As the largest mountain range in Europe, the Alps are filled with beautiful waterfalls, scenic glaciers, and quaint alpine villages. If that’s not enough to make you want to buy a plane ticket maybe our list will help convince you. Here are 25 reasons you should definitely visit the Alps.
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The Alps take up more than a tenth of Europe's land area
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 24
For centuries the Alps' economy mainly consisted of agriculture (and still does), but today tourism has become a very important industry
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 23
They used to be a remote, hard-to-live-in region that separated cultures and nations
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In fact, many valleys have their own dialect or language
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Due to amazing scenery and better access, tourists can now enjoy hiking and skiing all year round
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20
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!
Source: wikipedia, Image: Jiri Folta via fotocommunity.com 19
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!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 18
Hannibal, the famous Carthagian general, marched his army of elephants through the Alps once
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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
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 16
The longest tunnel in the world is set to open in 2016 through the Gotthard Massif. It will be 57km (35mi) long
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 15
It has been estimated that 40,000 to 80,000 men died due to avalanches during World War I
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 14
A mummified man estimated to be 5,000 years old was discovered in a glacier on the Austrian-Italian border
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 13
As we've already mentioned, the Alps have a strong culture. Traditional farming, cheese making, and wood working are still popular in many alpine villages
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 12
The Alps are home to 14 million spread across the countries of Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, and Austria
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 11
120 million people visit the Alps every year
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Chamonix, a city in the French Alps, was the first to host the Winter Olympics in 1924
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 9
The origin of the term "Alp" probably comes from a pre-Indo-European word meaning "hill"
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 8
In modern languages, however, the term "Alp" refers to the grazing pastures below the glaciers
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 7
Cows are taken up to these pastures in the summer months by their farmers.
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The farmers spend the summer here in small huts as their ancestors have for thousands of years
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The impressive peaks of the Alps are the result of Europe and Africa colliding
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 4
In fact, geologically speaking, the tops of many of the mountains used to be part of the African tectonic plate
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Alpine runoff provides nearly 90% of lowland Europe's drinking water
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 2
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
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 1
The Alps are home to a diverse array of wildlife including bears, goats, and even alpine salamanders!
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