Alps Panorama

June 24, 2006

Alps_y copy

Provided and copyright by: David W McAllister
Summary authors & editors: David W McAllister

Coming over the crest of the Jura mountains in Switzerland we were greeted by a full panorama of this alpine ridge, which had not been visible during our morning climb. On this April day, the föhn wind was blowing from the Mediterranean Sea -- as it pushes up the south slope of the ridge it cools and releases its moisture as rain or snow. As a result, very dry and therefore clear air descends the north slope of the mountains, becoming warmed as it compresses when moving down-slope. The large dark triangular peak to the left of centre in the photo is the Eiger North Face, with Mönch and Jungfrau to the right and Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn to the left (click on image for a larger view). The Jura Mountains and most all other Alps ranges have risen up and been forced slowly northward where the African tectonic plate is colliding with the European plate.

Photo taken on the 14th of April (2006) near Biel, in central Switzerland.

Photo details: A series of seven photos were taken on my Canon PowerShot A95 digital camera and put together using PhotoStitch.

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