VISIT THE ALPS

IN MODERN LANGUAGES, HOWEVER,

THE TERM "ALP" REFERS TO THE

GRAZING PASTURES BELOW THE GLACIERS

COWS ARE TAKEN UP TO THESE PASTURES IN

THE SUMMER MONTHS BY THEIR FARMERS

THE FARMERS SPEND THE SUMMER HERE IN SMALL

HUTS AS THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE FOR

THOUSANDS OF YEARS

THE IMPRESSIVE PEAKS OF THE ALPS ARE THE

RESULT OF EUROPE AND AFRICA COLLIDING

IN FACT, GEOLOGICALLY SPEAKING, THE TOPS OF

MANY OF THE MOUNTAINS USED TO BE PART OF

THE AFRICAN TECTONIC PLATE

ALPINE RUNOFF PROVIDES NEARLY 90% OF

LOWLAND EUROPE'S DRINKING WATER

THE CLIMATE IN THE ALPS IS VERY DIVERSE. ON THE

SOUTHERN END THEY RUN STRAIGHT INTO THE

BEACHES AND PALM TREES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

WHILE IN THE CENTRAL REGIONS THEY ARE ALPINE

AND FRIGID ALL YEAR ROUND

THE ALPS ARE HOME TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF

WILDLIFE INCLUDING BEARS, GOATS, AND EVEN

ALPINE SALAMANDERS!