Monte Viso
Monte Viso | |
---|---|
![]() Moviso seen from the Col de Chamoussiere (FR). | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,841 m (12,602 ft) |
Prominence | 2,062 m (6,765 ft) ranked 10th in the Alps |
Listing | Ultra |
Geography | |
Parent range | Cottian Alps |
Climbing | |
First ascent | August 30, 1861 by William Mathews and Frederic Jacomb with guide Michel Croz |
Easiest route | South Face scramble |
Monte Viso or Monviso (Occitan: Vísol; Piedmontese: Brich Monviso or Viso), is the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps. It's located in Italy close to the French border. Monte Viso is well known for its pyramid-like shape, and because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500 m it can be seen from some distance, from the Piedmontese plateau and the Langhe. On a very clear day it can be seen from the spires of the Milan Cathedral.[citation needed]
Geography
On the northern slopes of Monte Viso are the headwaters of the Po, the so-called Pian del Re (2,020 m). The Monviso group is surrounded by the Valle Po, Valle Varaita and, on the French side, the Guil valley. The northern sector of the group, from the Punta Gastaldi to the Colle delle Traversette, is located on the French border.
SOIUSA classification
According to the SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain can be classified in the following way[1]:
- main part = Western Alps
- major sector = South Western Alps
- section = Cottian Alps
- subsection = southern Cottian Alps
- supergroup = catena Aiguillette-Monviso-Granero
- group = gruppo del Monviso isa
- subgroup = nodo del Monviso
- code = I/A-4.I-C.8.a
History
Monte Viso is the location of a neolithic jadeite quarry, at an elevation of 2000 to 2400 metres. Its productivity peaked around 5000 BC. The jadeite was used to make cult axes, which are found all over western Europe.
Monte Viso was climbed for the first time on August 30, 1861 by William Mathews, Frederick Jacomb, Jean-Baptiste Croz and Michel Croz.
References
- ^ Marazzi, Sergio (2005). Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA (in Italian). Priuli & Verlucca. ISBN 978-88-8068-273-8.
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Bibliography
- McLewin, Will (1991). In Monte Viso’s Horizon: Climbing All the Alpine 4000m Peaks. Ernest Press. ISBN 0-948153-09-1.
See also
External links
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