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From influencing the weather patterns in the continent to being a major source of water, and hosting, a variety of flora and fauna, the Alps plays a significant role in the natural environment of the region. The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe.
Located completely in the continent of Europe, the Alps mountain range, stretches, approximately 1200 km (750 miles) across eight Alpine countries from the west to the east ie. France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein—a German-speaking 25km-long principality between Austria and Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Slovenia. Little known Slovenia is a country in Central Europe. It is known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes. Though the Alps stretches across several countries from France to Albania, Switzerland and Austria are considered the Alpine heartland. The word Alpine suggests or insinuates ‘of the Alps.’ At its widest, the Alps is spread more than 200 km, making the total area of the region nearly 2,00,000 sq. km. Given its vastness, a minimum of 75 summits in the region are believed to be 4,000 mts above sea level. The Alps is very crucial to Europe due to several reasons such as the source of water for drinking, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. The Alps is marked by varied mountain elevations, giving rise to diverse and contrasting natural topography and climate. Given that this range is also a source of many European rivers, it has a significant role to play in the continent’s natural environment.
Nearly 35% of Europe’s plant species can be found in the Alps, with more than 300 of them endemic to the region. This is indicative of a healthy and diverse ecosystem rich in not just plant life but also animal life. Despite the landscapes experiencing extreme weather, the Alps nurtures a wide variety of wildlife. Nearly 30,000 wild species are said to have been identified in the region, out of which over 50% are invertebrates. More than a dozen species of reptiles and amphibians each can be found in the region, in addition to over 75 species each of mammals and fish. Also, the region welcomes nearly 200 varieties of nesting birds. Some of the most prominent species in the area are red deer, fox, bear, chamois—an agile goat-antelope with short hooked horns, ibex—a wild mountain goat with long, thick ridged horns and a beard), wild sheep, bear, wolf, lynx—a wild cat, mountain hare, and marmot—a heavily built rodent. Birds such as golden eagle, bearded vultures, ptarmigan—a medium to large game bird with a plump body and feathered legs, and black grouse—another variety of a game bird are also found in the region.
The earliest travellers to the Alps are said to have been drawn to its pristine beauty. But, time and again, it has been proven that human presence invariably has a negative impact on any region. And the signs of this was first visible around the mid-20th century in the Alps. As more and more people visited Alps, its degradation began. Pollution of air and water, and tangible noise pollution too are said to have been increasing since. There is also been a spike in the amount of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in the region, affecting both the local people and the flora and fauna. Further, the setting up of resorts, roads, and skiing slopes, have increased the frequency of slope erosion. Not just that, such constructions also cause fragmentation of habitats for the wildlife. Also with increase in population, forests and riparian lands are turned into agricultural lands or residential areas. This alters waterways, changing the natural environment of the region, affecting both humans and wildlife. Most importantly, global warming has been particularly impacting mountain ranges worldwide, and it is no different in the Alps. Changes in the patterns of rain and snow have been observed, and extreme weather events such as floods and avalanches have shown frequencies and intensities not witnessed earlier.
The Alpine region has a strong cultural identity. The traditional culture of farming, cheese-making, and woodworking still exists in Alpine villages, although the tourist industry began to grow early in the 20th century and expanded greatly after World War II to become the dominant industry by the end of the century. The Winter Olympic Games have been hosted in the Swiss, French, Italian, Austrian and German Alps. At present, the region is home to 14 million people and has 120 million annual visitors.
Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi
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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:
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GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US that includes Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada, Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai and Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India. Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh. Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
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RHYTHM … in poems
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MIRAGE
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Short stories and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; Indica, 15.8.20; The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; Happy Days, November 15, 2020; The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15,2020; Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021;
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