Alps

System of mountains of s. Europe, the highest, most extensive and complicated except the Caucasus. It sweeps around the northern end of Italy in a broad curve, occupying s. e. France, all Switzerland, Italy, and s. w. Austria, to the north frontier of Turkey. The system is often subdivided as follows: the region adjoining the boundary between France and Italy, extending from the Mediterranean n. to Mont Blanc and having a n. and s. trend is in three parts, known respectively, beginning at the sea, as the Maritime, Cottian, and Graian Alps. That part east of Mont Blanc, having an e. and w. trend, is separated into two groups of ranges, a northern and a southern. The first comprises the Bernese Alps. n. of the Rhone, the Alps of St. Gall, n. w. of the Rhine, the Noric, extending from Lake Con stance to the Kahlenburg in w. Austria, and the Styrian, between the Noric and the Carnic. The latter comprise the Pennine Alps, between Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa, the Lepontine, extending from Monte Rosa to the sources of the Rhine; the Rhoetian, which extend to the sources of the Piave; and the Carnian, which form the frontier between Italy and Austria. The Dinaric Alps, which extend southeast down the east coast of the Adriatic, complete the system. The highest part is in Switzerland and adjacent regions of France and Italy. Here are found Mt. Blanc, the