parco del Mont Avic park site on www.parks.it (accessed on April 2012)
- ^ , Ein regionaler Naturpark, park site on www.landschaftspark-binntal.ch (accessed on April 2012)
Maps
- Swiss official cartography (Swiss Federal Office of Topography - Swisstopo); on-line version: map.geo.admin.ch
- Italian official cartography (Istituto Geografico Militare - IGM); on-line version: www.pcn.minambiente.it
See also
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