!!!Mont Blanc

by Ivan Roslyakov,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

30 September 2015

See also ["Planet of Contrasts"|web-books/docplanetderkontraste00de2017iicm/000003]

Originating from the French cost of the Mediterranean, not far from
Nice, and stretching all the way through the territory of Switzerland,
Italy, former Yugoslavia, Germany and Austria, with its end near the
Pannonian plain, the Alps are the greatest and most famous mountain
range of Europe.

[{Image src='01_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='372'}]

Mont Blanc, being both a separate mountain and a mountain range
stretching throughout 50 kilometers, is situated in the very heart of
the Alps. The officially recognized altitude of the mountain is 4810
meters, even though it is not stable. Within the period between 2003 and
2007 the height gained 55 centimeters, and two years afterwards it
decreased by the same amount. The latest measurements carried out by
French scientists in 2015 estimated the altitude to be 4808 meters above
sea level. Such deviations are the results of rock movement and ice
melting. In spite of all this, Mont Blanc is still the highest point in
Europe.

[{Image src='02_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='505'}]

However, even this chart rating may be disputed. The point is that the
famous Elbrus measured 5642 meters is situated on the border between
Europe and Asia. Thus, when it is referred to Asia, Montblanc is truly
the highest peak in Europe, but in case Elbrus belongs to Europe,
Montblanc moves to the second place.

[{Image src='03_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='515'}]

As well as Elbrus, Montblanc lies on the border, separating France and
Italy. From both languages (Mont Blanc and Monte Bianco) the name is
translated as "the White Mountain". Actually, even now the countries can
not clarify the ownership of this great natural monument. Formerly, the
entire mountain was within the Duchy of Savoy. Later, in 1723 it became
a part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. Within the period of the up-coming
wars, these lands were continuously passing from one to the other side.
In 1861 a demarcation agreement was signed defining Mont Blanc as the
border between France and Italy.

[{Image src='04_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='601'}]

The 1860 act and attached maps are still legally valid for both the
French and Italian governments. However, due to the development of
tourism, both countries are eager to gain the most profitable sections
of the mountain surface. And it can't do without some amusing incidents:
in 2015 both Italian and French representatives regularly shifted the
border-marks up to 100-150 meters, sometimes even using bulldozers.

The first mention about of the Mont Blanc ascent is dated 8 August 1786.
Since then the closest towns of Courmayeur (Italy) and Chamonix (France)
have been servicing thousands of tourists coming for mountaineering and
alpine skis (maybe "skiing"?). In 1965 a tunnel with a length of 11
kilometers carved through Mont Blanc was inaugurated. Connecting two
countries, the tunnel has an average traffic of 5000 vehicles per day.

[{Image src='05_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='527'}]

One more outstanding peak of the Mont Blanc Massif is Mont Maudit having
the altitude of 4465 meters and separating Rhône-Alpes region in France
from the Aosta Valley located in Italy. According to local legends
appeared back in the Roman period, the steep gorges of this area were
inhabited by spirits and daemons, who used to push huge ice blocks off
the slopes while witches were dancing on the top of the mountain.
English map-maker and traveler William Windham, who had been exploring
this area in the beginning of the 18th century, was so impressed by the
ancient myths that until the end of the century Mont Blanc and its
satellite peaks were collectively known in French as the Montagne
Maudite (Cursed Mountain).

[{Image src='06_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='573'}]

The name of the 3842-meters peak Aiguille du Midi literally translates
from French as the "peak of the noon". You'll understand its name when
viewed from Chamonix: it almost indicates noon when the sun passes over
its summit.

[{Image src='07_Mont Blanc, Italy-France.jpg' caption='Mont Blanc, Italy-France' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='601'}]

The peak of Petit Dru with the altitude of 3733 meters is considered to
be one of the most beautiful and challenging to ascent peaks in the
Alps. On the whole, being situated on the territory of three countries —
Italy, France and Switzerland — the Mont Blanc Massif has 57 peaks with
the smallest one having the altitude of 2374 meters. Though very few of
us can succeed in climbing the mountains, still one can visit the Alps
without leaving home — by simply watching our panoramas.

\\ \\
[20 Panoramas of Mont Blanc|Geography/Europe/Italy/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Mont_Blanc]










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