Alpine countries
The
Alpine countries, sometimes called
Alpine nations or
Alpine states, are a group of
nations taken to be part of either
Central Europe along with the
Visegrád group or
Western Europe. The region takes its name from the
Alps, the largest
mountain ranges of
Europe, stretching from
Austria to
France and including
Slovenia,
Italy,
Switzerland,
Liechtenstein and - with restrictions -
Germany. All of these nations include portions of the Alps, and because of this are termed the "Alpine countries". Though France and Italy also have mountains of the Alps within their borders, neither is always considered to be an Alpine country, with the former sometimes being considered to be only a part of
Western Europe and the latter sometimes being considered to be only part of the
Apennine peninsula in
Southern Europe. The Alps are extremely important to Europe in general.
The region is named after the Alps much like the
Andean states in
South America are named after the
Andes, and
Himalayan states in
Asia are named after the
Himalaya.
During the
2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony the flags of the "seven Alpine countries" were raised:
Italy,
France,
Switzerland,
Liechtenstein,
Austria,
Germany and
Slovenia.
In the direction of the ridges of the Alps, from the west to east:
*
Switzerland — the Swiss landscape is characterized by the Alps running across the central-south of the country. Amongst the high peaks of the
Swiss Alps, the highest of which is the
Dufour Peak at 4,634 meters, are found countless
valleys, some with
glaciers. From these the
headwaters of several major
European rivers such as the
Rhine, the
Rhône, the
Inn, the
Aar or the
Ticino, flow down into lakes such as
Lake Geneva,
Lake Zürich,
Lake Neuchâtel,
Lake Constance, and further down.
Bern is the
capital, while
Zürich is the largest city.
*
Germany — Germany stretches from the high mountains of the Alps in the south (the highest point is 2,962 meters at
Zugspitze) to the shores of the
North Sea and
Baltic Sea in the north. In between are found the forested
uplands of central Germany and the lowlands of northern Germany, with the lowest point at Neuendorfer/Wilstermarsch, 3.54 meters below
sea level. Germany is also traversed by some of Europe's major rivers, including the
Rhine,
Danube and
Elbe.
Berlin is the capital and the largest city.
*
Liechtenstein — Liechtenstein is situated in the Rhine Valley in the Alps. The entire western border of Liechtenstein is formed by the river Rhine. The eastern part of the country is located at higher
altitude, the highest point being the Grauspitz, at 2,599 meters. It is a
landlocked country, bordered by other Alpine countries, with
Austria to the east and
Switzerland to the west.
Vaduz is the capital.
*
Austria — Austria's west and south are situated in the Alps, making it a well-known
winter sport destination. The highest mountain is the
Großglockner at 3,798 meters above sea level, followed by the
Wildspitze (3,774 meters). The north and east of the country are mostly rolling terrain. The climate is temperate, with cold winters and cool summers.
Vienna is the capital and the largest city.
*
Slovenia — four major European geographic regions meet in Slovenia: the Alps, the
Dinaric Alps, the
Pannonian plain and the
Mediterranean. Therefore, in different parts of this small country, landscape, nature and customs are very diverse.
Triglav in
Julian Alps at 2,864 meters is the highest mountain and one of the symbols of Slovenia. Over a half of the country is covered by forests. Remnants of
primeval forests still exist, the largest in the
Kočevje area. Slovenia is also well known after its
karst (caves etc.) and the source of river
Sava.
Ljubljana is the capital and the largest city.
