| Pennine Alps | |
| Other Name: | French: Alpes Pennines, German: Walliser Alpen, Italian: Alpi Pennine, Latin: [[Alpes Poeninae]] |
| Highest: | Italian: Punta Dufour/German: Dufourspitze |
| Elevation M: | 4,634 |
The Pennine Alps (French: Alpes Pennines, German: Walliser Alpen, Italian: Alpi Pennine, Latin: [[Alpes Poeninae]]), sometimes referred to as the Valais Alps (which are just the Northern Swiss part of the Pennine Alps), are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in Italy (the Aosta Valley and Piedmont) and Switzerland (Valais).
The Pennine Alps are amongst the three highest major subranges of the Alps, together with the Bernese Alps and the Graian Alps that include the Mont Blanc massif.[1]
The Italian side is drained by the rivers Dora Baltea, Sesia and Toce, tributaries of the Po. The Swiss side is drained by the Rhône.
The Great St Bernard Tunnel, under the Great St Bernard Pass, leads from Martigny, Switzerland to Aosta.
The main chain (watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea) runs from west to east on the border between Italy (south) and Switzerland (north). From Mont Vélan, the first high summit east of St Bernard Pass, the chain rarely goes below 3000 metres and contains many four-thousanders such as Matterhorn or Monte Rosa. The valleys are quite similar on both side of the border, being generally oriented perpendicular to the main chain and descending progressively into the Rhône Valley on the north and the Aosta Valley on the south. Unlike many other mountain ranges, the higher peaks are often located outside the main chain and found themselves between the northern valleys (Grand Combin, Weisshorn, Mischabel, Weissmies).
See also: List of mountains in Switzerland.
The chief peaks of the Pennine Alps are:
| align=left | Name | align=left | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dufourspitze | 46340NaN0 | ||
| Nordend | 46080NaN0 | ||
| Zumsteinspitze | 45630NaN0 | ||
| Signalkuppe | 45540NaN0 | ||
| Dom | 45460NaN0 | ||
| Liskamm | 45320NaN0 | ||
| Weisshorn | 45050NaN0 | ||
| Täschhorn | 44910NaN0 | ||
| Matterhorn | 44780NaN0 | ||
| Parrotspitze | 44340NaN0 | ||
| Dent Blanche | 43570NaN0 | ||
| Nadelhorn | 43270NaN0 | ||
| Grand Combin | 43090NaN0 | ||
| Lenzspitze | 42940NaN0 | ||
| Stecknadelhorn | 42400NaN0 | ||
| Castor | 42250NaN0 | ||
| Zinalrothorn | 42210NaN0 | ||
| Hohberghorn | 42180NaN0 | ||
| Alphubel | 42060NaN0 | ||
| Rimpfischhorn | 41990NaN0 | ||
| Strahlhorn | 41900NaN0 | ||
| Dent d'Hérens | 41730NaN0 | ||
| Breithorn | 41600NaN0 | ||
| Bishorn | 41510NaN0 | ||
| Breithornzwillinge | 41380NaN0 | ||
| Pollux | 40890NaN0 | ||
| Ober Gabelhorn | 40630NaN0 | ||
| Dürrenhorn | 40350NaN0 | ||
| Allalinhorn | 40270NaN0 | ||
| Weissmies | 40130NaN0 | ||
| Lagginhorn | 40100NaN0 | ||
| Fletschhorn | 39850NaN0 | ||
| Adlerhorn | 39880NaN0 | ||
| Schalihorn | 39740NaN0 | ||
| Jägerhorn | 39700NaN0 | ||
| Grand Cornier | 39620NaN0 | ||
| Ulrichshorn | 39250NaN0 | ||
| Wellenkuppe | 38980NaN0 | ||
| Feechopf | 38880NaN0 | ||
| Klein Matterhorn | 38830NaN0 | ||
| Pointe du Mountet | 38770NaN0 | ||
| La Ruinette | 38750NaN0 |
| align=left | Name | align=left | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mont Blanc de Cheilon | 38700NaN0 | ||
| Bouquetins | 38380NaN0 | ||
| Tour de Boussine | 38330NaN0 | ||
| Brunegghorn | 38310NaN0 | ||
| Balfrin | 37960NaN0 | ||
| Cima di Jazzi | 37920NaN0 | ||
| Pigne d'Arolla | 37870NaN0 | ||
| Mont Vélan | 37650NaN0 | ||
| Kinhorn | 37500NaN0 | ||
| L'Évêque | 37380NaN0 | ||
| Tête Blanche | 37100NaN0 | ||
| Le Pleureur | 37060NaN0 | ||
| Aiguille de la Tsa | 36680NaN0 | ||
| Besso | 36670NaN0 | ||
| Mont Collon | 36370NaN0 | ||
| Les Diablons | 36050NaN0 | ||
| Pointes de Mourti | 35640NaN0 | ||
| Le Ritord | 35560NaN0 | ||
| Dents de Bertol | 35470NaN0 | ||
| Mont Gelé | 35180NaN0 | ||
| Petite Aiguille | 35170NaN0 | ||
| Becca di Luseney | 35060NaN0 | ||
| Château des Dames | 34890NaN0 | ||
| Tällihorn | 34480NaN0 | ||
| Pigne de la Lé | 33960NaN0 | ||
| Grand Tournalin | 33790NaN0 | ||
| Rosablanche | 33480NaN0 | ||
| Wasuhorn | 33430NaN0 | ||
| Mont Avril | 33410NaN0 | ||
| Almagellhorn | 33270NaN0 | ||
| Grande Rochère | 33260NaN0 | ||
| Corno Bianco | 33200NaN0 | ||
| Testa Grigia | 33150NaN0 | ||
| La Cassorte | 33010NaN0 | ||
| Böshorn | 32680NaN0 | ||
| Le Parrain | 32590NaN0 | ||
| Sasseneire | 32590NaN0 | ||
| Bösentrift | 32480NaN0 | ||
| Festihorn | 32480NaN0 | ||
| Grand Golliat | 32400NaN0 | ||
| Jazzihorn | 32270NaN0 | ||
| Pizzo Bianco | 32160NaN0 | ||
| Mont de la Gouille | 32120NaN0 | ||
| Latelhorn | 32070NaN0 | ||
| Jegihorn | 32060NaN0 |
| align=left | Name | align=left | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarzhorn | 32040NaN0 | ||
| Lammenhorn | 31900NaN0 | ||
| Gornergrat | 31360NaN0 | ||
| Pointe d'Ar Pitetta | 31330NaN0 | ||
| Corno di Faller | 31280NaN0 | ||
| Frilihorn | 31240NaN0 | ||
| Mont Rogneux | 30840NaN0 | ||
| Le Boudri | 30700NaN0 | ||
| Mont Néry | 30700NaN0 | ||
| Seetalhorn | 30370NaN0 | ||
| Bella Tola | 30280NaN0 | ||
| Corno Bussola | 30230NaN0 | ||
| Le Toûno | 30180NaN0 | ||
| Sparruhorn | 29880NaN0 | ||
| Monte Tagliaferro | 29640NaN0 | ||
| Pointe de Barasson | 29630NaN0 | ||
| Mont Blava | 29320NaN0 | ||
| Riffelhorn | 29310NaN0 | ||
| Palanche de la Cretta | 29270NaN0 | ||
| Bec de la Montau | 29220NaN0 | ||
| Ochsehorn | 29120NaN0 | ||
| Signalhorn | 29110NaN0 | ||
| Sex de Marinda | 29060NaN0 | ||
| Aiguille des Angroniettes | 28850NaN0 | ||
| Balmahorn | 28700NaN0 | ||
| Roc d'Orzival | 28530NaN0 | ||
| Le Mourin | 27660NaN0 | ||
| Pletschuhorn | 27510NaN0 | ||
| Becca de Corbassière | 27490NaN0 | ||
| Cima del Rosso | 26240NaN0 | ||
| Wenghorn | 25870NaN0 | ||
| Cima di Bo | 25560NaN0 | ||
| Ergischhorn | 25260NaN0 | ||
| Glishorn | 25250NaN0 | ||
| Crêta de Vella | 25190NaN0 | ||
| Six Blanc | 24450NaN0 | ||
| Cima Verosso | 24440NaN0 | ||
| Guggilihorn | 23510NaN0 | ||
| Testa di Comagna | 21060NaN0 |
Main glaciers:
The chief passes of the Pennine Alps are:[2]
| Mountain pass | location | type | elevation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesiajoch | Zermatt to Alagna | snow | 4,424 | 14,515 | |
| Domjoch | Randa to Saas-Fee | snow | 4,286 | 14,062 | |
| Lisjoch | Zermatt to Gressoney-La-Trinité | snow | 4,277 | 14,033 | |
| Mischabeljoch | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,856 | 12,651 | |
| Alphubel Pass | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,802 | 12,474 | |
| Adler Pass | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,798 | 12,461 | |
| Moming Pass | Zermatt to Zinal | snow | 3,745 | 12,287 | |
| Schwarztor | Zermatt to Ayas | snow | 3,741 | 12,274 | |
| Ried Pass | Sankt-Niklaus to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,597 | 11,800 | |
| Neues Weisstor | Zermatt to Macugnaga | snow | 3,580 | 11,746 | |
| Allalin Pass | Zermatt to Saas-Fee | snow | 3,570 | 11,713 | |
| Col de Valpelline | Zermatt to Aosta | snow | 3,562 | 11,687 | |
| Biesjoch | Randa to Turtmann | snow | 3,549 | 11,644 | |
| Triftjoch | Zermatt to Zinal | snow | 3,540 | 11,615 | |
| Col du Sonadon | Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Val de Bagnes | snow | 3,489 | 11,447 | |
| Col d'Herens | Zermatt to Evolène | snow | 3,480 | 11,418 | |
| Col Durand | Zermatt to Zinal | snow | 3,474 | 11,398 | |
| Col des Maisons Blanches | Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Val de Bagnes | snow | 3,426 | 11,241 | |
| Col de Bertol | Arolla to the Col d'Herens | snow | 3,414 | 11,200 | |
| Col du Mont Rouge | Val de Bagnes to the Val d'Hérémence | snow | 3,341 | 10,962 | |
| Theodulpass | Zermatt to Valtournenche | snow | 3,322 | 10,899 | |
| Col de Tracuit | Zinal to Turtmann | snow | 3,252 | 10,670 | |
| Zwischbergen Pass | Saas-Fee to Gondo | snow | 3,248 | 10,657 | |
| Col d'Oren | Val de Bagnes to the Valpelline | snow | 3,242 | 10,637 | |
| Col de Seilon | Val de Bagnes to the Val d'Hérémence | snow | 3,200 | 10,499 | |
| Col du Cret | Val de Bagnes to the Val d'Hérémence | snow | 3,148 | 10,329 | |
| Col de Valcournera | Valtournenche to the Valpelline | snow | 3,147 | 10,325 | |
| Col de Collon | Arolla to Aosta | snow | 3,130 | 10,270 | |
| Col de Valsorey | Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Aosta | snow | 3,113 | 10'214 | |
| Col de Chermontane | Val de Bagnes to Arolla | snow | 3084 | 10,119 | |
| Cimes Blanches | Valtournenche to Ayas | bridle path | 2,980 | 9,777 | |
| Col de Torrent | Evolène to the Val de Torrent | bridle path | 2,924 | 9,593 | |
| Augstbord Pass | Sankt-Niklaus to Turtmann | bridle path | 2,893 | 9,492 | |
| Col de Crête Sèche | Val de Bagnes to the Valpelline | snow | 2,888 | 9,475 | |
| Col d'Olen | Alagna to Gressoney | bridle path | 2,871 | 9,420 | |
| Monte Moro | Saas-Fee to Macugnaga | bridle path | 2,862 | 9,390 | |
| Pas de Chevres | Arolla to the Val d'Hérémence | footpath | 2,851 | 9,354 | |
| Antrona Pass | Saas-Fee to Antrona | bridle path | 2,844 | 9,331 | |
| Col de Sorebois | Zinal to the Val de Torrent | bridle path | 2,825 | 9,269 | |
| Col de Vessona | Valpelline to Nus | footpath | 2,794 | 9,167 | |
| Fenêtre de Durand | Val de Bagnes to Aosta | bridle path | 2,786 | 9,141 | |
| Z'Meiden Pass | Zinal to Turtmann | bridle path | 2,772 | 9,095 | |
| Turlo Pass | Alagna to Macugnaga | footpath | 2,736 | 8,977 | |
| Fenêtre de Ferret | Great St Bernard to the Swiss Val Ferret | bridle path | 2,699 | 8,855 | |
| Bettaforca Pass[3] (Bättforko) | Ayas to Gressoney-La-Trinité | bridle path | 2,676 | 8,780 | |
| Col Serena | Great St Bernard to Morgex | footpath | 2,538 | 8,327 | |
| Col Ferret | Courmayeur to Orsières | bridle path | 2,533 | 8,311 | |
| Col de Valdobbia | Gressoney to the Val Sesia | bridle path | 2,479 | 8,134 | |
| Great St Bernard | Martigny to Aosta | road | 2,472 | 8,111 | |
| Col de Moud | Alagna to Rima | bridle path | 2,323 | 7,622 | |
| Col d'Egua | Rima to the Valle Anzasca | bridle path | 2,236 | 7,336 | |
| Simplon Pass | Brig to Domodossola | road | 2,009 | 6,592 | |
| Bocchetta del Croso | Piedicavallo to Valsesia | bridle path | 1,941 | 6,374 | |
| Baranca Pass | Varallo to the Val Anzasca | bridle path | 1,820 | 5,971 | |
Some regional nature parks, like the Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia (6,511 ha - Piedmont, IT),[4] the Riserva Naturale Mont Mars (390 ha - Aosta Valley, IT) [5] and the Regional park of Binn valley (15,891 ha - Valais, CH),[6] have been established on both sides of the main water divide.