Misplaced Pages

#85914

42-573: Its sources are the glaciers of Monte Rosa at the border with Switzerland . It flows through the Alpine valley Valsesia and the towns Varallo Sesia , Quarona , Borgosesia and Vercelli . The Sesia flows into the Po River near Casale Monferrato . It is a popular river for kayaking and hosted the European championship in 2001 and the world championship in 2002. This article related to

84-802: A topographic prominence of 2,165 metres (7,103 ft) which is ranked fifth in the Alps. The Monte Rosa massif has four faces. Three are in Italy: the Liskamm heading above the Val de Gressoney; the Valsesian face above Alagna Valsesia at the upper part of the Valle della Sesia ; and the steep, big east wall above Macugnaga in the Valle Anzasca . The Swiss north-western face has several glaciers (with one of

126-691: A number of ridges that radiate afar and gradually subside into the plain of northern Italy, covering a relatively large area. There is no convenient mode of subdividing the range. However, the natural limits of the district can be defined on the north side by the two branches of the Visp torrent. Following the west branch through the Mattertal , crossing the Theodul Pass , descending by the Valtournanche to Châtillon and to Ivrea , and passing around

168-614: A river in Italy is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Monte Rosa Monte Rosa ( Italian: [ˈmonte ˈrɔːza] ; Lombard : Mont Roeusa [ˌmũː(t) ˈrøːza] ; French : Mont Rose [mɔ̃ ʁoz] ; Walser : de Gletscher or de Gorner ; German : Monte Rosa ) is a mountain massif in the eastern part of the Pennine Alps , on the border between Italy ( Piedmont and Aosta Valley ) and Switzerland ( Valais ). The highest peak of

210-644: A trail leads to the Gorner Glacier (blue and white paint markings). Then the Gornergletscher has to be crossed (route usually marked with poles), then over the lower end of the Grenzgletscher, finally at around 2,600 m the trail continues directly to the hut (blue and white paint markings). The first hut, known under the name Bétemps hut after a family sponsoring the construction, was originally built between 1894 and 1895. It had 25 beds and

252-605: Is a summer ski resort, with snow all year round due to the altitude. The Plateau Rosa is connected via aerial tramway to Cervinia and to Zermatt via the Klein Matterhorn . The western fringes of the massif reach the Zermatt ski domain. Gressoney , Champoluc , Alagna Valsesia and Macugnaga (under the east face, intensely glaciated and 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) high) are the main mountain and ski resorts that surround Monte Rosa along its southern side. Monte Rosa

294-617: Is controversial and is sometimes assigned to the Sub-Penninic nappes. Rocks in the paragneiss of the Monte Rosa Nappe record eclogite -facies metamorphism. The deformation of the Monte Rosa granites indicates a depth of subduction of about 60 km (40 mi). They were brought to the surface by tectonic uplift , which still continues today. The summit is a sharp, jagged edge of mica schist connected by an arête with

336-609: Is not technically difficult to climb, but can be quite dangerous due to its great altitude and sudden weather changes, as well as crevasses in its extensive glaciers – one of the major glaciated areas in the Alps . Many alpinists who died climbing Monte Rosa are buried in the Old Church cemetery in Macugnaga. The Monte Rosa tour can be completed by trekkers in about 10 days. The circuit follows many ancient trails that have linked

378-628: Is the Dufourspitze . On the Swiss side the town centre of Zermatt is about 13 km (8.1 mi) north-west and 3,000 m (9,800 ft) below it. On the Italian side of the massif are located 9 km (5.6 mi) north-east Macugnaga in the Valle Anzasca ,11 km (6.8 mi) south-east-south Alagna Valsesia in the Valsesia and 13 km (8.1 mi) Gressoney-La-Trinité in

420-534: Is the highest mountain in both Switzerland and the Pennine Alps and is also the second-highest mountain in the Alps and in Europe outside of the Caucasus . The north-west side of the central Monte Rosa massif, with its enormous ice slopes and seracs , constitutes the boundary and upper basin of the large Gorner Glacier , which descends towards Zermatt and merges with its nowadays much larger tributary,

462-425: Is the start of the normal route to the summit and other mountains in the area. The first hut was built in 1894–1895 just next to the then still much higher Border Glacier at an altitude of 2,795 metres (9,170 ft). A completely new building was inaugurated in 2009, a hi-tech, energy-wise almost self-sufficient, environmentally friendly mountain hut based on wood with an aluminium shell. The Monte Rosa Hut lies on

SECTION 10

#1732771784086

504-600: The Belvedere Glacier at its base. The southeast face, culminating at the Signalkuppe , overlooks the piedmontese Valsesia and the Val de Gressoney in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley. The mountain is mainly covered by eternal snows and glaciers, except for its summit which is a rocky ridge orientated west–east, near to and perpendicular to the main watershed between Switzerland and Italy (the river basins of

546-671: The Breithorn and the Matterhorn ; on the north are the Weisshorn and the Dom . The Gornergrat summit, lying 8 km (5.0 mi) on the north-west at 3,100 metres (10,200 ft), is a popular viewpoint of the massif, since it is accessible by train from Zermatt, using the highest open air railway line in Europe. The extended range of Monte Rosa, which appears to originate in the intersection of two axes of great elevation, throws out

588-535: The Findel Glacier ) by a ridge which gradually emerges from the névé, and finally presents a rather bold front to the glaciers on either side. The highest points of this ridge, appearing insignificant by contrast with the grand objects around, is the Stockhorn (3,532 m, 11,588 ft) and the lower Gornergrat at 3,090 m (10,138 ft). On their south sides is the lower Gorner Glacier, formed by

630-579: The Gornergrat on the northwest side of the massif to see a panorama that extends over some of the highest peaks in the Alps. Although Italian rosa and French rose both mean 'pink' or 'rose', the name is unrelated to these words and is instead derived from the Franco-Provençal Valdôtain patois word rouése 'glacier'. On old maps as late as 1740, the mountain was named Monte Bosa and even Monte Biosa by

672-624: The Grenzgletscher ( lit. 'Border Glacier'), right below the Monte Rosa Hut on the lower end of the visible western wing. The Grenzgletscher is an impressive glacier formation between the western wing of the mountain and Liskamm , a ridge on its southwestern side on the Swiss-Italian border. On the eastern side, in Italy, the mountain falls away in an almost vertical 2,400-metre-high (7,900 ft) wall of granite and ice,

714-766: The Matter Valley . The ridge called Weissgrat connecting the Nordend with the Schwarzberghorn ( Italian : Corno Nero ) presents a wall of formidable precipices towards the east, but falls away in a gentle slope to the west. For a breadth of a few kilometres the upper snow-fields of the Weissgrat lie almost unbroken upon this slope, but as they begin to descend towards the Matter Valley they are divided into two ice streams (the upper Gorner Glacier and

756-587: The Parrotspitze (4,432 m, 14,541 ft), the Ludwigshöhe (4,431 m, 14,537 ft) and the Vincentpiramid (4,215 m, 13,829 ft). All of them originally have German names, since even the Italian valleys used to be by German-based Walsers inhabited valleys. Several perpendicular secondary ridges are connected to the central massif dividing the glaciers that descend towards

798-635: The Rhône and the Po on the Swiss and Italian side, respectively). The connecting point between them is the Grenzgipfel (English: Border Summit ) right on the border, and therefore also the highest peak on the Italian side. Thus Monte Rosa is the highest mountain in the Alps whose summit is not on the main alpine watershed , although it is off by only 150 metres (490 ft). The Silbersattel (English: Silver Saddle ) and Grenzsattel (English: Border Saddle ) are

840-544: The Monte Rosa massif: Monte Rosa Hut The Monte Rosa Hut ( German : Monte Rosa Hütte ) is a mountain hut located near Zermatt on the Monte Rosa massif (up to 4,634 m (15,203 ft)) and above the Grenzgletscher (Border Glacier) sitting on a glacier-free rocky part called Untere Platte at an altitude of 2,883 metres (9,459 ft). It is owned by the Swiss Alpine Club . The hut

882-536: The Nordend, but cut off from the Zumsteinspitze to the south by nearly vertical rocks about 120 m (390 ft) in height. Being the highest point in Switzerland, Monte Rosa is also one of the most extreme places. The average air pressure is about half of that of the sea level (56%) and the temperature can reach as low as −40 °C (−40 °F). Owing to the frequent prevalence of a high wind from

SECTION 20

#1732771784086

924-592: The Swiss and Italian valleys for centuries. The circuit includes larch forests, alpine meadows, balcony trails and a glacial crossing. It connects seven valleys embracing different cultures: the German-speaking high Valais, the Walser German and Arpitan /French-speaking Aosta Valley , and the valleys of Lombardy and Piedmont . Usually these peaks are considered to be part of the Monte Rosa massif: Usually these glaciers are considered to be part of

966-475: The Val de Gressoney, respectively, away from the summit. The different sides of the mountain greatly differ from each other. The Swiss west side is almost completely covered by large glaciers, tributaries of the 57 km (22 sq mi) large Gorner Glacier , descending progressively with gentle slopes and forming a large uninhabited glacial valley. The Italian east side consists of a 2,400-metre-high (7,900 ft) wall overlooking Macugnaga, whose snows feed

1008-627: The base of the mountains by Arona , along Lake Maggiore , and up the valley of the Toce , to Vogogna , then ascending by the Val Anzasca to the Monte Moro Pass, the circuit is completed by the descent through the Saastal to Stalden . Within the line so traced, exceeding 450 km (280 mi) in length, all the ranges properly belonging to this group are included. The direction of

1050-431: The biggest in Europe, overlooking Macugnaga and several smaller glaciers. Monte Rosa was studied by pioneering geologists and explorers, including Leonardo da Vinci in the late fifteenth century and Horace-Bénédict de Saussure in the late eighteenth century. Following a long series of attempts beginning in the early nineteenth century, Monte Rosa's summit, then still called Höchste Spitze ( lit. 'highest peak'),

1092-588: The border. These changes were ratified by the two countries in 2009 and will continue to be subject to change as melting continues. The entire massif consists mainly of granite and granite gneiss (a metamorphic rock with foliations). The Monte Rosa Nappe lies below the Zermatt-Saas zone and is part of the Penninic nappes in the Briançonnais microcontinent zone, although its paleographic origin

1134-520: The confluence of all the major (Gornergletscher and Grenzgletscher) and minor tributaries descending from the north, west and south sides of the central Monte Rosa massif, while on the north side the Findel Glacier descends near to the hamlet of Findeln . Monte Rosa is one of the high mountains surrounding the 40-kilometre-long (25 mi) Matter Valley south of Stalden . On the southwest to west are Liskamm , Zwillinge with Castor and Pollux,

1176-450: The east or north-east, and the slow pace at which it is possible to move when near the top, precautions against cold are particularly necessary when climbing Monte Rosa. The snow line is located at about 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The Monte Rosa massif is popular for mountaineering, hiking, skiing and snowboarding. It hosts several ski resorts with long pistes . Plateau Rosa , about 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) high above sea level,

1218-524: The inhabitants of Val Sesia. The name Mon Boso , which appears in Leonardo da Vinci 's notebooks, very likely designated the same mountain. From Zermatt the mountain was formerly known under the name Gornerhorn ( lit. 'large/strong horn') in Walliser German , later shortened to de Gorner . In standard German, the name Gorner is still used for the western ridge protruding from

1260-606: The largest Alpine glaciers) flowing towards the Mattertal with Zermatt . Its main summit, named Dufourspitze in honor of the surveyor Guillaume-Henri Dufour and wholly located in Switzerland , culminates at 4,634 m (15,203 ft) and is followed by the five nearly equally high subsidiary summits of Dunantspitze , Grenzgipfel , Nordend , Zumsteinspitze , and Signalkuppe . Some other peaks over 4,000 m (13,000 ft), such as Piramide Vincent , Punta Giordani , and Corno Nero , are wholly in Italy. Monte Rosa

1302-497: The main mass ( Gornergrat ) and the glacier that lies at its foot ( Gornergletscher ) but not used for the mountain itself anymore. Nowadays, in German, the Italian name Monte Rosa is used instead ( Monte Rosa-Gletscher , Monte Rosa-Hütte , etc.). Monte Rosa cover areas on both sides of the border between the Swiss canton of Valais and the Italian regions of Piedmont and Aosta Valley . The main summit of Monte Rosa

Sesia - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-428: The massif, amongst several peaks of over 4,000 m (13,000 ft), is the Dufourspitze (4,634 m, 15,203 ft), the second highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, after Mont Blanc . The east face of the Monte Rosa towards Italy has a height of about 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) and is the highest mountain wall of the Alps. The group is on the watershed between the Rhône and Po basins and has

1386-647: The mountain itself, to the Vincent Pyramide, and thence through the range that bounds the Valle di Gressoney, nearly to Ivrea, with the transverse range lying between the Dent d'Herens and the Pizzo Bianco near Macugnaga . The minor ridges on the north side of the border are parallel to this latter range, with their corresponding depressions occupied by the glaciers of Gorner and Findelen . On clear days

1428-437: The mountainous massif of Monte Rosa provides a striking view from the Po plain , particularly its upper reaches in western Lombardy and eastern Piedmont . It dominates the horizon , towering between other lesser Alpine peaks as a prominent, multi-pointed, razor-sharp bulge, its permanent glaciers shining under the sun. The massif is the border between Switzerland and Italy, though glacial melt has caused some alterations to

1470-630: The passes located north and south to the summit. The three main secondary summits of Monte Rosa are (from north to south): the Nordend (4,609 m, 15,121 ft; north of the Dufourspitze), the Zumsteinspitze (4,563 m, 14,970 ft; south of the Dufourspitze) and the Signalkuppe (4,554 m, 14,941 ft; Italian : Punta Gnifetti ), all of them being positioned right on the Swiss-Italian border. Other secondary summits are

1512-521: The ranges and the depressions offers a marked contrast to that prevailing throughout the adjoining regions of the Alps. Unless in a small part of the Italian valleys, the direction here is either parallel or perpendicular to the meridian. Monte Rosa itself lies near the intersection of a great north and south ridge, extending from the Balfrin through the Mischabelhörner , and the highest peaks of

1554-493: The sun. Excess energy was originally stored in valve-regulated lead-acid battery cells, which supply power when it is overcast. These batteries were replaced by Lithium-phosphate batteries in 2020. Water is collected from melting glaciers and stored in a large reservoir 40 metres above the hut. Bands of windows allow the sun to heat air inside the spiral building with the redistribution of thermal energy produced by visitors. The hut has capacity for 120 guests (as of July 2024). Over

1596-544: The western side of Monte Rosa massif , on the place named Untere Plattje . It dominates the Grenzgletscher (Border Glacier) to the south and west, and further down the Gorner Glacier , and is surrounded by many four-thousanders, such as Nordend , Dufourspitze , Liskamm , Castor , Pollux , Roccia Nera and the Breithorn . The hut can be reached using the Gornergratbahn ; from the station Rotenboden

1638-628: Was demolished on 14 July 2011 by a unit of the Swiss Armed Forces using more than 100 kg of military plastic explosive . The demolition was a condition for the allowance to build the new hut close by. A new hi-tech environmentally friendly mountain hut was designed by architect Andrea Deplazes of ETH Zurich and inaugurated in September 2009. The project of the Swiss Alpine Club, to mark the 150th anniversary of ETH Zurich,

1680-619: Was first reached in 1855 from Zermatt by a party of eight climbers led by three guides. The great east wall was first climbed in 1872, from Macugnaga. Each summer many climbers set out from the Monte Rosa Hut on the mountain's west wing for one of its summits via the normal route or for the Margherita Hut on the Signalkuppe ( Italian : Punta Gnifetti ), used as a research station. Many tourists and hikers also come to

1722-436: Was launched in 2003. The construction materials prefabricated elements were transported by train to Zermatt and 3,000 helicopter trips were needed to take 35 workers and materials up to the glacier. The five-story polygonal building was built on stainless steel foundations with a spiral interior made out of wood, the exterior being covered with an aluminum shell. The building is designed to obtain 90 percent of its power needs from

Sesia - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-440: Was owned by the Swiss Alpine Club central committee. The hut was enlarged in 1918 to host 20 more people. The Bétemps hut was offered to the Monte Rosa section in 1929 then transformed and renamed Monte Rosa hut . Between 1939-1940 a new hut with 86 beds was built. The capacity was raised up to 146 in 1972 and 160 in 1984. After the new hut was opened in September 2009, the old hut was disassembled for 100,000 Swiss francs and

#85914