Mont Blanc (mɔ̃ blɑ̃, Monte Bianco)

Mont Blanc, meaning “White Mountain,” stands as the highest mountain in the Alps, as well as in Western Europe. It is located in the Graian Alps mountain range, which sits between the regions of Italy’s Aosta Valley and France’s Chamonix Valley in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie areas.

The mountain has numerous visitors, including everyone from casual tourists wanting to see the spectacular views of the region to ambitious mountaineers, and the Chamonix Valley has come to be one of the most popular tourist centers in the Alps.


The closest peaks to Mont Blanc are Monte Bianco to the east, Mont Blanc de Courmayeur and then Grand Pilier d’Angle to the southeast, and Picco Luigi Amedeo directly to the south and Mont Brouillard a little further south.
Also, a bit further out, Mont Maudit is located northeast of the peak, with Dôme du Goûter and Pointe Bayeux to the northwest.
Countries: Italy, France
State/Province: Aosta Valley, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Mountain Range: Mont Blanc massif, Graian Alps, Alps
Parents: Graian Alps
Elevation: 15,774 feet / 4,808 meters
Prominence: 15,407 feet / 4,696 meters
First Ascent: August 8th, 1786, by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard
Fun Fact: Mont Blanc is the highest mountain peak in the Alps, and it is the highest peak in Europe west of Russia’s Caucasus peaks.

Best Time to Visit: June through September usually offers the best weather conditions for climbers and hikers.

Plant Life: Common plants of the area include edelweiss, amaryllis, rose mallow, and lavatera.


Animal Life: The chamois, Alpine ibex, red fox, Alpine marmot, red squirrel, snowshoe and mountain hare, red and roe deer, wild boar, European badger, Alpine ptarmigan, stone and European pine marten, European hedgehog, weasel, European mole, shrew, wood mouse, and black grouse live in the Mont Blanc area.

Bird Life: The golden eagle, peregrine falcon, bearded vulture, and griffon vulture are some of the most common birds of the area.






Sources:
- Wikipedia: Mont Blanc
- Zooniverse: Wild Mont-Blanc
- Alpenwild: Wildlife on the Tour du Mont Blanc: Mammals, Wildlife of the TMB – Birds of the High Mountains, Birds of Prey
- Google Maps

Links:
- Philippe Gatta: Central Pillar of Frêney route on Mont Blanc, Eight routes to Mont Blanc, Mont Blanc massif
- Britannica: Mont Blanc