page_title: Alps
section_title: Climate
hierarchical_section_title: Alps / Climate
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Aletschgletscher mit Pinus cembra English: The Aletsch Glacier. Swiss Pines (Pinus cembra) are visible in the foreground. Français&#160;: Le Glacier d'Aletsch. Au premier plan, des Pins cembro (Pinus cembra).
context_page_description: The Alps is the greatest mountain range of Europe. It reaches from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the west. The original meaning of the word was 'white'.
  The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc, at 4,808 metres, on the Italian–French border.
context_section_description: The Alps is split into five climate zones, each with a different kind of environment. The climate, plant life and animal life vary on different sections or zones of the mountain. 
  The section of the Alps that is above 3,000 metres is called the névé zone.  This area, which has the coldest climate, is permanently coated with compressed snow.  Plants are therefore scarce in the névé zone.
  The alpine zone lies between the height of 2,000 and 3,000 metres.  This zone is less cold than in the névé zone.  Wildflowers and grasses grow here.
  Just below the alpine zone is the subalpine zone, 1,500 to 2,000 metres high.  Forests of fir trees and spruce trees grow in the subalpine zone as the temperature slowly goes up.
  At about 1,000 to 1,500 metres high is the arable zone.  Millions of oak trees sprout in this area.  This is also where farming takes place.
  Below 1,000 metres are the lowlands.  Here, a larger variety of plants are produced. Aside from plants, villages are also in the lowlands because the temperature is easier for humans and farm animals.
  The Alps is a classic example of what happens when a temperate area at lower altitude gives way to higher land. A rise from sea level into the upper regions causes the temperature to decrease. The effect of mountain chains on winds is to carry warm air belonging to the lower region into an upper zone, where it expands and loses heat, and drops snow or rain.
caption: Pine trees above the Aletsch Glacier, Valais
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