5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe

It’s our sincere hope that each of you, our readers, will truly enjoy and appreciate this article we present about these 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe. It was certainly our great pleasure to gather the various information for you. May it provide you with both education and increased awareness.

Certainly, these few sites listed herein, while wondrous, nonetheless represent only a small portion of the wonders found throughout this amazing region. It’s our belief, though, that they serve as excellent representations of the marvels found here. Check out some of our other articles, as well.

Mount Etna

Mount Etna Facts

• Starting off this article about these 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe we present the stunning creation of Nature simply named Mount Etna.
• The surprisingly simple term used for the wonder serves as the english language name, and perhaps best known one, for this natural marvel. Yet, it has others by which it’s known, in different tongues. These include Mongibello, Aetna, and Gibilmanna, among others.
• This incredible geological feature stands out from similar one’s around the world. It also does so in a wide variety of ways. Physically, it’s one of the tallest peaks of its type on its entire continent. The site also actually played an important role in the early mythology of the area.
• Despite its close proximity to regions now densely populated, it’s actually an active volcano! In fact, this marvel ranks among the most active one’s on its continent. Though generally comparatively mild in nature, it remains in an almost constant state of volcanic activity.
• There’s no doubt in the minds of historians that prehistoric man knew of the existence of Mount Etna, of course. In more modern times, however, the Greek civilization made the first written mention of it. Evidence indicates that this event occurred around the year 7 BCE.
• Due to its unusual mixture of both potential danger and historical importance, it’s received a unique combination of special recognitions. Because of the threat it poses to nearby populations, it’s been named a Decade Volcano. Yet, this wonder’s also a World Heritage Site.

Mount Etna Physical Description

The magnificent Mount Etna almost instantly draws the eye of nearly everyone who ventures to visit it. Though the appeal varies from person to person, it holds a wide range of them. Among those, of course, stands the sheer physical size of this creation of still ongoing volcanic processes.

The height of the visually impressive volcano itself actually changes on a regular basis, of course. This takes place due to the steadily occurring volcanic activity within its confines. Currently, though, the highest measured point of the marvel stands approximately 10,922 ft (3,329 m) tall.

Classifying as a stratovolcano, it’s characterized by its relatively steep sides. These aspects formed from multiple layers of hardened lava, volcanic ash, and other related debris. In turn, these layers became built up over time through successive eruptions of widely varying strength and duration.

It’s also world renowned for yet another remarkable feature. That’s the presence of several craters, with those found on the summit itself being the most prominent. These basins commonly vary in size and activity levels, with the Southeast Crater being one of the most active in recent years.

The extraordinary Mount Etna further astounds the viewer due to the volume of land the amazing mountain covers. Due to its gently sloping nature and width, it covers an astonishing area of 459 sq mi (1,190 sq km). Its base circumference alone equals roughly an incredible 87 mi (140 km).

Mount Etna Location, Formation, and History

The stunning Mount Etna formed in a region of the globe already well known for its mind-boggling abundance of natural marvels. Many of these, in fact, have similar natures, being either volcanic or geothermal in their nature. This geological beauty lies on an island extremely close to Europe.

More precisely, powerful natural processes created this marvel on the island of Sicily. The beautiful island itself sits just off the southern tip of the country of Italy. On the island itself, though, the mountain resides on the general east coast, situated very near the cities of Catania and Messina.

Research indicates that the formation of this wonder of natural forces began long ago, roughly 500,000 years in the past. At that time, however, the activity was occurring beneath the sea. Then, about 200,000 years later, still more activity took place, relocated southwest of the summit.

Subsequently, the same processes moved once again, to what’s now its present location. This eventual displacement took place around 170,000 years in the past. At that time, ongoing eruptions built up much of the bulk of its structure, creating the general stratovolcano structure it has today.

In modern times, however, Mount Etna hasn’t ceased its active nature. In fact, it’s continued to remain active, with varying degrees of strength. During the reigns of the different civilizations of the region, countless eruptions, both major and minor in strength, occurred, most going unrecorded.

This marvel of Nature ranks as the most active volcano in Europe. Since the year 1750, seven recorded eruptive episodes have lasted longer than five years! Only Mount Vesuvius exceeds that. Fortunately, most are not greatly destructive in nature, given its location and public awareness.

Tatra Mountains

Tatra Mountains Facts

• Filling the spot of the next entry into this compendium of 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe is the gorgeous Tatra Mountains.
• The simple term applied herein serves as the most frequently used name for these amazing constructions of geological processes. It’s not the only title they hold, though. They also hold several other, even shorter one’s. These include the terms Tatrasa or Tatra.
• Those, however, merely represent the english language appellations for the marvels of Nature and natural forces. In some of the many other languages common to the region in which they sit, they hold others. Two tongues native to the area call it the similar name of Tatry.
• Regardless of which of these epithets one chooses to employ when speaking of it, the formation remains an impressive structure. Together, they also constitute a subset of a more extensive range of peaks. Collectively, though, these qualify as the highest group in the range.
• Fortunately, the magnificent Tatra Mountains now enjoy a very special status. The set of stunning mountains forms a natural border between the two countries in whose language it’s known as Tatry. Both of those nations now recognize the region as a special National Park.
• This status creates a unique situation, though. Each country created a Tatra National Park containing that specific portion of the range on their side. Due to this, UNESCO officially recognized the two sites jointly as a single, transboundary biosphere reserve.

Tatra Mountains Physical Description

The mesmerizing Tatra Mountains never fail to capture the attention of those individuals fortunate enough to visit the site. The geological wonder does so for a surprising variety of reasons, though. That’s true since they boast both truly remarkable beauty and impressive physical statistics.

Intriguingly, these breathtaking marvels extend along the earth in an almost perfectly straight line. That further stretches for approximately 35 mi (56.3 km). Its width naturally varies along its course, though. But, at its widest point the formation measures roughly 12 mi (19.3 km) across.

Overall, this majestic work of Nature and geological processes contains a total area equaling about 303 sq mi (785 sq km). Of that, however, roughly 77.7% lies within the borders of one country. The remaining 22.3% therefore falls inside the national boundaries of the other nation sharing it.

The breathtaking Tatra Mountains remain deseervedly renowned for the ruggedness of the terrain, and rightly so. Each peak juts strongly upward. Most possess a covering of snow at the top for much of the year. The majority also have numerous sharply created ridges, both lateral and forked.

A large percentage of individual sites in both nations also boast substantial measurements. The highest point in one country, named Gerlachovský štít, possesses an altitude equaling 8,710 ft (2,655 m). Yet, the tallest site located in the other country, named Rysy, stands 8,200 ft (2,499 m) tall.

Tatra Mountains Location, Formation, and Ecology

Nature and time created the stunning Tatra Mountains in a region of the earth’s surface already renowned for its great abundance of geological wonders. That precise setting therefore comes as no surprise to anyone. It formed as part of what’s now the very beautiful continent of Europe.

More specifically, its creation placed the chain in the approximate central region of the landmass. There, these structures straddle the national borders of the countries of Poland and Slovakia. They themselves, however, also form part of the even larger Carpathian Mountains.

Interestingly, the origins of these astonishing features represent a combination of both relatively recent and ancient. That’s because the underlying structure, an outcropping of granite formed during the Mesozoic Period. That places its beginings between 250 – 100 million years ago.

Above that, however, numerous other layers subsequently formed later. Between about 65 – 1.8 million years in the past, igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks later formed. The latter type, though, now form the basis of the surface, including limestone, dolomite, and sandstone.

Despite their generally rugged nature, however, the hauntingly magical Tatra Mountains still possess a fully thriving ecosystem. Luckily, their placement puts them in the general temperate zone of the continent. This allows for moderate levels of precipitation throughout the entire year.

More than 3,000 species of plants, fungi, and lichens reside on the slopes present here. These vary with altitudes, though. Due to the extreme abundance of flora, fauna also does well here. Those include numerous mammals, as well as a few reptile and amphibians, plus fish and insects.

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius Facts

• Our next choice for inclusion in this gathering of these 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe holds a special in history, the famous Mount Vesuvius.
• This creation of geological processes remains best known by the english language name we’re using in this article. In Italian, however, the marvel holds the very similar name of Vesuvio. The only alternate names it bears are simply translations into other languages.
• Regardless of the title one chooses to use for it, though, it stands out from other, similar features around the world. It’s erupted, usually violently, many times in known history. Its destruction of Pompei still ranks as one of the greatest such disasters to ever occur.
• Due to its eruptive nature, it’s considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. That’s partly because of that tendency, to be certain. That’s greatly augmented, however, by the fact that approximately 3 million people live close enough to it to be directly affected.
• Despite all these pertinent facts, however, Mount Vesuvius remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in its part of the world. That’s largely due to the presence of the ruins of the city of Pompei, as mentioned previously. About 2.5 million visitors flock there yearly.
• Because of this astonishing popularity, wholly regardless of potential dangers, the local government declared the site a National Park in 1995! The summit itself is now open to visitors. Park authorities maintain a network of paths around the area, in addition to a spiral walkway.

Mount Vesuvius Physical Description

The breathtaking Mount Vesuvius immediately captures the attention of all those lucky enough to visit the volcanic site. It does so partly because of the knowledge of its history, to be certain. Yet the wonder also typically impresses most visitors due to its sheer physical dimensions as well.

The mountain as it exists today qualifies as what’s known by experts as a humpbacked peak. This primarily consists of a large cone, circled by a very steep rim. This rim in turn forms part of the summit caldera of the volcano. Once much higher, an earlier eruption lowered this significantly.

The magnificent mountain also boasts some undeniably remarkable physical measurements. The cone itself currently has a height equaling 4,203 ft (1,281 m) above sea level. These additionally sit more than 1,300 ft (400 m) above the 3.1 mi (5 km) long valley, named Atrio di Cavallo, nearby.

The cone of the captivating Mount Vesuvius itself also shows an extra feature that distinguishes it. At roughly 1,968 ft (600 m) up its slope, a large, semi-circular ridge appears. Known as Mount Somma, itself, this feature girdles the cone on the northern side, and rises to 3,714 ft (1,132 m).

Between Mount Somma and the cone lies a structure that’s now named the Valle del Gigante. At the summit of the cone is a large crater measuring roughly 1,000 feet (305 m) deep. That structure is also about 2,000 ft (610 m) across. That formed during an eruption that occurred in 1944.

Mount Vesuvius Location, Formation, and History

The stunning volcanic formation known around the world as Mount Vesuvius formed in a part of the world already well known for its abundance of natural marvels. In fact, its precise location likely doesn’t surprise anyone. That’s true since it formed in a part of the continent of Europe.

There, this stunning masterpiece of geological processes lies within the borders of what’s now the country of Italy. More exactly, though, its exact location places it within the Gulf of Naples. That puts the mountain inside the region comprising the administrative region known as Campania.

The amazing site represents a type of what’s called a stratovolcano. It originated due to the collision of two tectonic plates, the Eurasian and the African. The latter plate moved under the other, and its water-soaked sediments lowered the melting point of the upper mantle, which pushed up.

Given that magma remains less dense than the surrounding solid rock, pressure inexorably pushed that upward. As often happens in such situations, this eventually found a weak spot at the surface of the Earth. There, it eventually broke through, thus forming the volcano in its original form.

Geological evidence indicates that Mount Vesuvius first formed during its initial eruptive event around 25,000 years ago. Between that time and around 3,800 years ago, it experienced numerous powerful events. Subsequent to that, it entered a long phase of numerous smaller eruptions.

It’s unquestionably best known, however, for its destructive eruption in AD 79. Miraculously, one recorded eyewitness account adds to the scientific evidence. The massive blast ejected ash and stone up to 21 mi (33 km) into the air. Pompei and Herculaneum were both utterly destroyed.

Stromboli

Stromboli Facts

• Now appearing in this listing of these 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe comes the next active volcano, the remarkable Stromboli.
• Perhaps most importantly, the simple title given it names a small island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It also fails to do justice to the awesomeness of the site. This surprisingly impressive island sits just off the northern coast of Sicily, in Europe.
• The relatively small but nevertheless still quite impressive island actually contains one of the three active volcanoes found in Italy. The site also forms one of the eight islands comprising the Aeolian Islands. This also represents an active volcanic arc north of that country.
• The name of the awesome small landmass further derives from Ancient Greek. In that language the title literally means swollen form. Regardless of the term one uses, in any language, it remains an incredible location. Presently, though, this location has very few inhabitants.
• That’s because the island’s current population actually numbers fewer than 850 individuals. The impressive volcano also previously erupted with moderate violence numerous times in the past. It continues to be constantly active with minor eruptions even today, however.
• Yet another aspect of the captivating site amazes those individuals fortunate enough to be able to visit it. That’s because, to the continued amazement of those who appreciate the power and majesty of Nature, this activity often appears visible from many points on Stromboli.
• These realtively minor eruptions also often appear within the surrounding sea. It’s tendency to be in a nearly constantly active state gave rise to an intriguing nickname for the island. Due to this activity, the unique location’s often referred to as the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean.

Stromboli Eruptions

Fortunately for those who live in the immediately surrounding region, large eruptions of the volcano of Stromboli have been comparatively rare in modern times. More precisely, the last major eruption of the volcano occurred on 13 April 2009. Neveretheless, the site’s by no means extinct.

This fabulous creation of geological processes and time additionally impresses the majority of people due to its sheer size, as well. The stunning volcano itself stands 3,034 ft (926 m) above sea level. Below the waves, though, the base itself rises roughly 8,860 ft (2,700 m) above the ocean floor.

The magnificent site, easily rannking among the best known in the entire region, also boasts yet another fully impressive statistic. That holds true because of the fact that a total of three active craters actually sit at the peak. This distinguishes it from the great majority of known volcanoes.

Yet another significant geological feature of the island exists, however. This particular natural formation bears the name of Sciara del Fuoco. This particualr term names a moderately large horseshoe-shaped depression. Evidence further indicates that it formed over the past 13,000 years.

This specific physical feature of Stromboli, however, formed due to a series of very powerful natural events. That’s because several collapses occurred on the northwestern side of the cone of the mountain. About 1.2 mi (2 km) to the northeast lies the remnant of the original volcano.

Stromboli Activity Patterns

This awe-inspiring location isn’t simply content to rest on its laurels, though. In fact, it also holds yet another fascination for scientists. That’s because, to the continued amazement of researchers, Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for roughly the past 2,000 years.

The eruptive events contained within the summit craters have additionally maintained a surprisingly regular pattern of activity. These ongoing actions include mild to moderate eruptions of incandescent volcanic bombs. Nevertheless, the time between events is also incredible.

That’s because the intervals between these many magmatic events generally ranges from every few minutes to every few hours. Eruptions from the craters at the summit typically result in a few short bursts. They also remain energetic in nature. Yet the impressiveness doesn’t end there.

This holds true due to the amazing fact that eruptions also generally attain an astounding average height. In point of fact, these reach altitudes averaging nearly 650 ft (200 m). These events generally include varying combinations of ash, incandescent lava fragments, and large blocks of stone.

Visiting the breathtaking Stromboli remains highly exciting, yet potentially dangerous. Unfortunately for the interested viewer, its activity type remains almost exclusively explosive. Comparatively slower and less dangerous lava flows do occur periodically when volcanic activity remains high.

Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus Facts

• Closing out this article about these 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe we give you the awe-inspiring site known as Mount Olympus.
• This majestic creation of time and natural geological forces most frequently goes by the english language name in most areas. Yet, this remarkable site previously held at least one other title in the distant past. Though no longer used, it once held the tag of Mount Belus.
• Not surprisingly, the utterly imposing natural marvel additionally holds yet another moniker. That’s the name given to it in the native language of the region in which it formed. In that tongue, the impressive construction of Nature holds the designation of Όλυμπος.
• It’s currently unknown when prehistoric humans first encountered the fabulous mountain itself. Archaeological evidence does indicate, however, that humans first entered its general area approximately 210,000 years ago. It’s thus likely they soon learned of its existence.
• The breathtaking Mount Olympus holds an extremely special place in the history and culture of its region. It also holds an amazing array of life. Due to these factors, it became a National Park in 1938. The site was also later named as an important World Biosphere Reserve.
• These special statuses serve to provide the wondrous site with a certain degree of protection from the depredations of man. Authorities thus take great care to maintain its natural state. Its sheer popularity with tourists, though, creates difficulties with preserving that condition.

Mount Olympus Physical Description

The magnificent Mount Olympus understandably catches the eye and attention of all those fortunate enough to visit the site. Yet, this true wonder of Nature doesn’t simply do so for a single reason. That’s true since it also holds numerous attributes to appeal to the viewer.

Incredibly, this marvel of geology isn’t just a single peak. Instead, the mountain presents an astounding total of 52 peaks to those who look closely. These vary in height, of course. The tallest of them, however, bears the name of Mytikas. This peak stands an impressive 9,573 ft (2,918 m).

Another feature it holds, though, contrasts with these in an almost unbelievable manner. That’s due to the fact that the amazing mountain also plays host to numerous deep gorges. Some of these features possess relatively mild slopes, while the walls of many others have steeply inclined sides.

But these aren’t the only geological qualities of this location that garner their share of attention, however. The sheer scale and grandeur of the mesmerizing site also generally impresses the visitor. It’s not only massive, but it also ranks as one of the highest peaks on the continent it sits on.

At its broad base, the beautiful Mount Olympus has a circumference totaling approximately 50 mi (80 km)! An average diameter here equals 16 mi (26 km). Perhaps even more astonishing is the total area it contains, though. Amazingly, this measures a remarkable 190 sq mi (500 sq km).

Mount Olympus Location, Formation, and Ecology

The unforgettable and culturally important Mount Olympus formed in a region of the world already well known for its extraordinary abundance of similar wonders. That’s due to the fact that Nature created the true masterpiece of geography and geology on the lovely continent of Europe.

Within the borders of the continent, the mountain sits inside the national borders of the ancient country of Greece. It’s placement further situates it approximately 50 mi (80 km) southwest of Thessaloniki. It’s also roughly on the border between the two regions of Macedonia and Thessaly.

The origins of this magical creation of Nature reaches back to roughly an astounding 200 million years ago. At that time, sediment was deposited in a shallow sea present at the time. The ensuing ages saw countless more layers added, with the resulting pressures creating the hardened stone.

The slow yet inexorable process of uplift eventually pushed it upward. Then, around 1 million years ago, based on evidence, large glaciers covered the region, with their movements carving out its many depressions and plateaus. Later melting formed even more of its features, however.

Overall, the stunning Mount Olympus possesses a roughly Mediterranean climate. This therefore allows for the support of a thriving ecosystem. In fact, it boasts one of the greatest concentrations of flora in the entire country it sits in. Roughly 1,700 plant species and subspecies appear here.

This grouping includes a surprisingly large number of tree varieties, including the lovely Strawberry Tree and the Bosnian Pine. Alpine meadows also harbor a very wide array of different species of grasses and wildflowers. Of these, in fact, 23 of them appear nowhere else in the entire world.

Animals live here in mind-boggling numbers, too, though larger one’s no longer do so. This includes various mammals, such as squirrels and foxes. A total of 108 species of birds also call the mountain home. Numerous smaller reptiles and amphibians share the same beautiful habitat, as well.

5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe

We hope that each of you thoroughly enjoyed reading, and hopefully learning something from, this article we’ve written about these 5 Magnificent Mountains of Europe. It’s also our hope that doing so has left you with either a new or renewed appreciation for such amazing wonders of Nature.

Unfortunately, many other such features located around the world now find themselves facing severe threats to their continued existence in an undamaged state. Many of those dangers, in fact, stem from the actions of mankind. We must do all we can to protect and preserve them all.

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