There are two things on planet Earth that crush us with their power, inspire reverent awe, delight with immensity, but at the same time astound with their infinite, delightful beauty. One of them is the sea.
But there are people who are practically indifferent to the sea. They are much more impressed and inspired by another grandiose natural phenomenon - the mountains. Tall, powerful, with sparkling snow caps on the peaks, with sharp, sharp arrows of rocks torn to the sky. Or low, green, sometimes as if "velvet", with smooth, smooth lines. Wild and deserted or, conversely, carefully sheltering neat houses, "walking" in bright meadows of clean and well-groomed cows and melancholy lambs. Any mountains are wonderful. Any mountains are charming. Have you seen a sunset or sunrise in the mountains? This is fantastic! So let's get acquainted with the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.
Immediately make a reservation - this "ten" does not claim to be the ultimate truth. As they say, the taste and color - all the markers are different. Of course, you may not agree with our choice (saying: "Where is the Himalayas? And the Andes? And the mountains of Iceland, similar to the Martian landscapes? Where, in the end, are our Urals and Kamchatka with its volcanoes?"). But then it is shared by millions of tourists who visit these beautiful natural sites every year.
10. Altai
Whoever ever visited Altai, saw the turquoise waters of the rapidly running Katun and the beautiful one, meandering between the Biya mountain ranges, rode along the picturesque Chuisky tract, climbed the Chike-Taman or Katu-Yaryk pass and admired the snowy mountain peaks from here, covered in some places in the clouds, he will definitely come back here again. Altai is located on the border of four countries at once: Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan.
The name "Altai", according to the most common version, means "Golden Mountains". There are several reserves (where animals and plants are found that are not found anywhere else in the world), dozens of maralniks, as well as the famous Ukok plateau - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - in these places a huge number of ancient archaeological sites were discovered (Altai "Crossroads" of movement of various nomadic tribes). The heart of Altai is Belukha (altitude 4509 m) - one of the most beautiful peaks on our planet, which people from all over the world come to conquer.
9. Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are located in France, Spain and the small but proud Andorra. They stretch from the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea at a distance of 450 km. These are not the highest mountains (the highest peak of the Pyrenees - Aneto - rises “just” up to 3404 m), but they are one of the most inaccessible. There are only a few more or less convenient passes (and all of them are at an altitude of 1500-2000 meters). Therefore, from France to Spain there are only 4 railways, two of which go around the Pyrenees along the coast, and two more pass through a system of tunnels along the lowest mountain range.
Nevertheless, tourists who prefer active leisure activities - climbing, climbing, caving, mountain skiing, etc. The Pyrenees are very fond of, because in these mountains there is a huge variety of beautiful waterfalls, picturesque gorges, deep caves and ancient glaciers, and their climate is not too harsh.
8. Tatras
The Tatras are sometimes considered a separate mountain system, but more often they are called the highest part of the Carpathians. In fact, these are really the same mountains stretching across a good half of Eastern and Central Europe: from Ukraine through Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Serbia to Austria itself. It’s just that part of them, called the High Tatras (26 km long), differs markedly from the neighboring mountain ranges in appearance - they are more rocky, more severe. The climate of the Tatra Mountains is similar to the Alpine one - the weather also changes often, there are sharp temperature drops, in winter there is a lot of snow, which does not melt until May-June, and in some places it lies all year round. The highest point of the High Tatras - Gerlachowski Shtit peak - rises to a height of 2655 m.
The Tatras are located on the border of Poland and Slovakia. From one side and the other, national reserves have been organized here that protect unique landscapes, as well as rare animals that live in this territory. Nevertheless, since the Tatras have 85 fabulously beautiful lakes, many waterfalls, as well as hot thermal springs, and many peaks “polished” by glaciers have a very bizarre shape, tourism is well developed here. The most famous Tatra mountain resort is Zakopane (Poland).
7. Dolomites
This mountain range is part of the Eastern Alps and is located in northeastern Italy (length - about 150 km). The sights of the Dolomites are not only beautiful landscapes - picturesque peaks, cozy valleys, fragrant pine forests - but also medieval castles, popular ski resorts and even an open-air museum, which is dedicated to the battles of Italians and Austrians that took place here during the First World War. In these places festivals are often held with folk songs and dances, as well as with tasting of national dishes.
The highest peak of the Dolomites is Mount Marmolada (3342 m), but 3 mountain peaks of Cime di Lavoredo are considered the most popular, the highest of which reaches 2999 m. From there, the most spectacular views open.
By the way, in the Dolomites in the spring more than 50 species of orchids bloom. Just imagine this beauty!
6. The Caucasus
The Caucasus, separating Europe from Asia, is rightly considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the world (but of course, no one will show you the exact place where Europe ends and Asia begins). The Caucasus Mountains are conventionally divided into two mountain systems - the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus. Several countries are located here (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and part of Russia), and more than 50 peoples speak Caucasian, Indo-European and even Altai languages. There are several climatic zones in the Caucasus (which depend on both height and latitude and location of a particular area). And here is very rich flora and fauna.
The Caucasus Mountains have a considerable height: 8 peaks rise more than 5 thousand meters up, the largest of which is Elbrus (5642 m). Therefore, you can always meet professional climbers here. And by the way, among them the most dangerous and difficult to conquer was not Elbrus, but Koshtantau peak (5152 m). It was he, among all the other Caucasian mountains, who took the most lives.
5. Titon
The Titon (or Teton) mountain range is part of the American Rockies, stretching 4830 km from the northern point of British Columbia (Canada) to the state of New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Most of the Teton Range is located in Wyoming, with a length of over 300 km and a width of 162 km. The highest mountain - Grand Teton - rises 4199 m above sea level.
A significant part of these picturesque mountains is occupied by the national park, which also bears the name Grand Teton. (By the way, if someone is interested in what the word “titon” means, this is the name of a once very large group of Indian tribes, they are also “Lakota-Sioux” who lived in these places until the “white people” came)). On the territory of the national park there are numerous lakes (the largest of them - Jackson - is 24 km long), rivers, streams and waterfalls. Its nature has been preserved almost intact. There is an excellent tourist infrastructure (320 km of convenient walking routes, more than 1000 places for camping, etc.). By the way, just 16 km to the north is another national park - the famous Yellowstone.
4. Bernese Alps
To the south-east of the capital of Switzerland - the city of Bern - there is a mountain range of rare beauty - the Bernese Alps. They occupy the territory of the canton of Bern, as well as part of the cantons of Valais, Friborg, Vaud, Lucerne, Nidwalden and Uri (in total - almost 8 thousand square km). We can say that this is the real "icy heart" of the Alps. There are about 300 glaciers of various sizes. In winter, these places, of course, are a traditional place of pilgrimage for lovers of skiing (by the way, for more than 100 years). But actually you can relax here all year round - in addition to the glaciers in the Bernese Alps, there are many other beautiful landscapes. For example, in summer, crowds of tourists visit Lake Constance and Brienz Lake, Staubbach Falls, etc.
The highest peak of the Bernese Alps is Finsteraarhorn (4274 m), but among tourists and climbers are three more picturesque mountains located nearby - Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (3970, 4107 and 4158 meters, respectively). On Jungfrau there is an observation deck with a circular view of the mountains and the Aletsch Glacier.
3. Southern Alps
No, these are not the Alps that many have now thought about - not the ski area on the border of France and Italy. These incredible, simply incredibly beautiful mountains stretch across the entire South Island of New Zealand (more than 500 km). You could already admire them without even knowing about it. Here's a hint: the cult film trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”. In these mountains, there are about 360 glaciers, many high-altitude lakes with turquoise or emerald-colored water (some of which even icebergs float - just imagine this sight!). Most of the Southern Alps are occupied by national parks. The highest peak is Mount Cook (3,754 m) or, in the Maori language, Aoraki.
By the way, the climate to the west and east of this mountain range is completely different: on the western coast of the South Island it is cold and humid, and on the eastern one it is one of the warmest and sunniest in the country. The mountains are to blame.
2. Sierra Nevada
The name Sierra Nevada in Spanish means "snowy mountains." This mountain range, stretched across the entire eastern part of California, is a fragment of the North American Cordillera and stretches for approximately 750 km. The most important peak is Whitney Peak (4421 m). On the territory of the Sierra Nevada are the most beautiful national parks of Yosemite and Sequoia, as well as the picturesque high-altitude lake Tahoe (located at an altitude of 1897 m, area - 489 square km), Kings and Kern canyons, Hatch-Hatchy Valley, etc.
Another famous attraction of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite Park is the granite mountain-monolith El Capitan (2307 m). Climbing to its top is a matter of honor for many professional climbers. This is a difficult task - El Capitan has almost sheer walls with a small number of ledges. Nevertheless, it was from this mountain that the founder of base jumping Karl Benish and his team made their first jumps. And on its eastern side is the famous “fiery” waterfall “Horse Tail” (whose height is 650 meters).
1. Canadian Rockies
As some tourists write in reviews of these places: “Do not forget to breathe!”
The Canadian Rockies are the northernmost part of the Cordillera. They stretch across the western part of Canada from north to south for more than 600 km. Flora and fauna are not very diverse here (due to the rather harsh climate), but in the mountains you can easily meet a grizzly bear (yes, this is not at all an artistic invention of filmmakers). The highest peak is Mount Robson (3959 m).
On the territory of the Rocky Mountains, 5 national parks have been created. In one of them - Banff Park - there is perhaps the most famous and really stunning imagination of Canada's glacial lake - turquoise Moraine. In general, there are many hundreds of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, thermal springs, etc. Jasper National Park is famous for another attraction - the huge snow-white glacier of Athabasca. And on the border of the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia you can admire the Matterhorn of the Rocky Mountains - one of the most beautiful peaks of the world of Assiniboine (3618 m), which received this nickname for a pyramidal shape very similar to the Matterhorn.