Presentation Transcript

1. The Alps

2. Some General Facts The Alps make up one of the great mountain range systems in Europe The Alps stretch from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, and Monaco in the west The range’s highest peak is Mont Blanc on the Italian-French border at an altitude of 4,810.45 m
3. Geography:Geology The Alps arose as a result of a collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates during the Alpine orogeny and they form a belt of Tertiary orogenic mountain chains They stretch from the Atlantic Ocean through southern Europe and Asia into the Himalayas Most of this happened during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs Great pressure formed folds in the rock that rose from the Tethys Sea This created massive thrust faults
4. Alps! Climate

   Alpine Flora/Fauna

5. Temp/Climate is incredibly varied Depends on season/location/altitude
6. Major Efects on Climate 1) Warm Atlantic 2) Cold air from North Europe 3) Mediterranean 4) Cold and dry in east
7. Change over Time/Precipitation 2003 driest year in recorded history Temperature warmest at present day Receding Glaciers Rain and Snow are heavy everywhere
8. Tourism The Alps are extremely popular as a destination for sightseeing and sports in both summer and winter During winter months, Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and ski tours are popular tourist attractions In summer months, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and mountaineering bring many visitors to the region The Alps are usually featured in the three-week road cycling race le Tour de France that is held annually in July
9. Tourism Continued The Alps are usually featured in the three-week road cycling race le Tour de France that is held annually in July
10. Flora The Alps are generally divided into five different vegetations zones: premontane, montane, subalpine, alpine and alvar Below 1,200 meters above sea level on the north side and 1,500 meters on the southern slopes, the vegetation consists largely of deciduous trees including: oak, beech, ash and sycamore maples These native trees are not always found as humans have largely replaced them with Scots pine and Norway spruce Above tree line, there are often scattered short pines, and higher up low shrubs, and alpine meadows dominate the landscape
11. Alpine Rock Jasmine Scots Pine Edelweiss Mountain Pine Austrian Alps
12. Fauna Around 30,000 animal species have been identified in the Alps: 15 species of reptiles, 21 species of amphibians, 80 species of fish, 80 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, and 20,000 invertebrates Iconic species of the Alps include the Alpine Ibex, Chamois, Griffon Vulture, Black Grouse, European Lynx and Wolves
13. Alpine Ibex Type of Mountain Goat with long curved horns Lives in rough terrain at elevations of 1,800-3,300 meters Diet consists largely of lichen, grasses and herbs Hunted nearly to extinction, now is a protected species Lifespan of 12-15 years
14. Eurasian Lynx Medium sized cat, typically weighing between 20-60 lbs. In summer it has a short reddish-brown coat, but in winter it develops a much thicker, silky, grayish-brown coat Lives in solitude as an adult, covering large areas of woodland to stalk prey Hunts mostly deer goats and small mammals