The Alps – a long row of mountains that stretch across seven European countries – formed 35 million years ago during the Alpine folding period, when the African and Eurasian plates collided.
GERMANY LIECHTENSTEIN SWITZERLAND FRANCE ITALY
3. The Alps – stretching across Europe
Look at the map in figure 3. Identify the countries the Alps occupy. Which of these countries is not a member of the EU?
Managing information and thinking:
AUSTRIA SLOVENIA
Interesting Facts about the Alps
The highest peak in the Alps is Mont Blanc, which is 4,810 metres and is located on the French-Italian border.
The Alps are home to many glaciers (which you will learn about in Chapter 12). The Alps are also the source of many minerals and crystals, including copper, gold, iron and quartz. A 5,000-year-old mummified man was found in the Alps at the Austrian-Italian border in 1991.
