European Mountain Ranges

The Alps

• Europe's highest and most extensive range
• Stretches over 750 miles across 8 countries: Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia
• Mont Blanc is the highest peak at 15,781 feet
• Strong cultural identity with practices like farming, cheesemaking, and woodworking
• Tourism is the dominant industry, attracting about 120 million visitors annually

The Apennines

• Stretch the length of the Italian Peninsula
• Divided into three sectors: northern, central, and southern
• Known as the “backbone” of Italy
• Features well-preserved forests and grasslands in national parks
• Home to big predators like the Italian wolf and Marsican brown bear
• Corno Grande is the highest peak at 9,554 feet

The Balkan Mountains

• Locally known as Stara Planina
• Begin at the border between Bulgaria and Serbia, run 350 miles across Bulgaria
• Highest point is Botev Peak at 7,795 feet
• Form a natural barrier and watershed between Black Sea and Aegean Sea
• Central Balkan National Park has steep cliffs and high waterfalls
• Home to large mammals like brown bears, wolves, boar, and deer

The Carpathians

• Arc across Central Europe about 930 miles long
• Stretches from Czechia through Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Serbia
• Gerlachovský štít is the highest peak at 8,709 feet
• Habitat for Europe's largest populations of brown bears, wolves, chamois, and lynxes
• Contains over one-third of European plant species

The Caucasus Mountains

• Intersection of Asia and Europe
• Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus
• Greater Caucasus straddles Russia and Georgia
• Home to Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak at 18,510 feet
• Western stretch is forested; eastern stretch is mostly treeless

The Dinaric Alps

• Separate the Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea
• Stretch about 400 miles from Italy to Kosovo
• Maja Jezercë is the highest peak at 8,839 feet
• Features rivers, limestone cliffs, and karst landscapes

The Pyrenees

• Natural border between France and Spain, with Andorra in between
• Aneto is the highest peak at 11,168 feet
• Known for torrential rivers and high waterfalls
• Majority of foothills on Spanish side

The Scandinavian Mountains

• Run down the Scandinavian peninsula
• Form border between Norway and Sweden
• Galdhøpiggen is the highest peak at 8,100 feet
• Known for Arctic climate, glaciers, and tundra
• Create a rain shadow in Sweden

The Scottish Highlands

• Includes Northwest Highlands, Grampian Mountains, and Southern Uplands
• Known as Munros
• Ben Nevis is the highest peak at 4,413 feet
• Region is rural and partly forested

The Urals

• Mountain range in central Russia
• Form boundary between Europe and Asia
• Mount Narodnaya is the highest peak at 6,214 feet
• Known for semi-precious stones and rare metals
• Ilmen Nature Reserve features geological museum