|
The European Alps were formed by the collision of the
African and the Eurasian continental plates. About 100 mio years ago
the African continent began to shift northwards and closed the Tethys
Ocean lying between the Eurasian and the African continent. About 75
mio years ago the two continents collided. The plates are still
moving and the Alps rise at a rate of about 1 mm per year. But because of the erosion
that acts in the opposite direction, the height of the mountains remains
constant.
The European Alps are part of a mountain range that spreads
from the Apennines to the Himalaya. They reach from France to Switzerland,
Italy, Austria and Slowenia. The Alps cover an area of about 180´000
km². Despite the consistancy of their formation, the Alps have a complex
geological composition.
| 
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
back
to top