1902 Encyclopedia > The Alps > Pennine Alps

The Alps
(Part 11)



(B) MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE ALPS

(e) Pennine Alps


The portion of the great chain that includes the peaks of Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa has always been recognized as the most important among the divisions of the Alps. This pre-eminence is due not only to its surpassing heights, but to the fact that its peaks are so conspicuous. Throughout the pain of Upper Italy from Turin to Milan, and even as the slopes of the Apennines, Monte Rosa, with its attendant peaks, is commonly the most remarkable object in the northern horizon; while in western Switzerland, and as far westward as the heights above Lyons, the done of Mont Blanc, rising in the distant eastern horizon, attracts the frequent attention alike of natives and strangers. Some doubts may arise as to the precise limits that should be assigned to this group. Towards the north-east it is generally agreed that the Simplon Pass is the most natural limit. In the opposite direction most writers have fixed on the Col de Bonhomme, south-west of Mont Blanc, as the proper boundary; but it seems reasonable in general arrangement to regard the range extending from the last-named pass to Grand C_ur, in the valley of the Isere, as a south-western prolongation of the range of Mont Blanc From the portion of the main chain connecting the Mont Combin with Monte Rosa, numerous branches, with peaks that rival these in height, diverge northward. The secondary ranges that extend on the side of Italy, southward and eastward from Monte Rosa, are much inferior in altitude, On the north and west sides of Mont Blanc an extensive mountain district, including the French department of Haute Savoie, must be considered as an appendage to the group of the Pennine Alps. On the south side, the short range extending parallel to that of Mont Blanc, from Courmayeur to the Val de Bellaval, corresponding to the range of the Aiguilles Rouges and the Brevent, on the opposite side, may best be included within the group of the Pennine Alps.

Chief Peaks of the Pennine Alps

Cima des Fours……………. 12,615 Fletschhorn…………………13,176
Aiguille de Trelatete………. 12,907 Grauhaupt………………….10,702
Aiguille de Bionnassay……. 13,324 Corno Bianco……………… 11,014
Mont Blanc (Calotte)………15,781 Pointe de Salles……. About. 10,200
Aiguille Verte……………… 13,527 Buet…………………………10,207
Grandes Jorasses…………. 13,799 Tour Salliere………………. 10,587
Aiguille d’ Argentiere…….. 12,796 Dent du Midi………………. 10,450
Grande Rossere…………… 10,904 Pigne d’Arolla………………12,471
Mont Velan………………... 12,353 Rouinette……………………12,727
Grand Combin……………. 14,164 Mont Blanc de Cheillon……12,700
Mont Gele………………… 11,539 Dent Blanche……………… 14,318
Mont Colon………………. 12,264 Grand Cornier…………… 13,022
Dent d’Herens……………. 13,714 Sasseneire………………… 10,692
Bec de Luseney…………… 12,350 Gabelhorn………………… 13,363
Matterhorn, or Mont Cervin14,780 Rothhorn, or Moming……. 13,855
Breithorn…………………. 13,685 Weisshorn………………… 14,804
Lyskamm…………………. 14,889 Strahlhorn………………… 13,750
Mte. Rosa (highest peak)… 15,217 Mischabelhorner (Dom)…. 14,935
Weissmies…………………. 13,225





Chief Passes in the Pennine Alps

Col de Bonhomme (Contamines to Chapiu), bridle-path……… 8,195
Col de la Seigne (Chapiu to Courmayeur), bridle-path……….. 8,327
Col du Mont Tondu (Contamines to Allee Blanche), glacier….. 9,204
Col de Miage (Contamines to Courmayeur), glacier…………… 11,076
Col du Geant (Chamouni to Courmayeur), glacier……………. 11,030
Col du Tour (Chamouni to Orsieres), glacier………………….. 11,213
Col de Ferrex (Courmayeur to Orsieres), bridle-path………… 8,320
Great St Bernard Pass (Orsieres to Aosta), Bridle-path……… 8,120
Col de Fenetre (Chables to Aosta), bridle-path……………….. 9,141
Col de Colon (Aosta to Evolena), glacier………………………. 10,269
Col de la Val Pellina (Aosta to Zermatt), glacier……………… 11,687
Col de Vessona (Oyace to St Barthelemi), footpath…….. about 8,600
Col de Vascornere (Prarayen to Val Tournanche), snow……… 10,335
Col de Chermontane (Chermontane to Evolena), glacier ………10,349
Col d’Herens (Evolena to Zermatt), glacier…………………….. 11,418
Col de Torrent (Evolena to Vissoie), footpath…………………. 9,593
Pas du Boeuf (St Luc to Turtmanthal), footpath………………. 9,154
Angstbord Pass (Gruben to St Niklaus), bridle-path…………. 9,515
Trift Joch (Zinal to Zermatt), glacier………………………….. 11,614
Col de St Theodule (Zermatt to Val Tournanche), glacier…… 10,899
Schwarz Thor (Zermatt to Val d’Ayas), glacier………………. 12,777
Lys Joch (Zermatt to Val de Lys), glacier……………………... 14,050
Weiss Thor (Zermatt to Macugnaga), glacier…………………. 11,851
Betta Furke (Val d’ Avas to val de Lys), footpath…………….. 8,639
Col d’Ollen (Gressonay to Alagna), bridle-path………………. 9,544
Col di Val Dobbia (Gressonay to Riva), bridle-path………….. 8,360
Turlo Pass (Alagna to Macugnaga), snow……………………… 9,088
Col di Barranca (Varallo to Ponte Grande), bridle-path……... 5,749
Alphubel Joch (Zermatt to Saas), glacier……………………… 12,474
Adler pass (Zermatt to Distel Alp), glacier ……………………. 12,461
Monte Moro (Saas to Macugnaga), snow……………………… 9,390
Saas Pass, or Passo d’Antrona (Saas to Val Antrona), glacier.. 9,331
Zwischbergen Pass (Saas to Gondo), glacier…………………… 10,732
Simplon Pass (Brieg to Domo d’Ossola), carriage road………. 6,595
Col de Balme (Chamouni to Martigny), bridle-path…………... 7,231
Col d’Anterne (Servoz to Sixt), bridle-path……………………. 7,612
Col de Sesanfe (Champery to Martigny), footpath……………. 7,940





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