One of the great mountain ranges in the continent of Europe is known as the Alps. The ranges are mainly situated in Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east, through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west.
The Alps are also a part of a tertiary orogenic belt known as the Alpide belt. This belt is formed by the mountain ranges in southern margins of the Asian and the European continent. Its name is derived from French via Latin from the word Alpes which means "the Alps" or from Latin words "albus" meaning "white" or "altus" that indicates "high". The Alps have been divided into the Western Alps and the Eastern Alps. The highest peak in the Alps is Mount Blanc at 4,808 meters (15,774 ft) on the French-Italian border.
The Alps are also a part of a tertiary orogenic belt known as the Alpide belt. This belt is formed by the mountain ranges in southern margins of the Asian and the European continent. Its name is derived from French via Latin from the word Alpes which means "the Alps" or from Latin words "albus" meaning "white" or "altus" that indicates "high". The Alps have been divided into the Western Alps and the Eastern Alps. The highest peak in the Alps is Mount Blanc at 4,808 meters (15,774 ft) on the French-Italian border.
