Aiguille du Dru (Dru, the Drus, Les Drus)
Located east of Les Praz village in Chamonix valley, Aiguille du Dru is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. The word “Aiguille” translates to “needle” in French, referencing the pointy top of the mountain.
The closest neighboring peaks to Aiguille du Dru include Petite Aiguille Verte and Aiguille des Grands Montets to the north, Aiguille Verte and Aiguille du Jardin to the east, and Mont Jeremy le Magnifique and Aiguille du Moine to the south. It is directly east of several glaciers.
Country: France
State/Province: Haute-Savoie
Mountain Range: French Alps
Parents: Graian Alps
Elevation: 12,316 feet / 3,754 meters
Prominence: 650 feet / 198 meters
First Ascent: September 12, 1878, by Clinton Thomas Dent, James Walker Hartley, Alexander Burgener, and K. Maurer.
Fun Fact: In 2005, there was a large rock fall that destroyed the mountain’s southwest “Bonatti” pillar.
Plant Life: Several species of deciduous trees grow in the valleys of the Alps, including the birch, oak, poplar, elm, linden, beech, chestnut, mountain ash, and Norway maple. Coniferous trees are found at higher elevations, commonly the spruce, larch, and pine species.
Animal Life: The rare brown bear, as well as the ibex (a wild goat), chamois, marmot, mountain hare, and ptarmigan all know the Alps as home.
Bird Life: The Alps are also home to the prized bearded vulture (lammergeier).
Sources:
- Wikipedia: Aiguille du Dru
- Britannica: Alps
- Google Maps
