WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THE ALPS

THE ALPS TAKE UP MORE THAN A TENTH OF

EUROPE'S LAND AREA

FOR CENTURIES THE ALPS' ECONOMY MAINLY CONSISTED

OF AGRICULTURE (AND STILL DOES), BUT TODAY TOURISM

HAS BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT INDUSTRY

THEY USED TO BE A REMOTE, HARD-TO-LIVE-IN REGION

THAT SEPARATED CULTURES AND NATIONS

IN FACT, MANY VALLEYS HAVE THEIR OWN

DIALECT OR LANGUAGE

DUE TO AMAZING SCENERY AND BETTER ACCESS,

TOURISTS CAN NOW ENJOY HIKING AND SKIING

ALL YEAR ROUND

THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES ARE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR

SPOTS IN THE RANGE. THEY LIGHT UP AT SUNSET DUE TO

THE CARBONATES OF DEAD SHELLFISH IN THE ROCKS. YES,

THOSE MOUNTAINS USED TO BE AT THE BOTTOM

OF THE OCEAN!

AS WE MENTIONED, THE ALPS PROVIDE A NATURAL BARRIER,

ESPECIALLY TO ITALY. MOST OF THE ROUTES INTO THE

COUNTRY BY LAND ARE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS!

HANNIBAL, THE FAMOUS CARTHAGIAN GENERAL,

MARCHED HIS ARMY OF ELEPHANTS THROUGH

THE ALPS

NOT ONLY DO THE ALPS KEEP ARMIES OUT, BUT THEY

ALSO PREVENT NORTHERN WINDS FROM BLOWING SOUTH.

THE WEATHER IN SOUTHERN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY IS

VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WEATHER IN SOUTHERN GERMANY