Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco is the highest mountain in Europe. It is located in the Alps and lies along the border of France and Italy, extending to Switzerland. Ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence, the mountain rises to a height of 4,808 metres above the sea level.
Literally meaning ‘White Mountain’, the Mont Blanc is covered for at least 100 square kilometres by glaciers.
The importance of the mountain was brought before the world in the 18th century when P. Martel, Jean A. Deluc and Horace Benedict de Saussure drew attention to it as the Western Europe’s highest mountain, in separate attempts. It later created an interest among climbers.
In 1786, the summit was conquered by Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat Today, the region is one of the most important tourist centres on the continent, and has facilities for winter sports as well. The famous Mont Blanc Tunnel is another major attraction here.