The French Alps

The Alps are one of the Biggest mountain range in the world (200 000 km²). It's an iconic place of France even it's shared between Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany and Liechtenstein. Thanks to its location at the crossroads of France, Italy, Germany, the Alps are a good place for trade (The Fréjus tunnel makes traffic easier between France and Italy).

Mont Blanc is the highest peak of the Alps and of Europe: it is 4810 meters high; the third most visited natural site in the world, and the most famous area for Alpine hiking in Europe. Since the 80's this mountain range has been a protected site thanks to « La Loi Montagne » which prevents people from polluting it.

Notable towns in the French Alps include Chamonix, Annecy, Grenoble, Evian les Bains, Albertville. The French Alps also offers some spectacular lakes, the largest being Lake Geneva (Lac Leman), Lac d’Annecy and Lac de Bourget.

Evian les Bains (spa town) on Lake Geneva Annecy (little Venice of the region)

The French Alps are famous for their ski resorts and stunning scenery and are split into many different areas offering a multitude of activities. During the summer it's possible to enjoy walks in this beautiful protected site, it's sometimes possible to see some ibex or chamois.

The “Parc des Ecrins” in summer Skiing in winter

Glaciers

The glaciers of the Alps are 2.5 millions years old. If the melting of the glaciers enables the developpement of hydroelectric industry, it is an ecological disaster. However, tourists can get to one of these glaciers, the « Mer de Glace » (sea of ice) thanks to a mountain train.