CHAMONIX, ,IneunYMY, or CHAMOUNI, slifi'mm'nt=" (Lat. r a Hy us in t Us ) The name of a wild and romantic valley and village among the _Alps in the Department of Ilaute-Savoie. France (Slap: France. N 0). It lies at an eleva tion of about 3400 feet above the level of the sea, is about 13 long and 1 mile broad. and traversed by the Arve. It begins at the northeast, from the Col-de-Balme, over which there is a mule-path to Martigny. in the upper talky of the Rhone. From the other end issues the road to Geneva. whieh is miles from Chamonix. the north side lie Mont le IWvent and the chain of the Aiouilles llouges, and on the south is the giant group of Mont Blanc. with its enormous glaciers. The chief of these glacier are the Glacier des Bossons. des Bois. d'Arg.en tiere. and du Tour. By ascending to a point called Montanvert, we come upon the upper course of a glacier, where it expands into a great mountain lake of ice called tile Mer de Glace, in which there is a solitary rock or oasis called Le dardin. about 7 acres in extent, and covered with the most beautiful herbage, Until 1741 the valley was almost unknown: the region was considered a 'wilderness. and known by the name of Les
Slontagnes Slaudites. or •accursed mountains.' In that year it was visited by two Englishmen. Pococke and Wyndham. who ascended as far as Montanvert. it was only, however, in 1775. that the attention of travelers was effectually called to it by Saussure and Bourrit. The valley is rich in peculiar plants. and furnishes an aro matic and perfectly White honey. The village of Chain( Mix its origin to the Benedictine convent founded between RISS and 109!). The inhabitants depend for a livelihood partly upon the tourists who visit the valley, and partly upon the pastures and upon hunting. There are several good hotels, and the best guides are to be found here for the neighboring Alps. It is from Chamo nix that Mont Blanc is usually ascended. Con sult Whymper. Cho/ago/ix and the Range of Mont Blanc (London, 1S96).