ALPS, the most extensive system of lofty mountains in Europe, raise their giant masses on a basis of 90,000 sq.m., between 6° 40' and 18° e. long., and extending in some places from the 44th to the 48th parallel of latitude. The word Alp or Alb, signifying in the Celtic language " white," was the name given to these mountains on account of their tops being perpetually covered with snow. The Alpine system is bounded on the n. by the hilly ground of Switzerland and the upper plain of the Danube; on the c. by the low plains of Hungary; on the s. by the Adriatic sea, the plains of Lombardy, and the gulf of Genoa; and on the w. by the plains of Provence and the valley of the Rhone. A string of lakes encircles both the northern and southern bases of these mountains, the former at an elevation of 1200 to 2000 ft. •, the latter, 600 to 700 ft. The varied natural scenery of France, Italy, Germany, and Hungary has a common center of union in this lofty region. Valleys open out in all directions, sending their melted snows on one side into the North sea, on another into the Black sea, and on another into the Mediterranean.
The water•system of the A. may be thus briefly sketched: 1. In the basin of the Rhine there is the Rhine itself, which partly forms the lake of Constance, at the north-eastern extremity of Switzerland, and receives on the left the important tributaries of the Thur and the Aar; the latter of which flows through lakes Brienz and Thun, and is itself augmented by various affluents, the largest of which are the Reuss and the Limmat. 2. In the basin of the Danube there flow from the s. the Bier, Lech, Isar, and the Inn. Still further e., the Danube has for its tributaries the Traun, the Eas, the Raab. the Drave, and the Save, the last three of which have their sources in the extreme eastern A. 3. In the basin of the Po there are numerous streams, which rise in the southern A.; the principal of these are the Dora Baltea, the Sesia, the Ticino from lake Maggiore, the .'1incio from lake Garda, and the Adige. 4. In the basin of the Rhone there are the Rhone (flowing through the lake of Geneva), and various Alpine tributaries, the most important of which are the Arve, the Is re, and the Durance. 5. The Var is the principal Ligurian
coast-stream; the Plave,:arid. the Tagliamento, the 'largest of those which fall into the Adriatic from the southern A.
DirisionA.—In order to give a clear view of the manifold ranges of this mountain-land, a distinction is generally made between the e., the w., and the middle A. ; the last of which is again divided into a northern, central, and southern chain; while a natural sep aration by river-valleys into groups is also made. 1. WEST A.—The principal ranges of these are: 1. The Maritime A., extending from the middle Durance southwards to the Mediterranean, and rising in the Col Roburent to the height of 9400 ft. 2. The Cottian A., north of these, whose highest summit, monte Viso, is 13,599 ft. 3. The Graian A., forming the boundary between Savoy and Piedmont, and attaining in moat Iseran an elevation of 13,272 ft. and in mont Cenis, an elevation of 11,457 ft. II. MiDDLE A. Central Chain.-1. The Pennine A., between the plains of Lombardy and the valley of the Rhone. Highest summits : Mont Blanc, 15,744 ft.; monte Rossa, 15,151 ft.; mont Cervin, 14,836 ft. 2. The Lepontian or Helvetian A., from the depression of the Sim plon, along the plateau and masses of St. Gothard (12,000 ft.), to the pass of mont Splitgen. 8. The Rhaetian A., between the Inn, the Adda, and the Upper Adige. .North ern Chain.-1. The Bernese A., between the Rhone and the Aar ; highest summits : Finster.irhorn, 14,026 ft.; Jungfrau, 13,716 ft.; Schreckhorn, 13,397 ft. 2. The A. of the four "Forest Cantons," the Schwytz A., etc. The Southern Chain.-1• The Oertler A., between the Adda and the Adige; highest summit, Oertlerspitz, 12,822 ft. 2. The Trientine A., between the Adige and the Piave; highest summit, La Marmolata, 9802 ft. III. EAST A.—The principal chains of these are: 1. The Noric A., between the plains'of the Drave and the Danube; highest summit, Gross-Glockner, 12,431 ft. 2. The Carnic A., between the Drave and the Save. 3. The Julian A., between the Save and the Adriatic sea; highest summit, mont Terglu, 9366 ft.