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Mont Blanc, the Tallest Peak in the Alps, Records Its Lowest Height in 22 Years

Writer's picture: Minseo KimMinseo Kim

15 October 2023

By Minseo Kim


www.autourdumontblanc.com

The elevation of Mont Blanc, which stands as the highest peak in the Alps, has recently marked a 22-year low. Situated along the border of France and Italy, extending into Switzerland, Mont Blanc currently measures 4805.59 meters in height, as confirmed by biennial measurements taken in September. This reading represents the lowest recorded height since the advent of GPS technology, which enabled precise altitude measurements in 2001. Naturally, Mont Blanc's elevation is subject to fluctuations based on the snow cover atop its summit. Typically, during the summer, rainfall transforms into snow, leading to an increase in elevation. However, this year witnessed reduced precipitation and higher temperatures, contributing to a decline in its height. According to the Mont Blanc Survey Commission, Mont Blanc's snow cover is relatively unaffected by rising temperatures and recurring heat waves. According to the French daily newspaper Le Figaro on the 5th (local time), Borrel, the chairman of the Mont Blanc Survey Commission, explained that the perpetual snow on Mont Blanc's summit acts like a refrigerator, often maintaining temperatures as low as -10°C. Experts, on the other hand, are concerned about the region's increasing frequency of heat waves.


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