The Col de la Bonette is the highest road in the Alps. Stelvio road. The highest pass in the Alps Stelvio Pass, Italy

We will talk about the most beautiful place in Austria - the fantastic Alpine mountain passes. Firstly, the roads are laid in very beautiful places, and secondly, the Europeans made sure that tourists here were as comfortable as possible. The Austrians are not at all behind Switzerland in this regard. Today I will tell you about one of the most picturesque mountain routes in Austria - the Grossglockner panoramic road. Welcome to Austria!

We headed to the Austrian town of Lienz, which is located very close to the Grossglockner road. We had to travel part of the way in the dark: we hardly saw Lienz and the Dolomites. We spent the night in a small country hotel on the outskirts of Lienz.

How nice it is to wake up early in the morning, leave the hotel and breathe in the cold mountain air. This is an indescribable feeling!

Europeans tend to get up very early, especially in rural areas.

The village where we spent the night is called Lavant. There is the parish church of St. Ulrich, located on the mountain:

We didn’t go up there, but here’s a photo of the interior of the church from Wiki, isn’t it cool?

Someone left several cases of beer cooling in the fountain opposite the hotel entrance:

Starting from Lienz, the road smoothly rises into the mountains and passes through the most beautiful places with an abundance of observation platforms.

The Grossglockner panoramic road itself starts from the town of Heiligenblut, 40 km from Lienz.

The road got its name in honor of the highest mountain in Austria - Grossglockner, whose height is 3798 m. Here it first appears in view (snow-capped peak):

The Grossglockner road is not an ordinary road for utilitarian purposes, rather it is a tourist attraction. For faster travel, use the A10 expressway.

The panoramic road is a serpentine of 36 turns, about 48 km long. At the very beginning of the road it has a small branch that leads to the Pasterze Glacier and the Kaiser Franz Joseph Center. There is the maximum approach point to Grossglockner.

Well, here we are finally on the road itself. Some historical facts: it was put into operation in 1935. However, when in 1924 a group of Austrian experts presented a plan to build a road through the Hochtor Pass, it was met with skepticism. At that time, in Austria, Germany and Italy there were only 154 thousand private cars, 92 thousand motorcycles, and 2000 km of asphalt roads. Austria suffered catastrophic economic losses in the First World War, reduced its size sevenfold, lost its international markets, and suffered crippling inflation.

Even a simple 3 meter wide gravel road project with passing lanes proved to be too expensive. The impetus for the construction of the road, which would open the barren Alpine valley to motorized tourism, came from a downturn in the New York stock market in 1929. This disaster greatly shook poor Austria. Within three years, production fell by a quarter. Then the government revived the Grossglockner project in order to give jobs to 3,200 (out of 520 thousand!) unemployed. In the new project, the road was widened to 6 meters, counting on 120 thousand visitors per year. The state decided to cover construction costs by introducing tolls for road use.

On August 30, 1930, at 9:30 am, the first rock explosion was carried out. Four years later, the head of the Salzburg government drove along the new road for the first time. A year later, the Grossglockner high mountain road was put into operation. And the very next day the international automobile and motorcycle races Grossglockner Races were held there.

Construction costs turned out to be less than planned, and attendance in the first years significantly exceeded the most optimistic estimates. Subsequently, a phased modernization of the road was carried out. Its width and the number of parking lots, located in the most picturesque places, increased.

From the first day of operation, travel on the road was paid. Now the fare averages 20-50 euros, depending on the validity of the ticket and the type of transport. A standard 1-day passenger car ticket costs 32 euros.

The road is open to tourists from May to October. In winter, the passage is closed because the snowfall often exceeds 10 meters.

Around the next turn there is a magnificent view of the glacier and the Grossglockner peak. The Pasterze Glacier is the largest in Austria, its length is about 9 km.

The melting of the glacier began as early as 1856 due to high summer temperatures and low winter precipitation.

Despite record summer temperatures in Europe, scientists from the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences attribute the melting of glaciers to long-term climate changes.

Find two tourists in this photo:

A branch of the road eventually leads to the Kaiser Franz Joseph Center. In addition to the standard tourist infrastructure (restaurants, tourist center), you can find several exhibitions here, for example, the Grossglockner Glacier and Peak Museum. There is even a museum of automobile history, although I could not find information about it on the Internet. Apparently this is a temporary exhibition. In general, the Grossglockner road attracts owners of vintage cars from all over Europe, but more on that later.

This place is visited by a huge number of tourists, so there are several spacious parking lots, including one multi-level one.

The overwhelming number of tourists are pensioners. They sit on the veranda of the restaurant, bask in the sun and have lunch. Happy old age!

Grossglockner was first conquered in 1800. The first attempt to climb was made a year earlier, but failed due to bad weather. A day after the first ascent, a wooden cross was placed on the summit. In 1879 it was renovated and dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the marriage of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth, who visited Grossglockner in 1865.

The name Glocknerer first appeared on maps in 1561. Grossglockner first described in his book Balthasar Ake: a naturalist, geologist, geographer, doctor, scientist, who is considered a pioneer of mountaineering. Interestingly, until 1918 the mountain was privately owned. Currently, Grossglockner belongs to the Austrian Alpine Community.

When you zoom in as far as possible on the previous photo, you can see how a large group of climbers is currently conquering the peak. Now there are about 5,000 ascents of Grossglockner annually.

According to one version of the origin of the name, the Grossglockner peak from a distance looks like an inverted large bell (German: große Glocke): this is why the mountain was nicknamed the “big bell tower”. According to another version, in one of the local dialects “glockner” sounds like “klocken”, which means “to make noise, rumble” - Grossglockner more than once frightened with the roar of falling stones.

While some tourists visit the exhibitions and sit in cafes and restaurants, the other part watches the Alpine marmots.

The Alpine marmot is a typical representative of the Ice Age fauna, which previously lived in the European lowlands. Today its range is limited to high mountain areas, since only here suitable habitat conditions remain.

The animals feel great around tourists and willingly accept offerings.

Winter hibernation lasting from 6 to 7 months allows the marmot to go without food for a long time and exist solely on its own fat reserves.

Alpine marmots can be found on rocky slopes at altitudes from 600 to 3200 m above sea level. Under favorable conditions per 1 sq. km live from 40 to 80 animals.

Sensing danger, marmots stand on their hind legs to better view their surroundings, and when they spot a predator, they emit a loud whistle that can be heard at a great distance.

It's time to keep moving. The highest point of the Grossglockner panoramic road is the Hochtor Pass, which is located at an altitude of 2504 meters.

Up to 10 meters of snow falls here every year. Immediately after the road was put into operation, snow was removed manually (!): over two spring months, 350 men shoveled 250 thousand cubic meters of snow to preserve at least one lane for traffic.

Since the middle of the century, automated equipment has removed up to 800 thousand cubic meters of snow per season. This made it possible to increase the period of road availability to 276 days a year.

The increase in the number of visitors made possible the gradual modernization of the road. Now its width is 7.5 meters. The annual capacity has been increased to 350 thousand vehicles.

The road is only open during the day. At 21:30 the entrance to the road is closed, visitors are allowed 45 minutes before closing.

Every year the road welcomes about a million people. Professional cycling races take place here, and many European automakers like to test their latest car models on steep mountain slopes.

Grossglockner twice became one of the stages of the famous cycling race Giro d'Italia: in 1971 and 2011.

Grossglockner is a place of pilgrimage for owners of vintage cars from all over the world. In the 30s, immediately after the opening of the road, the now legendary automobile and motorcycle races were held here (in 1935, 38 and 39).

The races were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II and have not been held since then.

Now on weekends, owners of vintage cars of all makes and years come to the Grossglockner road.

There are even special group tours in vintage cars around Grossglockner. They are designed for 3-10 days, the cost of one day is from $250 to $450.

Admit it, do you sometimes have a desire to visit and watch something that is the very best? Especially if it is related to your hobby. So we, being in Nice and planning to drive through the Alps to the north, decided to ride along the highest pass in Europe - Col de la Bonette.

Col de la Bonette is a motorable pass 2802 meters above sea level, located in France and the Mercantour National Park. In fact, the height of Col de la Bonette is 2715 meters, but those who have reached that peak have the opportunity to make a small ascent along a circular route to the peak of Mount Cime de la Bonette, and it is there that the height reaches those same 2802 meters . But that's not all. Anyone can climb to the peak itself on foot, where the height will be about 2860 meters. That's what we did.

That day began at a hotel in the town of Jausiers. The Col de la Bonette pass connects this city with another - Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée.

But we didn’t have to drive through the entire pass, but just get to the highest point of the pass, ride around the Cime de la Bonette peak and go back.

If you do not take into account the same circular high route, the Col de la Bonette pass is the fourth highest European pass. Above it are Col de l'Iseran (2770 m), the famous Stelvio Pass (2757 m) and Col Agnel (2744 m).

By the way, in Europe there is a highway higher than all of the above. It is located in Spain, near Granada. The road to the peak of Mount Veleta in the Sierra Nevada mountains rises to a height of as much as 3392 meters. But this road is not a pass, it is just a dead-end asphalt road. Actually, Cime de la Bonette is not a pass either, it’s just a ring around a mountain peak.

The length of the Col de la Bonette pass is 26 kilometers.

The average elevation angle is about 6.4%, with a maximum of just over 10% in one place.

In these places you can meet alpine marmots - Mormoths. Although it is a great success to see them in crowded places. In one place, somewhere in the middle of our ascent, I went out to take a photo and noticed movement below. It was a big and fat marmot! I froze for about five seconds, watching him, and when he started to hide, I came to my senses, took a couple of shots and started calling my wife. But he had already hidden under the stones. In the photo below you can only see his back. Will you find it?

For cycling fans, these places are iconic. The multi-day Tour de France cycling race takes place across the mountain passes of France. This is the highest pass on which the Tour de France has been held, having done so four times: in 1962, 1964, 1993 and 2008. But the rest of the time there are a lot of cyclists in sports equipment.

Somewhere along the way you will definitely pass by such a small lake in which small fish swim peacefully:

On the other side of the road from the lake this is the view:

Also somewhere nearby. I wonder what this house is used for?

And a little higher up there was a whole camp. A sort of wild camping in the mountains:

But now, we first drove up to the highest point of the pass, and then climbed the Cime de la Bonette. Here, at an altitude of more than 2700 meters, the following views open up:

Fragment of the road around Cime de la Bonette. This group of exotic cars is doing something of a blog tour :) All the cars have the same sponsor stickers:

Who knows what kind of cars these are? We found out that these were Wiesmann cars. They assemble cars individually by hand. The cars are not cheap, and yet there is still a queue of people wanting to buy them. And in the Alps there is their event called "Route des grandes Alpes".

People come here by completely different types of transport. I have already mentioned cyclists, besides them there are many bikers and those traveling in motorhomes. Lovers of exoticism and antiquity can come in this:

Or like this:

We leave the car downstairs and walk upstairs:

High mountain plank checkin. Apparently this is the top of the mountain. By the way, the color of the sky is not a polarizer, I didn’t have a polarizer for my new wide-angle lens,

The majestic mountain range in Europe offers stunning outdoor moments and breathtaking panoramic views. Imagine emerald alpine lakes, idyllic villages and valleys that provide Swiss quality service and amenities. We will show you the most beautiful places in the Alps. And each of these idyllic alpine places is simply a must-see.

Thermal spa Bad Gastein, Austria

Excellent treatment centers are based in the resort town of Gastein, which is located in the Austrian Alps. It is also a popular ski destination. The baths and pools use fresh water from hot springs located in the mountains. There is excellent service, beautiful nature and relaxing spa treatments.

Photo: Yisong Yue

Photo: Robert Döhler

Photo: Thomas Wenger (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Stelvio Pass, Italy

The second highest pass in the Alps is an exceptionally picturesque place. The road connects Stelvio in South Tyrol with Bormio. The pass was built during the Austrian Empire, in the 1820s, and has remained virtually unchanged since then. Stelvio is a traditional Tyrolean region. Here you can visit quiet, picturesque alpine villages. There are also ski resorts here.
The historical road is one of the most famous not only in the Alps, but also in the world. It offers a magnificent view, and the classic winding route is very popular with extreme drivers. The British show Top Gear called it the greatest road in the world.

Photo: jockrutherford (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Photo: Iain Cameron (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

The stunning park is named after the Gran Paradiso mountain in the Alps, in northwestern Italy. The park amazes with its landscape, valleys, glaciers and alpine meadows. Endangered species of animals and birds live here. These are the Alpine ibex, chamois, eagle owl and many others. Small villages are scattered throughout the park.
Many come here to climb the mountains and admire the magnificent views. In addition, here you can watch wild animals and birds. Wildlife is so abundant, it doesn't take much effort to track down the "locals."

Photo: Fulvio Spada (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Photo: Soumei Baba (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, France

Another stunning place to visit is the Mont Blanc region. The height of the Aiguille du Midi peak is 3842 meters. If you look at it from Chamonix, then at noon the sun is directly above this peak. The Aiguille du Midi cable car will take you to a height of 3800 meters. From here, observation platforms offer unforgettable views of the surrounding area. Last year a glass platform was installed here. And although the glass panels are thick, only daredevils visit it.

A wonderful place to visit in Chamonix. This is the highest attraction in Europe. Chamonix is truly a classic city with an alpine landscape that tourists love so much.

Dam on Lake Silvenstein, Upper Bavaria, Germany

The artificial lake fits into the alpine landscape and is one of the most interesting places in the Isar valley. Located at an altitude of 750 meters in the Karwendel Alps, the lake is replenished by the waters of the Isar River. It is surrounded by hiking trails that are very popular with tourists. And the dam is a scenic feature. Driving along it, you can admire the fabulous surroundings.

Tourists come here to hike, climb or swim in the lake. Popular cycle track Bavaria Tirolensis on the southern coast it connects Bavaria and the Tyrolean Alps. This idyllic place is a favorite among photographers.

Photo: Polybert49 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Photo: Sascha Sormann

Photo: FHgitarre (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Paragliding school in France

The paragliding school accepts beginners and young people. In winter it is a ski resort, but in summer it is a paragliding paradise. Flying in the Alps - the largest mountain range in Europe - is truly something incredible.

Photo: Ludovic Lubeigt (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Photo: SNappa2006 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Photo: Stefan Schmitz (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)

Brienz-Rothorn rack railway, Switzerland

The picturesque scenery opens up as the train makes its slow ascent up the Brienz-Rothorn mountain in the Emmental Alps. The highest point of the railway is located at an impressive height of 2244 meters. The drive passes through a tunnel carved into the rock and makes exciting loops. Those who are nervous about heights - challenge yourself, you will be delighted!
The journey to the top takes about an hour. There you will be greeted by restaurants and guest houses where everyone is given a warm welcome. While walking you can admire the surroundings. There is a road between the stations.

Photo: Martin Abegglen (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Stanserhorn, Switzerland

The height of the “friendliest mountain” is 1898 meters. It is accessible to everyone, which is why it is a popular place among tourists. The summit can be reached by cable car or hiking trails. Both methods provide breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.
The peak is the best point from which breathtaking views of the surrounding area open. Hiking trails provide a great opportunity to enjoy a day outdoors.

Photo: Konrad Summers (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Based on materials from: placestoseeinyourlifetime.com

Geographical position

The Alps have been studied in great detail. Since the middle of the last century, scientists from different countries have studied them deeply and comprehensively. Using the example of the Alps, the structural features of the Cenozoic mountain systems of Europe were studied and their canopy (cover) structure was noted for the first time, a diagram of Quaternary mountain glaciation was created, and the patterns of mountain climate and vegetation were studied. Many research results obtained in the Alps were then used in the study of other mountain systems. The Alps provided rich material for the development of geography and related sciences. Concepts such as “alpine folding”, “alpine meadows”, and finally even “mountain climbing” have long become not regional, but common nouns.

Switzerland and Austria are located entirely on the territory of the Alpine mountainous country. Its northern parts are within the Federal Republic of Germany, its western parts are within France, and its southern parts are within Italy. The eastern spurs of the Alps extend into the territory of Hungary, the southeastern ridges into Slovenia. Sometimes they talk about the Swiss, French, Italian Alps, etc. However, this division according to the nationality of one or another part of the Alps does not always correspond to their natural differences.

Geological structure and relief

The geological structure, orography and geomorphological features of the region are very diverse. The Alps proper begin off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea with the system of the Maritime Alps, bordering the Apennines. Then they stretch along the border of France in the meridional direction in the form of the Cottian and Graian Alps, which are composed of crystalline rocks and reach great heights. The most notable massifs are Pelle Vu (4102 m), Gran Paradiso (4061 m) and the highest five-domed Mont Blanc (4807 m), located on the border between France, Italy and Switzerland. Toward the Padan Lowland, this part of the Alps drops off steeply, without foothills, and therefore looks especially grandiose from the east. From the west, a strip of high crystalline massifs is bordered by a system of mid-altitude mountain ranges composed of limestone. Such ridges are usually called the Pre-Alps.

From the Mont Blanc massif the Alps turn sharply to the east, reaching the limit of average height in Switzerland. Here two parallel rows of powerful ridges, composed of crystalline rocks and limestones, can be traced. The Bernese and Pennine Alps, separated by the longitudinal valley of the upper Rhone, are especially majestic. In this part of the mountains rise the glacier-covered massifs of the Jungfrau (more than 4000 m), the Matterhorn (4477 m) and the second highest massif of the Alps - Monte Rosa (4634 m). Somewhat lower are the parallel ridges of the Lepontine and Glarn Alps, between which lies the valley of the upper Rhine. The Rhone and Rhine valleys are separated by the powerful Gotthard massif, which is a mountain junction and watershed of the Swiss Alps. From the north and south, a strip of high mountain ranges is accompanied by limestone and flysch Pre-Alps (Swiss in the north and Lombard in the south).

In the middle part of the Alps, they are crossed by a deep tectonic valley that runs from Lake Constance to Lake Como. This is an important orographic and geographical boundary dividing the Alps into Western and Eastern. The Eastern Alps are wider and lower than the Western Alps, and their geological structure is also somewhat different. In the extreme east, the ridges of the Alps fan out, approaching the Danube in the north, and reaching the northwest of the Balkan Peninsula in the south. The highest is the axial zone of the ridges of the Eastern Alps, composed of crystalline rocks. But nowhere in the east do the Alps reach such heights as in the west. Only the Bernina Massif in Italy slightly exceeds 4000 m, while the remaining peaks are much lower. The Ötztal Alps and the Hohe Tauern in Austria reach 3500-3700 m, and in the extreme east the height of the mountains rarely exceeds 2000 m. To the north and south of the central crystalline zone stretch the lower ridges of the Pre-Alps, composed of limestones, dolomites and flysch.

The Alpine mountain system, despite its height and considerable width, does not pose a serious obstacle to climbing. This is explained by the large tectonic and erosional dissection of the mountains, the abundance of convenient passages and passes. Since ancient times, the most important routes connecting the countries of Central Europe with the Mediterranean passed through the Alps. Currently, numerous railways and highways with busy traffic are laid through the Alps. The most important are the Frejus passes at an altitude of more than 2500 m, through which the road from Turin to Paris passes, and the Great Saint Bernard at an altitude of more than 2400 m between Mont Blanc and the Pennine Alps, connecting Switzerland with Italy. The Simplon and Saint Gotthard passes are also of great importance. The latter gained fame thanks to Suvorov’s unprecedented crossing of the Alps in 1799. In the Eastern Alps, the low (1371 m) Brenner Pass is most convenient. The first Alpine railway, built in 1867, passed through it. In the second half of the 19th century. Railways crossed almost all the most important Alpine passes. During the construction of these roads, it was necessary to build a large number of tunnels, as a result of which many features of the geological structure of the Alps were revealed. Currently, a tunnel has been built under Mont Blanc on the highway connecting France with Italy. The Alps arose as a result of the collision of the continental plates of Eurasia and Africa at the site of the closed part of Tethys. The result was extensive overturned nappe folds that included fragments of the oceanic crust that made up the ridges of the Alpine mountain system. A major role in the creation of the very diverse relief of the Alps, along with folding in the Mesozoic and Paleogene, was played by powerful vertical movements at the end of the Neogene - the beginning of the Quaternary period, and then by strong erosion activity and the impact of ancient glaciation, which was especially powerful in the Alps.

The strip of the highest ridges and massifs, composed of crystalline rocks and partly limestone, is distinguished by sharp, jagged lines of ridges with individual peaks eaten away by large cirques, steep, steep slopes devoid of vegetation, hanging deep valleys, and huge tongues of glaciers. The lower parts and marginal ridges of the Pre-Alps are characterized by a medium-altitude type of relief with rounded peaks and soft contours of the slopes. The valleys there are wide and terraced, with lake-like extensions. In the north, at the foot of the Alps, in the triangle between them, the Jura Mountains and the valley of the upper Danube, there is a foothill plateau 400-600 m high, composed of destruction products that were once carried down from the mountain slopes. This clastic material was assembled into surface folds during the final phases of orogenesis. The plateau is covered by thick accumulations of glacial deposits left by Alpine glaciers: terminal moraine ridges, accumulations of bottom moraine and masses of outwash sand. The Alpine foothill plateau is located within Switzerland and the Federal Republic of Germany. Accordingly, its smaller western part is called the Swiss Plateau, and the eastern part is called the Bavarian Plateau.

The Swiss plateau is bordered from the north by the Jurassic Mountains system, which is the leading chain of the Alpine mountain system. Parallel anticlinal ridges with a maximum height of more than 1700 m, composed of Jurassic limestones, separate wide longitudinal valleys filled with flysch. The ridges are crossed by narrow gorges that connect longitudinal valleys and create a lattice erosion network. The slopes and peaks of the Jura ranges are corroded by karst caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. The southern slopes of the Alps are devoid of foothills. In the east are the Pre-Alps, and in the west high crystalline massifs break off to the Padan Lowland, within which the southern outskirts of the Alpine mountain system are immersed. From the beginning of the Cenozoic, on the site of the lowland, there was a gulf of the Adriatic Sea, which was gradually filled with clastic material carried down from the Alps and Apennines; the basin drained towards the end of the Neogene. Most of the Padan Lowland is located below 100 m above sea level. At the foot of the mountains, the relief of the lowland is hilly, the surface is composed of coarse material, terminal moraine deposits and outwash sands. Towards the Po Valley, the surface is covered with a thin layer of alluvial sediments, and the relief becomes flatter. The Po River and many of its lower tributaries flow in natural levees above the surrounding area. When it flows into the Adriatic Sea, the Po forms a large, rapidly growing delta. Sand spits and islands are grouped along the flat lagoonal coast of the lowland. Venice is located in one of the lagoons on numerous islands separated by straits. The straits are streets, so Venice gives the impression of a city rising from the sea. Currently, there is a progressive subsidence of the coast, which threatens to flood a large part of the city.

Minerals

The Alpine mountainous country does not have large reserves of mineral raw materials. Minerals are concentrated in the Eastern Alps and are associated with rocks of the central crystalline zone. These are deposits of iron and copper ores and magnesite in Austria. In the basins of the Eastern Alps, sedimentary deposits contain small deposits of brown coal and salt.

Climatic conditions

The Alps, rising in the path of humid western air currents, are a large condenser of moisture. The northern and western marginal ridges receive especially a lot of precipitation, from 1500 to 3000 mm per year, foggy and cloudy weather prevails. Internal ridges, closed valleys and basins receive significantly less moisture (less than 1000 mm). The greatest amount of precipitation falls to an altitude of 1500-2000 m, where the zone of maximum cloudiness is located. Above this zone the weather is drier and clearer. On the slopes of the Alps, high-altitude climatic zonation is clearly expressed, manifested in the transition from the warm temperate and even subtropical climate of the southern foothills to the harsh high-mountain climate of the upper parts of the mountains with frequent frosts, snowstorms, snowfalls and powerful glaciation. There are characteristic differences in the climatic conditions of slopes of different exposures, closed valleys and basins. The latter have a climate with a distinct continental flavor, with winter temperature inversions and less rainfall.

In winter, a huge amount of snow accumulates in the Alps. In some years there is such a quantity of it that Alpine passes become inaccessible, and traffic on railways and roads stops for some time. In the spring, avalanches occur in many areas, and the avalanche danger increases due to excessive deforestation. The Alps are characterized by local winds, of which the foehns are especially important, which occur during transition seasons due to the difference in pressure on the northern and southern slopes. On the northern slopes, hair dryers appear as dry and warm downward winds, bringing warm and clear weather, accelerating the melting of snow and the onset of spring, and in the fall promoting the ripening of crops. But sometimes the consequences of hair dryers can be catastrophic, as increased snow melting causes floods, landslides and destruction of roads.

The climate of the lowland areas located at the northern and southern foothills of the Alps is influenced to a certain extent by the mountains, which is primarily expressed in increased precipitation. The pre-Alpine plateau and Padan lowland receive from 800 to 1200 mm of precipitation per year. Both of these areas have a temperate climate with some continental features, only the climate of the Padan Plain is warmer and more favorable for agriculture than the climate of the Pre-Alpine Plateau.

Vegetation

The Alps are a forested region. However, the modern picture of their soil and vegetation cover is extremely variegated. This, on the one hand, is the result of natural conditions and the manifestation of altitudinal zonation; on the other hand, it is a consequence of a very profound change in natural conditions under the influence of man. The Bavarian Plateau, less populated than the Swiss, has deciduous and mixed forests interspersed with areas of peat bogs. Significant areas are cultivated. On the Swiss Plateau, with a warmer climate, the natural soil and vegetation cover was dominated by oak and beech forests on brown soils. But the natural landscapes there have hardly been preserved. The plateau is densely populated - almost the entire population of Switzerland is concentrated here. Most of the territory is occupied by grain crops, lush sown meadows and orchards. The most heat-loving crops, such as grapes, are planted along the shores of lakes. The slopes of the Jura Mountains are covered with beech forests. The valleys are inhabited and cultivated, the beautiful meadows on the tops of the ridges serve as summer pastures.

The natural vegetation of the Padan Lowland - beech forests on brown forest soils - has been completely destroyed. Its natural conditions are extremely favorable for agriculture, which is why it has long been inhabited and occupied by fields and vineyards. Laurels, pomegranate and fig trees, and cypresses grow in the gardens and around the villages. Fruit trees grow in the fields among the wheat and corn, and grapes often climb the trunks of elms and mulberries. 2-3 crops are harvested from the fields per year. This leads to severe depletion of the soil, the fertility of which is not restored. Therefore, many lands are gradually becoming unsuitable for further use.

The most complex picture is of the soil and vegetation cover of the Alps themselves, which can serve as a classic example of the altitudinal zonation of mountains in the oceanic sector of the temperate zone. The lower zone of the Alps, up to approximately 1000 m altitude, is very diverse in climate and vegetation cover, its conditions are close to those of the neighboring plains. In the south, Mediterranean influences are felt and subtropical soil and vegetation types can be found. In the west, oak, chestnut and beech forests on brown forest soils rise along the slopes, in the north there are less heat-loving mixed forests on podzolic soils, and from the east the forest-steppe approaches the Alps. This lower belt, which is the most populated and has significantly changed its natural vegetation cover, is called the cultural belt of the Alps.

At high altitudes, climatic conditions become more uniform. To an altitude of approximately 1800-2200 m, in a zone of moderate temperature and heavy rainfall, a belt of forests rises on mountain brown soils and podzolic soils. The composition of forests varies with altitude, as well as depending on the location and aspect of the slopes. In humid places, on shady northern slopes, beech forest is common, often mixed with spruce. The higher, drier and sunny slopes are covered with beautiful spruce and fir forests. In many areas the forests have been cleared. On deforested slopes, soil erosion processes, avalanches and other phenomena that cause great damage intensify. The current upper limit of forests in the Alps, as a result of annual grazing in the subalpine zone, has been reduced by almost 100 m in height and is almost nowhere dependent on natural conditions.

Above the forest zone there is a subalpine zone, where shrub vegetation is combined with lush subalpine meadows and individual oppressed trees. The growth of trees is hampered by the short growing season, strong winds, and sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity. This belt is most favorable for the growth of herbs, which achieve exceptional lushness and beauty. Thickets of creeping or low-growing shrubs are also common, among which the most common are alpine rhododendron with bright red flowers, juniper and mountain pine with branches pressed to the ground. The Alpine belt proper at altitudes up to 2500-3000 m is characterized by a complete absence of woody vegetation, the predominance of low-growing, sparsely growing perennial grasses with bright flowers, forming so-called “carpets” (mattas), and the spread of swamps. The Alpine belt gradually turns into a belt of eternal snow and ice.

Divided into two climatically distinct parts, there are three mountain passes that connect the east and west coasts. In the south of the mountain range is located, in the center is high mountain, and further in the north of the mountain range lies Lewis Pass. Lewis Pass is 864 meters above sea level. It is slightly lower than the highest Arthur's Pass, but higher than the Haast Pass. Through Lewis Pass, through vast beech forests, Route 7 runs, connecting the region to the West Coast. Lewis Pass is located between two mountain rivers. To the northwest is the Maruia River, and to the southeast is the Lewis River. On both sides of the pass there is a dense beech forest, as a result of the humid climate and frequent rains. During the last ice age, the valleys around the pass were covered with ice, which when melted left behind deposits of moraine and gravel.

The terrain around the pass is less steep and more open than other alpine passes and the Lewis Pass route is therefore considered the main route for transport between Canterbury and Canterbury. The road from the pass takes two and a half hours, and you can get to it in an hour and a half. Sixty-six kilometers west of Lewis Pass is a mining town whose history is associated with gold mining and the gold rush. Reefton is also famous for the fact that it was the first city in and throughout the Southern Hemisphere whose streets were illuminated by electrical energy, in 1888.
The area around Lewis Pass is a protected area and is protected by the state, and is also used for tourism purposes. Around the pass there are a number of tourist routes-tracks. Not far from the pass is the tiny resort village of Mauria Springs. It is located on the banks of the Maruia River, surrounded by high, snow-capped mountain peaks, among a dense beech forest. There are beautiful views of pristine nature, breathtaking contemplation of the river and mighty mountain peaks, a resort famous for hot mineral springs that well up deep from the ground, as well as an indoor pool, outdoor pools built from local river stone, a bathhouse, a hotel, a restaurant, a cafe and wireless internet (in the cafe). In the Maori language, Maruia means protected or shadowed, indicating its location, deep in a valley, between the mountains.

The mountain pass in the northern part of the Southern Alps was famous to the local Maori. They knew about it for a long time and used it. Maori walked through it from Canterbury to the West Coast in search of greenstones. In the area of the Mauria River, Maori sites were discovered by the first settlers. The first European to discover the crossing was Provincial Survey Surveyor Henry Lewis, along with Christopher Maling, in April 1860. The pass was named after the pioneer. When it began, prospectors were moving from Canterbury to the west along the Lewis Passage. But this version is questioned. During the early years of European colonization of the islands, the area around it was the most isolated place in New Zealand. Communication with the outside world was limited by sea. The land road from Christchurch to Nelson was almost two hundred miles long. In the eighties, the route through the pass was surveyed and road construction began. It took a long time to build; construction was completed in 1938. The road connected Canterbury with the West Coast and Nelson and played a huge role in the development of New Zealand.

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