Mount Mont Blanc on a map of Europe is located directly on the border of France and Italy. Inside it was built a tunnel of eleven and a half kilometers long. Through it, communication is carried out between these two states. The peak is part of the Western Alps and is a very popular tourist destination. This is especially true for skiers for whom a whole resort is built - Chamonix. In the literal translation from French, the name "Mont Blanc" means "white mountain".
Dimensions
The height of Mont Blanc is 4810 meters. It stretched about 50 kilometers in length and 30 - in width. Its total area is a little more than two hundred kilometers square. The mountain system of the same name, which includes a peak, occupies an area that is comparable in size to half of Luxembourg.
Location
The question of where Mount Mont Blanc is located, or rather, on the territory of which state, has been quite controversial for a long period of time. From 1723 until the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, its entire territory was considered as property of the Kingdom of Sardinia. On March 24, 1860, an act was signed in the Italian city of Turin, according to which the peak was on the border between Italy and France. This document is still recognized by the governments of both states. The coordinates of Mount Mont Blanc are 45 degrees and 50 minutes north latitude, as well as 6 degrees and 51 minutes east longitude. It is in this place that the state border between the countries now passes. Now most of the mountain is located in the French city of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.
Conquering the top
The first historical memories of the ascent to the summit date back to August 8, 1786. Then she was subdued by Michel Gabriel Packard. The traveler made a climb paired with an assistant, Jacques Balm. It should be noted that several unsuccessful attempts preceded this. As for the first woman who conquered the "White Mountain", then Maria Paradis became her July 14, 1808. An interesting fact is that she carried out her campaign with the same Jacques Balm, who subsequently participated in several more such expeditions. Such his activity was noted by King Victor Amedey the Third. Now in Chamonix there is even a monument to Jacques Balm.
Hiking and mountaineering
Currently, Mont Blanc is considered one of the main European centers of tourism and mountaineering. By the number of annual visits among all objects of natural origin, it ranks third in the world. Many professional climbers and amateurs dream of climbing this peak. As noted above, at the foot of the famous French ski resort of Chamonix. On the opposite side is its Italian counterpart, Courmayeur. It should be noted that the constant interest in this place, besides fans of extreme sports, is also expressed by scientists who specialize in a wide variety of areas of activity. For example, one of their most significant achievements is considered to be the discovery of the mummified human remains of prehistoric times, which occurred in 1991. According to the researchers, they lay under a layer of snow with ice for about five thousand years.
Climb to Mont Blanc
Mount Mont Blanc, where there are many diverse beauties, is very attractive for many tourists. However, it is not so easy to conquer. If a person wants to climb to the top, he must be well prepared physically. Moreover, you won’t do it on your own - here you need the support and help of professional climbers. Even so, it will take about twelve hours to conquer. Many guides recommend going up here at least for the sake of skiing down, thereby gaining an unforgettable experience for life.
Aiguille du midi
Despite the fact that Mount Mont Blanc is a very attractive and picturesque place, not everyone can climb it, because not everyone has mountain climbing skills. The most impressive view of it opens from the peak of Aiguille du Midi, which is located in the heart of the massif. A special observation deck is also equipped here. However, it can take up to five hours to get here and go down.
The whole journey starts from the center of Chamonix, where the cable station is located. After twenty minutes by funicular, there will be a first stop. The place is located at an altitude of 2317 meters. It is from here that almost all climbing expeditions start. The next section of the cable lift is the coolest on the planet. At an altitude of 3842 meters, an observation platform has been built, which has the same name. It’s pretty cool here, so it’s recommended to take warm clothes with you first. Next, you should move to the neighboring peak through the bridge, hovering between the two rocks, and then climb another 42 meters by elevator.
It should be noted that the cable car operates throughout almost the whole year. An exception is the period from early November to mid-December. In addition, it is closed in strong winds and other adverse weather conditions.
Tunnel under Mont Blanc
In 1814, the king of Sardinia received the first request for the construction of a tunnel inside the mountain. However, construction began only in 1959 and lasted for eight years. The total length of the tunnel is 11.6 kilometers. One part of it is located in French territory (at an altitude of 1274 meters), and the other in Italian (at an altitude of 1381 meters). On March 24, 1999 a great tragedy happened - a truck caught fire inside it, which led to a big fire. The temperature reached one thousand degrees, so many of the stuck cars melted in the literal sense of the word. Among the dead there were 39 people. In addition to them, more than thirty were injured. After an investigation, which lasted about a year, the object underwent reconstruction.
Now the passage through the tunnel that pierces the Mont Blanc mountain is paid and costs about forty euros. Not everyone uses it as a road, preferring a detour on their travels. The length of the "hook" in this case is 130 kilometers.
Tragic reputation
This peak is associated with very unpleasant statistics, which often scares off many tourists and climbers. The fact is that it takes first place in the world in such an indicator as lethality. According to information received from various sources, several thousand people died when trying to conquer the peaks on the slopes. On the account of no other peaks on the planet there are so many deaths. According to official statistics, from ten to a hundred people do not return annually from here.
In addition, twice in history, Mount Mont Blanc became the cause of the crash of aircraft. The first case occurred in 1950. Then the pilot of the Indian-owned airliner could not correctly calculate the route for landing at the Geneva airport, as a result of which the plane hit a slope at an altitude of about 4600 meters. The tragedy resulted in the death of 48 people. Another plane crash occurred in 1966. The situation was largely repeated: the board of the same company from India crashed in about the same place. This time 117 people died, among whom were both passengers and crew.